Understanding the Components of Högskoleprovet: A Guide for IB Students

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) student in Sweden, you will most likely understand feeling overwhelmed when applying to Swedish University using IB grades. However, supplementing IB grades with Högskoleprovet (the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a great way to boost your application!

In this article, we’ll break down the components of the Högskoleprovet, so you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

What is Högskoleprovet?

The Högskoleprovet is a standardized test used by Swedish universities to evaluate applicants. It assesses general academic skills in areas like verbal reasoning, mathematics, and logic. The test is held twice a year (in spring and autumn), and your score plays a significant role in determining your eligibility for university admission. For IB students, it can be a powerful supplement to your academic record and may even increase your chances of acceptance, especially if you want to boost your merit score.

The test is divided into eight subtests that assess various skills. Each subtest is designed to test different aspects of your academic ability, such as reasoning, language skills, and mathematical problem-solving.

Let’s break down each component of the Högskoleprovet:

Quantative parts / kvantitiva delar

• XYZ, matematisk problemlösning

  • Solving maths problems within arithmetic, algebra, geometry, functions and statistics

  • Practise by doing old questions from the test.

• KVA, kvantitativa jämförelser

  • Making logical comparisons within arithmetic, algebra, geometry, functions and statistics

• NOG, kvantitativa resonemang

  • Solving logical problems within arithmetic, algebra, geometry, functions and statistics

• DTK, diagram, tabeller och kartor

  • Tests your ability to retrieve and interpret information from charts, tables and maps.

Verbala uppgifter / Literary excercises

• ORD, ordförståelse

  • Tests your ability to understand words and concepts.

  • Eg. Restriktiv, tillämpning

    • Use flashcards to study these words

    • Learning prefixes and suffixes can help make educated prediction with unknown words

• LÄS, svensk läsförståelse

  • Tests your ability to understand the content of Swedish texts.

• MEK, meningskomplettering

  • Tests your ability to understand words and concepts in the context of a sentence

• ELF - Engelsk läsförståelse

  • Tests your ability to understand the content of English texts.

Websites to help study

• HP appen

• Högskoleprovet.nu

• HP kursen

Final Thoughts: How to Prepare for the Högskoleprovet

The Högskoleprovet is a challenging but important part of your university application process. As an IB student, you’re likely already accustomed to tackling complex problems and managing multiple areas of study. But in order to excel in the Högskoleprovet, you’ll need to dedicate time to practicing the specific types of questions that appear on the test. There are several online websites to help with this.

By understanding the components of the Högskoleprovet and focusing your preparation on each of these areas, you can maximize your score and increase your chances of getting into your desired university program.

Good luck with your preparations, and remember: a little effort now can make a big difference when it’s time to apply!

Check out our past blog post for more advice on applying to Swedish universities.