The main aim of this study was to research what students’ perceptions of the ideal citizen are. Thus the aim was also to explore which skills or knowledge studets feel they require, with special regards to practical learning exercises, in order to become their ideal citizen. In order to fulfill the main aim, the study also aspired to explore upper-secondary students’ experiences of practical learning exercises within their previous civics education, their opinions on practical learning exercises and what types of practical learning exercises they wish their civics education would include. Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method for this study. The data analysis method used was qualitative content analysis. The study found that the experiences of practical learning methods were highly varied amongst the participants. School elections and work or economics related exercises were most common. Furthermore, the study found that 80% of participants were positive to practical learning activities within the subject of civics, the other 20% were neutral. All participants could name a practical learning exercise they wished their civics education would include. The most common desires were exercises related to human interaction in some form. The study found the most commonly identified citizen idealtype to be the personally responsible, the democratically informed and the justice-oriented citizen. Finally, the type of knowledge that was most forthcoming was social reconstructionism and social efficiency. The findings of this study were in accordance with the previous research in the field. The findings of this study are relevant as they provide a guideline for future teaching within the civics subject in Sweden where students’ wishes are accounted for in alignment with the Swedish democracy mission.