Danish A1 Test (Danskprøve) What you Need to Know

The A1 Danish Test or Danskprøve A1 is a Danish language test that many foreigners in Denmark know all too well, because it is what will make or break your stay in Denmark.

When I moved to Denmark in 2016, this test was the biggest concern on my mind after applying for my Family Reunification Visa, since failing the Danish A1 test (or not taking the test at all) would send me back home. Coming from a non-EU country, it was very important for me to be prepared and pass that test in order to stay in Denmark.

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As an American married to a Dane and moving to Denmark, I first had to put a substantial amount of money (collateral) in a bank account that would remain untouched for the foreseeable future. If I passed the A1 test, I was able to get that collateral reduced (money back).

As for 2021, you can receive 21,224.16dkk back for passing the A1 test!

Money or no money, it was (and still is) a requirement to pass the Danskprøve A1 test within the first 6 months of living in Denmark. 

Language School in Denmark / Sprogskole

Because I wanted to have a good chance of passing the A1 Danish test, I decided to enroll in Danish classes at the local sprogskole (or language school) as soon as possible. I actually lived in Denmark for a few months while my visa was being processed, so I had to pay for language classes.

At that time, if you had received your residency card, you could get the classes for free, so I didn’t have many months to pay before I could get the classes for free. There have been many different changes to this rule over the years. Check with your local municipality (kommune) to see if classes are free now.

I was only in language school for 2 months before I took my A1 test, so I feel that you don’t need to be very far in your learning before taking the test. However, that might be different for everyone. The real way to know if you are ready is to take a practice test.

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One very important thing to know is that Danish language school (or sprogskole) is NOT THE SAME as the Danish A1 test. However, A1 is a completely separate test at a completely separate place. You WON’T take it at your language school (unless you are in Vejle or Glostrup), nor will anything you do at your language school count for this test!

Preparing for the A1 Danish Test / Danskprøve A1

I was very nervous about taking my test because I had a hard time understanding Danish when people spoke. Taking classes really helped me get used to hearing Danish. It was also good for preparation for the test because the topics and basic vocabulary that I used in my beginning Danish class was like what I heard on the test.

If you are in language class now, you may want to look through your textbook to see which themes you will learn about. This will give you a basis of which vocabulary to study. I would recommend studying:

• Numbers
• Foods
• Clothing items
• Furniture
• Items you use daily (car, spoon, table, newspaper, etc.)
• Daily tasks (taking a shower, eating meals, going to work)
• Ways of describing yourself (where you are from, native language, if you are married, if you have kids, where you live now, ways of describing your home, where you work now)
• (You never know what is on the test, so the larger your vocabulary, the better!)

You can also practice your listening skills by watching TV with the subtitles on (especially kids’ shows), listening to the radio or talking with native Danes or others who know more Danish than you do.

Example A1 Danish Test / Danskprøve Eksempel

The immigration website is a great source of information on this test. That is where I got an example of the test to use when I studied at home. Here is a link to the EXAMPLE TEST for Danish A1 that I used.

The Danish A1 test is around 18 minutes long, and you will be sitting alone in a room with a headset and computer. The test has 4 sections and each section will require you to say something in the headset. Below, you will find detailed information about all 4 sections of the test!

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1. Prøve 1: Answering Questions

For the first part of this test, you are given 8 questions that you need to answer orally about yourself. Practice saying the answers in a full sentence. You get 7 seconds to respond, which should be enough time if you practice. The questions may vary, but these are the ones from the example on the immigration website:

1. Hvad hedder du? (What is your name?)
2. Hvor kommer du fra? (Where are you from?)
3. Er du gift? (Are you married?)
4. Hvor bor du? (Where do you live?)
5. Hvor længe har du boet i Danmark? (How long have you lived in Denmark?)
6. Hvornår har du fødselsdag? (When is your birthday?)
7. Hvad er dit efternavn? (What is your last name?)
8. Hvad for nogle sprog taler du? (Which language do you speak?)

2. Prøve2: Short Text Responses

In this section, you will listen to 7 short texts in which you will have to answer a question at the end. Again, you are only given 7 seconds to respond, but this time, you only need to say A, B, or C as a response. Below, are the questions that go with the example. What you find on the real test will be in a similar format, but the actual questions might differ. What I like about this section is that every text is read twice, and the question is said at the beginning and end of the text.

