Högskoleprovet

Högskoleprovet (HP) is a Swedish standardized admissions test used by many universities to assess applicants as part of the selection process. It is administered by Universitets- och högskolerådet (UHR) and is offered twice a year, in spring and autumn, on a weekend day.

The test consists of two main sections: a verbal part that tests language-related skills such as reading comprehension and vocabulary, and a quantitative part that assesses mathematical reasoning, data interpretation, and logical problem solving. All questions are multiple choice.

Scoring and use: Examinees receive a score on a fixed scale, commonly interpreted together with a percentile ranking. The HP score is used by many higher education programs, in combination with grades, to rank applicants. Specific weight and cutoffs vary across programs and years.

History and purpose: Introduced to broaden access to higher education and provide an aptitude-based selection method beyond grades. It has become a standard part of admissions for many Swedish programs and is popular among applicants.

Criticism and accessibility: The exam has faced criticism regarding potential socioeconomic bias and the growth of commercial preparation courses. Organizers provide accommodations for some disabilities and offer retake opportunities; access to preparation material is widely available, which some argue favors those with greater resources.

Registration and results: Registration is through the official HP website; results are published several weeks after the exam and include both the HP score and a national percentile ranking.