huvuduppgift

Huvuduppgift is a Swedish term that translates roughly to "main assignment" or "principal task." In an educational context it denotes the central task that a student is expected to complete as part of a course or module. The huvuduppgift is designed to demonstrate the intended learning outcomes and is often the most comprehensive assessment element. It typically requires integrating knowledge and skills from several topics and may take the form of a project, a written report, or an examination task.

Common features include clearly stated learning objectives, defined assessment criteria or a rubric, and a fixed deadline. The evaluation usually considers factors such as depth and originality of analysis, methodological approach, argumentation, communication, and the ability to apply knowledge to a problem or question. The huvuduppgift often serves as the main basis for grading and may determine a large share of the final course grade.

Usage and variants: in primary and secondary education the term is used for major tasks that synthesize course content, while in higher education it can correspond to capstone projects, theses, or major term papers. Some courses also distinguish between the huvuduppgift and deluppgifter (subsidiary tasks) that support but do not alone determine the grade. The concept emphasizes coherence and integration of competencies rather than a series of isolated assignments.