Guides

The Estonian language exam, explained

Free, practical guides to the exam — what it is, how hard it is, and how to prepare.

• The Estonian language exam, explainedFour parts, one day, free of charge. What the exam asks, how long it lasts, what counts as a pass, and what happens afterwards — A2, B1, B2 and C1.
• How hard is the exam, really? Harno's own numbersThe official 2024 statistics: A2 70.72%, B1 62.93%, B2 37.88%, C1 28.37%. What those figures actually mean for you.
• The citizenship exam and B1: two exams, not oneEstonian citizenship needs a B1 language certificate and a separate exam on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act: 24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 to pass.
• Exam dates, registration and the day itselfFour sittings a year, registration through EIS, and a paper that starts at 10.00 sharp. Dates, deadlines, exam centres and the rules of the day.
• Estonian language levels: A2, B1, B2, C1What each level actually asks of you in the exam, how the four differ, and how to pick the level you will pass rather than the one you would like to hold.
• Estonian cases and what the exam testsFourteen cases, three base forms and consonant gradation — what the exam really asks about cases, and how to learn them so that your writing improves.
• How to prepare for the Estonian examA plan built around the real rules: a full-length paper against the clock, writing by hand, a recorded interview, and registering only once the result holds up.
• Estonian courses or self-study?What a course gives you and what it does not, what self-study gives you and what it does not, and how to combine the two without wasting months or money.