Keeleproov

Level B1 — the Estonian language proficiency exam

Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno)

B1 is the most-sat level and the only one the citizenship language requirement names.

The 5 exam parts, with real durations

#ModuleTimeScored
1KuulamineListening35 minauto-scored
2KeelestruktuuridGrammar15 minauto-scored
3LugemineReading50 minauto-scored
4KirjutamineWriting35 minexaminer-assessed
5RääkimineSpeaking20 minexaminer-assessed
To pass
≥60% in EVERY module
Written total
up to 120 min
Oral exam
up to 20 min
Exam fee
0 € + 0 € certificate
Next sessions
Nov 8, 202636days away

Harno passes the exam as a whole — enough of the total points, with no part left at zero. Keeleproov holds every part to the threshold on its own, which is stricter than the real line on purpose.

Create a timed mockFull exam (real order)Question bank

Pick your modules · real time limits

Who it's for

Is B1 the right level for you?

B1 is the level almost everyone needs: it is the level the citizenship language requirement names, and many jobs ask for it too. It is also the most-sat level. If you need a document rather than a university place, book B1.

2,275 of 5,470 passes in 2024. Harno statistics ↗

What B1 actually demands

B1 is not a beginner's exam: 120 minutes of written work and a 20-minute speaking part before two assessors, with 60% to pass and no part at zero. Listening has several recordings, reading several texts testing both gist and detail, and writing two texts: a shorter practical one and a longer connected one.

One weak module fails the whole exam

There is no overall average. You need 60% in each of the five modules separately, and the certificate is issued only if every one of them clears that line.

A candidate scoring 85%, 78%, 80% and 90% but 55% in one part can still pass B1 — a zero in any part never can. A resit costs nothing (0 €), but a result below 45% blocks registration for six months. That, not weak Estonian, is how most people fail.

How to prepare for B1

Most B1 candidates lose marks in grammar, not vocabulary — cloze and transformation tasks punish half-learned case endings and aspect pairs, and extra reading does not fix that. Drill them against the clock, then sit one full timed mock: 120 minutes of concentration is its own skill, and the first listening task is played once.

B1 — what people ask before booking

How much does the B1 exam cost?
Nothing. Harno charges no fee for the B1 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 B1 held?
4 times a year, and each level sits on its own day — the B1 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 B1 enough for Estonian citizenship?
Yes. The language requirement for citizenship is met by a Harno certificate at B1 or above. Some applicants are exempt — those educated in Estonian, for instance — and there is a separate exam on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act. Check your own situation on the official page before you register.

Sources