PD3 Written Exam: Reading in Four Sections and Two Writing Tasks, in Order

The written part of PD3 is held on one national date per term. The next one is Tuesday 10 November 2026; registration for it closed on 31 August 2026 [official: SIRI dates page]. The summer 2027 date “offentliggøres senere” — is published later — and SIRI’s page says the 2027 dates will be published there no later than 1 October 2026 [official]. The regulation requires the same each year (BEK 1687 §7).

Written tests start at 09:00 on the test day, and SIRI’s practical guide sets the PD3 order: reading 1 (collected after 25 minutes), reading 2 (collected after 65 minutes), a break of about 10 minutes, then written production for 2½ hours — 4 hours excluding the break [official: SIRI practical guide]. One Copenhagen provider, Studieskolen, lists the 10 November 2026 sitting as running from 09:00 to about 13:30 [reported: Studieskolen]. The written part consists of reading comprehension — three delprøver in the regulation, with delprøve 2 split into tasks A and B, so four sections on the day (bilag 1 pt 3.9 and 3.13) — and written production, in two tasks. Each block has its own time allowance, set in bilag 1 of the regulation.

What the regulation says about the room itself: it opens no later than 10 minutes before the start (bilag 4 pt 1.2), you must show original approved ID, and you may leave your seat only with permission, at a common break between the parts, or when you finish (§22). At each break or at the end, an invigilator certifies and records your answer sheets before you can leave (§24). You may not leave in the first 15 minutes after the start, nor in the last 15 minutes before the end, even if you have handed in (§24 stk.2) [official]. If you arrive late with a reasonable excuse you may still be let in during the first 15 minutes, but you get no extra time (§19) [official].

Bilag 1 describes what each reading part tests, and it helps to read it as three different skills [official: BEK 1687 bilag 1 pt 3.11–3.18]:

Twenty-five minutes for 15 questions is under two minutes a question, across about ten pages. The questions are factual and are answered briefly. Our advice: read the question first, then scan the collection for the heading or keyword that answers it. The official summer 2023 booklet, text collection and answer key show the exact format — question booklet, text collection, answer key.

The three later parts share one 65-minute allowance, so you decide how to split it. 2A has three questions with three options each, asked in the order the text runs. 2B removes five paragraphs; SIRI’s page for language centres adds that the booklet prints them in random order together with two paragraphs that do not fit anywhere [official: SIRI centre page] — the candidate page does not mention the extra two. Delprøve 3 gaps eight words or expressions with four options each. The official summer 2023 set: question booklet, text booklet, answer key.

Our interpretation of the separate time allowances: because delprøve 1 has its own 25 minutes and the rest have 65, unused time in delprøve 1 cannot be carried into delprøve 2. No aids are allowed in reading — no dictionary [official: SIRI PD3 pages; bilag 1 pt 3.10].

Written production lasts 2½ hours for both tasks together (bilag 1 pt 3.22). There is no official split between them, so you manage the time. The two tasks are not equal. Bilag 1 pt 3.23 says there is one grade for the two tasks and that the answer to the second task decides it: “Hvis alene delprøve 1 er besvaret, kan karakteren 02 eller derover ikke opnås” — if only the first task is answered, 02 or above cannot be reached. The same applies if the second task is answered but not passed [official].

You get a situation and an extract of an e-mail from someone you know, with four underlined questions or focus points, and you write an informal reply that answers them. No length is set (bilag 1 pt 3.26). It is assessed on whether you can answer, tell, suggest, explain and comment in language that fits the situation, with a fairly high degree of correctness (pt 3.27) [official]. Our advice: answer all four points in order, keep it friendly and to the point, and move on. The second task decides the grade (pt 3.23), but the e-mail is still part of the one writing grade, so do not skip it or rush it carelessly.

You choose one of two tasks, each with three focus points and a text with facts or six statements (pt 3.29) [official]. SIRI’s pages describe them this way: task A — describe a diagram, give reasons for what it shows, and discuss pros and cons; task B — describe a personal experience, comment on one or two of six statements, and discuss pros and cons. The answer must be at least 200 words (pt 3.30) and is assessed on telling, describing, expressing opinions and arguing in connected language with a fairly high degree of complexity and correctness (pt 3.31). The official summer 2022 writing paper and example of an answer show both.

Answers are handwritten unless your provider offers a computer. Studieskolen, for one, says a PC or Mac cannot be used at its venue [reported]. Ask your own provider when you register. Special conditions such as extra time or IT support for dyslexia must be applied for at least 8 weeks before the term (§27) — see the registration and fee guide.

Reading and writing each give one grade, and each counts once in the average; the oral counts twice. So together the written day is worth exactly half of your result. How the three grades combine, and why an oral 7 passes on its own, is worked through in the PD3 pass rule and calculator. The oral part — a prepared presentation and a drawn picture topic — is in the PD3 oral exam guide.

If you are taking PD3 for citizenship, you will usually also sit the separate civic test. Its own format is in the Indfødsretsprøven format guide; for permanent residence, the civic test is Medborgerskabsprøven.