The Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test could be your route into the degree you want. But what does it test, and how should you prepare? Here is the complete guide.
What is the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test?
The Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, known as Högskoleprovet or HP, is a standardised test that gives you an additional admissions score for university and college. It takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn, and tests verbal and quantitative skills. It has 160 scored questions across eight sections. Your result is a normed score between 0.00 and 2.00, and it is valid for eight years.
Every test section explained
Verbal section
- ORD (vocabulary): 20 questions. Test your vocabulary by finding synonyms. This is the section where most people can improve the most with practice.
- LÄS (Swedish reading comprehension): 20 questions. Read texts and answer questions. Requires careful reading and analytical skills.
- MEK (sentence completion): 20 questions. Fill gaps in sentences. Tests vocabulary and your sense of grammar.
- ELF (English reading comprehension): 20 questions. Like LÄS, but in English.
Quantitative section
- XYZ (mathematics): 24 questions. Basic maths: algebra, geometry, percentages and statistics.
- KVA (quantitative comparisons): 20 questions. Compare two quantities and decide which is larger.
- NOG (data sufficiency): 12 questions. Decide whether the information given is enough to solve the problem.
- DTK (diagrams, tables and maps): 24 questions. Interpret and analyse visual information.
A three-month preparation plan
Month 1: Take a diagnostic test. Identify your strongest and weakest sections. Start with ORD: daily practice using spaced repetition.
Month 2: Focus on your weakest sections. Practise the maths sections systematically. Build vocabulary with flashcards.
Month 3: Complete full practice tests under time pressure. Analyse your mistakes. Refine your time-management strategy.
The best strategy during the test
- Do not leave an answer blank: there is no penalty for guessing
- Allocate your time evenly within each section
- Skip difficult questions and return to them later
- ORD: eliminate obviously incorrect options
- NOG: read each statement carefully before deciding whether the information is enough
Study with plue
plue explains what you find difficult, asks questions and adapts to your answers.
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