Level A2 — the Estonian language proficiency exam

Who it's for

Is A2 the right level for you?

A2 is the first level Harno examines: enough Estonian for everyday life — shopping, appointments, short notes, saying where you live and what you do. Sit it because an employer or a course has asked for an A2 certificate, or as a checkpoint on the way to B1, which is the level the citizenship requirement names.

What A2 actually demands

A2 is the shortest sitting: 110 minutes of written work across four parts plus a 15-minute oral, with 60% needed to pass and no part left at zero. Listening is short everyday recordings; reading is signs, notices and short messages; writing is two short texts, a form or note and a personal message; speaking is about yourself, a picture and one everyday situation.

How to prepare for A2

At A2 the marks go on small, learnable things: everyday case endings, times and dates, and the two short written texts. Most candidates can say more than they can write, so practise the writing against the clock, then sit one full timed mock — 110 minutes in one sitting is its own skill.

A2 — what people ask before booking

How much does the A2 exam cost?

Nothing. Harno charges no fee for the A2 exam and none for the certificate, so the only costs are your time and getting to the exam centre. A resit is free too, but scoring under 45% — or not turning up without a reason — blocks you from registering again for 6 months.

What happens if one part goes badly?

Harno marks the exam as a whole: you pass on at least 60% of the total points, and no part may be left at zero. One weaker part can be carried by the others, while a blank part fails everything whatever the rest look like. Keeleproov holds every part to 60% on its own, which is stricter than the real line on purpose — a mock you scrape through is not a signal worth having.

How often is A2 held?

4 times a year, and each level sits on its own day — the A2 dates still ahead are listed above. You register in Harno's exam information system (EIS), and registration closes weeks before the exam, so the deadline that decides your plan is that one, not exam day.

Which certificate proves my Estonian for residence or citizenship?

For Estonian citizenship the requirement is B1, and the Harno proficiency certificate at B1 or above is the document that proves it. What other permits and jobs ask for is set level by level elsewhere, and those rules change — so check the official pages under Sources below before you book a sitting. This page is orientation, not legal advice.

Is A2 enough for Estonian citizenship?

No. The language requirement for citizenship is B1, and the citizenship exam on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act is a separate paper from the language one. A2 is what some employers and courses ask for — check which certificate has actually been asked of you before you book.