On August 15th the first civics test for citizenship will be held for around 1,000 people at the Stockholmsmässan conference centre in Älvsjö, southern Stockhholm. Here's what you need to know.
The Local spoke to Andreas Sandberg, project leader for the test at the Swedish Council of Higher Education (UHR), about his preparations for the test.
He said that UHR viewed the test as having "a higher stake for the individual" than högskoleprovet, the university entrance exam it also administers.
"It concerns citizenship, so we're trying to make this day as good and transparent and welcoming as possible, and trying to create the best possibilities for people to get a good result on the test".
"I'd love to say that everything is ready, but not everything is," he said of the final preparations. "We're still working on some details, but most things are in place, and hopefully it will be a good day and run smoothly."
What will the test consist of?
The test consists of 60 multiple choice questions with four possible answers of which only one is correct. Examinees have 90 minutes to answer the questions, which Sandberg said was "a generous test time".
The test will be in Swedish, although the language level of the questions will not be harder than the lower intermediate level required for citizenship.
It will be written with a pencil or pen on paper.
The questions and required knowledge is being decided by a team at Gothenburg University, while UHR is responsible for all other aspects of the exam.
Where and when will the test take place?
The test will take place at the Stockholmsmässan conference centre in Älvsjö, southern Stockholm, at 10am on August 15th. The doors will open at 8.15am and examinees are expected to be seated and ready by the time the exam starts at 10am.
Älvsjö is about ten minutes from Stockholm City on the Stockholm commuter train and the conference centre also has 2,300 parking places. You can find travel information here.
READ ALSO: Can you pass The Local's mock citizenship test?
What ID will you need?
Before being allowed into the test hall, examinees will need to prove their identity using a Swedish ID document that shows their personal number. This might include:
- An identity card for residents in Sweden issued by the Swedish Tax Agency
- A Swedish driving licence.
- Any other Swedish SIS-marked ID card
Foreign passports, driving licences and other international ID will not be accepted.
What can you bring with you into the test?
"The best thing is to bring as little as possible," Sandberg advises. "But we understand that many people will be travelling, so you might have bags and things like that, and it will be possible to leave your bag and coat in a wardrobe if that's necessary."
Examinees can only bring a few objects – a pencil, pen or eraser, something to drink, and maybe a mascot – into the examination hall and all electronic items, such as phones, smartwatches, or computers need to be switched off and left outside.
READ ALSO: What's in the study guide for the Swedish civics citizenship test?
Can people with ADHD, dyslexia, or other disabilities get adapted tests?
Yes, if you have a diagnosis for ADHD or dyslexia you can apply to be given extra time to complete the questions. If you have poor eyesight, you can also ask for a version of the test with larger text. You will need to provide a doctor's note along with your application for special treatment.
People with autism and physical disabilities can also request an adjustable writing table, hearing aids, a quiet room, or to bring medical equipment to the test.
Can I still apply for the test?
No, applications closed on July 1st and only those sent a letter from the Migration Agency telling them to take the test were able to apply.
How can I prepare for the test?
All of the questions will be drawn from Sverige i Fokus, a 48-page booklet produced by UHR. We've summarised the contents in English here. We have also made a mock test here.
Several websites and apps have also been launched promising to help examinees prepare for the test. Sandberg warned that he could not vouch for their quality, and advised people to rely primarily on the council's own booklet.
"I would really like to push our own study material," he said. "I know there's a lot of information out there right now, a lot of different websites, and apps on your phone that promise to make sure you pass the citizenship test. But the only official material is on our website. I'm not saying that the other material is bad or anything, but you need to be aware that the people who have made them don't have anything with Gothenburg University or UHR. It's not official."
When will examinees know the result?
Because the test is being done on paper, rather than electronically and this is the first time it will be taken, the council has given itself more time than usual to mark the papers and come back to examinees with a result. It hopes to inform people whether they have passed or failed at some point in October.
What happens if you fail?
According to UHR, people who fail the test will be given a chance to retake the test at a later date and will not simply have their citizenship application rejected.
What do we know about future tests?
UHR has not yet set a date for a future tests or come to a decision on how frequent the tests will be.
"It's a question of the need, and we are still talking to the Migration Agency to find out how big the need is and how many of the people that are applying for citizenship will need to take this test," Sandberg said.
"We will try to make sure that we offer the test as many times as it needs to be offered, so people will have the chance to get their citizenship tried and processed."
He said he expected to decide with the Migration Agency when the next civics test would be held in the coming months. It was, he said, up to the Council itself rather than the government to decide.
On the Council's website, it says that they expect to publish the date of the next civics test at some point in the autumn.