Level B2 — the Estonian language proficiency exam

Who it's for

Is B2 the right level for you?

B2 is what Estonian-taught programmes usually ask of a student, and what employers accept as proof you can work in Estonian. It is the next step if you already have B1 and need the certificate for study or a job. Neither residence nor citizenship requires it — B1 covers both.

What B2 actually demands

B2 raises the bar and the clock: 60% in every part, 185 minutes of written work, a 20-minute speaking part. Recordings are longer, reading texts are longer and turn on inference rather than lookup, and the long writing task expects a real argumentative text — a structured argument, not a description.

How to prepare for B2

The step from B1 to B2 is one of text length and argument, not grammar tables. Write an argumentative text to time until the structure is automatic, and read longer Estonian argument — commentary rather than news. In reading, practise questions whose answer is only implied; that is where even confident readers lose marks.

B2 — what people ask before booking

How much does the B2 exam cost?

Nothing. Harno charges no fee for the B2 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 B2 held?

4 times a year, and each level sits on its own day — the B2 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 B2 enough for university in Estonia?

For most Estonian-taught degrees, yes — B2 is the level universities usually name, though each programme sets its own requirement and some ask for C1. Check the specific programme first: there are fewer B2 sittings in a year than B1 ones.