2026-06-05

How to interpret admission points and admission statistics

When you apply to gymnasiet (upper secondary school) you encounter two figures that are easily confused: your own meritvärde (merit rating) and the programmes' admission points (antagningspoäng). Understanding what admission points and admission statistics actually mean makes it easier to choose a programme. This guide covers how the figures are calculated, what they show and how to use them.

Meritvärde and admission points – what is the difference?

Two figures govern admission to gymnasiet, and they describe entirely different things.

Your meritvärde is your own figure. It is the sum of your grades from lower secondary school converted into points, and it follows you into your application.

The admission points belong to a programme at a particular school. They describe the meritvärde that was required to get in there in a previous admission round. When you compare your meritvärde with a programme's admission points you get a sense of where you stand – but only a sense, since admission points can change from year to year.

How your meritvärde is calculated

Read our article on how to calculate your meritvärde for more information.

What the admission points show

Admission statistics are sometimes reported using several figures for each programme, and they describe different things:

• The lowest score (last admitted) is the meritvärde of the student who got in with the lowest points. This is the most common figure to look at, since it shows where the threshold sat that year.
• The mean is the average of the admitted students' merit ratings. It says something about what the typical admitted student looked like.
• The median is the middle value among those admitted. It is less affected by occasional very high or very low values than the mean.

The figures come from the regional upper secondary admissions body and describe what competition looked like in a specific year. They are historical data and do not say with certainty what will be required next time.

Preliminary and final admission: statistics in several stages

Admission statistics are published in several stages during the school year, and which stage a figure comes from determines how much weight you should give it.

• The preliminary admission round is based on the autumn term grades. It gives an early indication, but grades can change before everything is settled.
• The final admission round is based on the final grades from the spring term and is what decides who gets a place. The statistics from the final round are the most reliable to compare against.

The various stages usually take place during the spring and early summer, but they differ between regions. Check the current dates with your own admissions office.

Why admission points vary between years and regions

Admission points are the result of how many people applied, how many places were available and what grades the applicants had that particular year. Three things make the figures move:

• Demand changes. A programme that was popular one year may have fewer applicants the next, which lowers the lowest admission score.
• The number of places changes. More or fewer places affects where the threshold ends up.
• Regions count separately. Admission is handled by regional admissions offices, and a programme with the same name can have different admission points in different municipalities.

That is why it is most meaningful to compare against statistics for the specific programme at the specific school you are interested in.

How to use admission statistics in your upper secondary school application

The statistics are one input among several, and they work best when you use them to plan rather than to predict. In Skoolie you can see how your meritvärde compares with previous years' admission statistics for different programmes and save the options you want to compare. Also talk to your study and career counsellor, who knows local circumstances that no statistics can capture.

Common mistakes when interpreting admission points

• Reading last year's lowest score as a guaranteed requirement. The figure applied to that year's applicants and can end up both higher and lower this year.
• Mixing up preliminary and final admission. The preliminary round is based on autumn grades and can change, while the final round is the one that counts.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good admission score for gymnasiet? There is no universal threshold. What is required depends entirely on the programme, the school, the region and the year. A popular programme in a large city can have a considerably higher lowest admission score than the same programme in a smaller town. Start from the statistics for the programmes and regions you are actually interested in.

How do I know what meritvärde I need for a particular programme? Look at the lowest admission score (last admitted) for the programme over the past few years in your region. Ideally add a margin on top, since the figure can rise if demand increases. Remember that the preliminary admission round is based on autumn grades and that your final grades may look different.

Can I get in with lower points than last year's admission score? Yes, that is possible. Admission points are set by each year's applicants, so if fewer people apply or they have lower grades, the threshold can drop. Use last year's figure as guidance and expect it to move.

What happens if I do not reach the admission score for my first choice? You are then considered for your lower-ranked choices in the same application, and you may be placed on the reserve list for your first choice. If you lack eligibility, there are routes to becoming eligible, for example via an introductory programme. Your study and career counsellor can go through the options based on your situation.