1. Hvor stor er Emmas lejlighed? (How large is Emmas apartment?)
2. Hvad koster bukserne? (How much do the pants cost?)
3. Hvad køber Anna i tøjbutikken? (What does Anna buy in the clothes boutique?)
4. Hvornår er Peter født? (When was Peter born?)
5. Hvornår møder Lise på arbejde? (When does Lise go to work?)
6. Hvad spiser Simon og Mette? (What do Simon and Mette eat?)
7. Hvordan bliver vejret på mandag? (What is the weather on Monday?)

3. Prøve 3: Situations – Matching Text to Picture

In this section, you will see a picture and hear a short explanation of what you see in the picture. You have to determine if the picture and the description match. At the end of each of the 7 situations, you will be asked, “Passer texten til billet?” (Does the text match the picture?). If they do, you will answer “ja”. If the text doesn’t match the picture, you will say “nej”.

4. Prøve 4: Understanding the theme of a short story

In the last section of the Danish A1 test, you need to listen to 8 short stories twice and then choose a picture that best represents the main idea of the story. The story is less than 10 seconds, and you will say A, B, or C for your answer. The only bad thing about this section is that the pictures are usually all from the same category (people, food items, clothing items, etc.). It will be very important to study your vocabulary before going to the test!

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Registering for the Danish Language Test A1 / Danskprøve A1

Deadline for Taking the Danish A1 Test

You need to have passed the Danish A1 test and submitted the results to immigration before your first 6 months in Denmark is up, so be sure to plan ahead when getting a date to take the test. Remember that this is 6 months from when you receive your letter from immigration saying that you have been granted residency. It is not the date you get your yellow card, nor is it the date that you get your residency permit card in the mail.

However, the valid date on your residency permit card (the pink one) would be the start date for this 6-month period, in case you are wondering. For me, I didn’t get the actual residency card in the mail right away, so your letter from immigration should be good enough when you register for your A1 test. Contact the testing center if you are unsure.

If you are new to Denmark, check out this post on all of the Special Dates and Events in Denmark!

Registration Information for the A1 Danish Test

In order to register, you will need to go to this WEBSITE to choose your date, time and location. There are only two places in Denmark where these tests are conducted. One is just outside of Copenhagen in the town of Glostrup at the Vestegnens Sprog- og Kompetencecenter. The other is in Central Denmark on the peninsula in a town called Vejle at the Sprogcenter Vejle.

The cost of the test is 2820.70dkk (2021), but that might change in future years. This fee may also only apply for people coming from Non-EU countries. You will want to check the specific information on the registration website when you sign up.

I took my test at the Sprogcenter Vejle. There was a small parking lot, and I had to go to the receptionist when I got there to ask about parking. Be sure to do this. I had to put something in my window so that I didn’t get a ticket. It was actually very close to the train station, so if you travel there by train, you aren’t far away from the test center.

Final Thoughts about the A1 Danish Language Test

For the most part, if you have a decent understanding of how to use the Danish language and a basic knowledge of vocabular, you should pass this test. Since there are a total of 30 questions, you will need to get 21 of them correct in order to pass the test. Focus on what it is you need to do and how you need to answer before speaking. Also, make sure you start speaking after you hear the “beep”, since that is when your timer starts and when the test starts recording your answer. Speak clearly and be sure that what you say is what you want to say! 😊

What to do After You Take the A1 Danish Test (Danskprøve)

You will receive a message saying that you have passed your Danish A1 test. Since I am a person from a non-EU country, I had a case worker at the municipality (kommune), whom was in charge of my family reunification visa. I contacted her when I found out that I passed, so that I could get my collateral reduced at the bank.

It is very important that you contact the kommune before your first 6 months in Denmark is over. If you fail to contact them with your test results before your 6-month period is up, the test might not count for your visa requirements. Do not forget to do this! 😊

There are also two other language tests that you can take in Denmark. One is called the A2 Danish Test, which is just like the A1 but on a slightly harder scale. The other is a test that you will take when you are at the end of your language school or sprogskole experience in Denmark. That one is done within your own kommune and can be used to move your residency permit from temporary to permanent. More on those in another blog post or visit nyidanmark.dk. 

I wish you the best of luck on your test! If you have any stories to tell about your A1 Danish Test experience, leave them in the comments below! Otherwise, stop back after you have passed your test to let us know YOU DID IT! 😉 Good luck!

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