The SFI national test: everything you need to know

The SFI national test is the test that shows whether you’ve reached the goals in Swedish at the end of a course. It’s given in courses B, C and D in komvux Swedish for immigrants and is mandatory. It is not a standalone pass/fail exam — your teacher makes the final assessment — but the result carries real weight.

This guide covers what the test is, which sections it includes, how it differs by level, how it’s graded, and how to prepare smartly.

What is the SFI national test?

The test exists to give a fair, consistent assessment of your Swedish. It supports the teacher when setting grades, and the result has special importance — it weighs more than most other single pieces of evidence. But it doesn’t decide your grade alone: the teacher factors in everything you’ve shown during the course.

It is mandatory in municipal adult education for courses B, C and D.

The four sections

The SFI test assesses four skills:

Läsa (reading comprehension)

You read various texts — longer and shorter — and answer questions of mixed types: multiple choice, matching and open-ended. At the higher levels, reading is often split into two booklets, Läsa A and Läsa B.

Höra (listening comprehension)

You listen to recorded material — monologues, dialogues, loudspeaker announcements and news reports — and answer questions. You can’t rewind, so you need to catch the main point straight away.

Skriva (writing)

You write one or more texts depending on the level. This assesses how clearly you express yourself, plus structure, vocabulary and grammar.

Tala (speaking)

Your ability to express yourself orally is assessed, often through a narrative task. Speaking is usually done separately from reading and listening.

Vocabulary and grammar are assessed throughout all sections.

The difference between courses B, C and D

The same four skills are tested at every level, but the demands rise.

• Course B — basic Swedish. Reading and listening are often done in one connected sequence in a single sitting.
• Course C — you write one more informal writing task. (Detailed guide: How to prepare for the SFI C test.)
• Course D — the highest level. You write two writing tasks, one of them more formal, and reading is split into Läsa A and Läsa B. Course D is also the level relevant to the language requirement for Swedish citizenship.

How is the test graded?

This is the most common misconception: many people look for an exact pass mark. There is no single threshold that decides on its own. The national test is one piece of evidence — but a heavy one. The teacher combines the test result with other knowledge you’ve shown, then sets the grade.

In practice that means two things:

1. A strong test result helps you a lot.
2. A weak result on one section need not be decisive if you’ve shown equivalent knowledge another way during the course.

If you don’t reach the course goals, you can retake the test.

When is the test held?

Unlike compulsory school, komvux has no fixed test dates. Tests run on a rolling basis within permitted test periods, and the school decides when. Ask your SFI school for the exact timing.

One thing to know for 2026: no new test versions are released in autumn 2026 — schools use existing versions (no. 6–10). Two new tests arrive only in spring 2027. For you as a learner, that means focusing on mastering the test format, not chasing “leaked” questions.

How to prepare

Whatever the level, the same basics apply:

1. Take a full practice test early under timed conditions — it shows where you stand.
2. Practise all four sections. Many spend all their time on reading and underestimate the writing and listening parts.
3. Train with authentic material — letters from Försäkringskassan, 1177.se, SVT Nyheter på lätt svenska.
4. Write short texts regularly and ask for feedback.
5. Take one final full-length test close to exam day.

Tools that help

SFI C – Öva Provet (app)

We built SFI C – Öva Provet specifically for the national test. The app gives you realistic practice tests in the same format as the real test — reading, listening with audio and a writing task — with AI-graded writing, AI feedback on open answers, 400+ vocabulary words with pronunciation, and a quick word game for breaks. The interface is available in Swedish, English and Arabic. Free, no account needed.

Download SFI C – Öva Provet on the App Store →

Other resources

• SVT Nyheter på lätt svenska — free listening practice.
• 1177.se and the Försäkringskassan website — authentic everyday texts.
• Your SFI teacher — ask about old test examples and what tends to be difficult.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SFI national test? A national test at the end of courses B, C and D in komvux Swedish for immigrants. It assesses reading, listening, writing and speaking, and supports the teacher’s grading.

Which sections are included? Reading, listening, writing and speaking. Reading and listening are often done in one sitting; writing and speaking can be done separately but close in time.

Is there a pass mark? No single score decides on its own. The test is one piece of evidence, but the result weighs heavily when the teacher sets the final grade.

When is the test held? On a rolling basis within permitted test periods — no fixed dates. In autumn 2026, existing versions (no. 6–10) are used; new tests arrive in spring 2027.

What if I don’t pass? You can retake it. The teacher makes the final assessment based on everything you’ve shown during the course.

Summary

The SFI national test assesses four skills — reading, listening, writing and speaking — in courses B, C and D. It’s not a standalone pass/fail exam, but the result carries real weight in your grade. Start preparing with a practice test, train all four sections, and focus on mastering the format.

Download SFI C – Öva Provet for free →

Independent study material — not an official government app. Built by Sverige i Fokus. The test format is based on Skolverket’s guidelines for SFI national tests. Always confirm current test rules with your SFI school.