Sweden Creates New Test to Widen University Access for Non-Traditional Students
Sweden has designed a national eligibility exam for adults 24 and older who lack formal qualifications but want university admission. The test, developed with input from test-takers themselves, targets both subject knowledge and broader competencies. If adopted widely, it could reshape how countries expand higher education access while maintaining academic standards.
Originaltitel: Developing a basic eligibility test for tertiary education - Conceptual and methodological challenges
The article discusses the recent development of a national basic eligibility test for tertiary education in Sweden. The test is aimed for individuals who, for various reasons, lack documented eligibility. The lower age limit for the test is 24, and only one cut-score is provided, for a Pass. The construct, as well as the collaborative test development process, including active participation of test-takers, are described. Furthermore, the structure of the proposed test is presented, targeting subject-oriented and generic competences, and including anchor items between two large-scale trial rounds. Analyses, models and results from these rounds are evaluated and discussed. Following positive results regarding overall measurement quality and test-takers’ and other stakeholders’ opinions, the test is considered valid for its purpose to contribute to increased inclusion and diversity in Swedish tertiary education. Future studies, also from an international and comparative perspective, are planned, once the test is formally implemented.