Egenvurdering

Egenvurdering, or self-assessment, is the process of evaluating one’s own knowledge, skills, or performance against defined criteria. It is used to promote reflection, metacognition and personal development, and can be applied in education, workplaces and informal settings. Criteria are usually drawn from learning outcomes, professional standards or individual development plans.

In education, self-assessment involves students comparing their work with rubrics, checklists, or exemplars, reflecting on what went well and what needs improvement, and setting goals for future work. It can support formative learning by guiding study plans, and, when combined with teacher assessment, may contribute to summative evaluation. Common tools include reflective journals, portfolios and self-grading against explicit criteria.

In the workplace, self-assessment enables employees to review their own competencies, progress toward goals and readiness for new responsibilities. It supports development planning and can inform performance discussions, often in combination with supervisor feedback to provide a balanced picture.

Benefits include increased motivation, ownership of learning and better alignment between actions and goals. Challenges include biases in self-perception, inconsistent interpretation of criteria, and the need for training in how to assess oneself accurately. Effective implementation relies on clear criteria, structured processes and opportunities for calibration with external feedback.

Etymology: the term is Norwegian, combining egne (own) and vurdering (assessment).