The rules for admission to upper secondary education and training follow

• The rules in Chapter 6 of the Regulations of the Education Act
  
• The rules of your home county 
  

Admission rules in the county

The counties have their own rules that stipulate which schools you may apply to. Usually the admission rules in the county follow one of these three principles: 

• You may apply to all the schools in your county
• You may apply to schools in your part of the county (the region)
• You must apply to the school that is closest to where you live (which offers the education programme you want)
  

In counties where you may choose among schools, your grades will be part of the basis for deciding which school you are admitted to. Your points are calculated on the basis of your grades.

Admission without a calculation of your points

You may also be admitted without a calculation of your points. You will find the rules for this in the articles below:

• Admission for pupils with preferential rights
• Admission after individual assessment

Admission and calculation of points to Vg1

To be admitted to an education programme at Vg1, the main rule is that you must have completed the Norwegian 10-year primary and lower secondary education or the equivalent.

In grade 10 you must choose which education programme you are going to apply for. You must personally apply for placement in upper secondary school. The main rule is that you apply for a placement in the county where you live. 

• You have the right to be admitted to one of the three education programmes you want most
• Your final grades from grade 10 may contribute to deciding whether you are admitted to your first choice
• Each county has their own rules that stipulate which schools you can apply to (see above)

Calculation of points and grades

When you are competing for admission on the basis of your grades, there is a calculation of points. The calculation of points is based on the final assessment grades from lower secondary school.

How to calculate your points:  Add up all your number grades and then divide by the number of grades.This average, to two decimal places, is then multiplied by 10. 

The sum of all your grades
––––––––––––––––––––––  = Average (2 decimal places) * 10 = Total points
Number of grades

It is the final assessment grades in all subjects that make up the basis for the calculation, that is to say, all overall assessment and examination grades. 

• Every single number grade is to count as points with the same value as the grade.
• Exception: Elective subjects are to count with one grade. If you have an overall assessment grade in more than one elective subject, use an average of the grades you have been awarded (to 2 decimal places).
• Subjects with the final assessment of “Participated” or “Passed” are not to count in the calculation of points.
• If you are exempt from teaching or assessment with a grade in a subject, this subject will not be part of the calculation of points.
• If you have been awarded IV (No basis for assessment) in a subject or IM (failed to appear for the examination) with documented absence, the subject will still be included in the calculation of points and count as 0.
• If you have been awarded IM (failed to appear for the examination) with documented absence, it does not affect the calculation of points.
• If you have been given the grade IM (Norwegian abbreviation for not attending the exam), but have a documented reason for the absence, this will not have an effect on the points total.
  

If you are on an equal footing with others in competition for the last places, the priority is determined by drawing lots.

Admission and calculation of points to Vg2 and Vg3

The main rule for admission to Vg2 and Vg3 is that you have passed all subjects at the previous level. This applies both to subjects where there are overall assessment grades and, if relevant, examinations grades, and subjects where there are half-year assessments with grades.

Calculation of points and grades

When you are competing for admission on the basis of your grades, there is a calculation of points. The calculation of points is based on your grades from Vg1 and Vg2, if applicable. 

     How to calculate your points:  Add up all your number grades and then divide by the number of grades. This average, to two decimal places, is then multiplied by 10. 

The sum of all your grades
——————————————   * 10  = Average (2 decimal places) * 10 = Total points
Number of grades

 

• The basis for the calculation consists of all yor number grades, that is to say, overall assessment and examination grades and half year assessments
• Every single number grade is to count as points with the same value as the grade.
• In the case of subjects where it has been decided that the final assessment is “Participated” or “Passed”, or where there is no final assessment, these subjects are not to count in the calculation of points.
• If you are exempt from teaching or assessment with a grade in a subject, this subject will not be part of the calculation of points.
• If you have been awarded IV (No basis for assessment) in a subject or IM (failed to appear for the examination) without documented absence, the subject will still be included in the calculation of points and count as 0.
• If you have been awarded IM (failed to appear for the examination) with documented absence, it does not affect the calculation of points.
• If you have attended several different education programmes at Vg1 or programme areas at Vg2 that all form the basis for admission to the next level, your best grade is used when calculating your points. 
• If you take a subject in upper secondary education as an external candidate, the best selection of grades forms the basis for the calculation of your points.
  

If you are on an equal footing with others in competition for the last places, the priority is determined by drawing lots. 

Other conditions (documented skills/interview)

The county authorities may determine that up to half of applicants to Vg1 in the education programmes for sports and physical education and music, dance and drama can be admitted on the basis of documented skills or entrance tests in combination with grades.

For admittance to special vocational education pathways leading to both vocational competence and general university admissions certification (TAF) the county authorities may decide that the admission is to take place on the basis of points and interviews. 

Applicants with no letter or number grades

If you have completed 10 years of approved primary and lower secondary education but have a diploma without letter or number grades, you apply for Admission after individual treatment. This also applies if you have completed Vg1 or Vg2 and have documentation without letter or number grades. This applies for example to those who have been pupils at the Steiner school.

Special requirements for practicing a vocation

You might be subject to special requirements as a vocational practitioner, even though the same requirements do not apply to admission to upper secondary school. Examples of this are the requirement for a certificate of good conduct and special requirements for vision and hearing. For this reason you should read about the features and formal requirements for the occupations that interest you before you decide what to apply for.