The Estonian B1 language exam — frequently asked questions

What is the eesti keele tasemeeksam and who has to take it?

It is the state exam in Estonian language proficiency, run by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno). There are four levels: A2, B1, B2 and C1. B1 is the level required for the long-term resident's residence permit (Aliens Act, välismaalaste seadus § 234 lg 1) and for naturalisation (Citizenship Act, kodakondsuse seadus § 6 and § 8); the Language Act also sets a required level for many jobs. There is no private-provider alternative — the same exam serves every purpose.

Source: Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations · Aliens Act (Riigi Teataja) · Citizenship Act (Riigi Teataja)

What are the parts of the B1 exam and how long does it take?

There are four parts, always in the same order: writing, listening, reading and speaking. The written block lasts two hours in total and starts with writing. There is no separate grammar module in the Estonian exam — command of structures is assessed inside the writing and speaking parts.

• Writing — 35 minutes, two tasks: a short notice or a questionnaire (about 50 words) and a story or a personal letter (about 100 words)
• Listening — 30–35 minutes, four tasks, 30 items; every recording is played twice
• Reading — 50 minutes, four tasks, 33 items
• Speaking — about 15 minutes, two tasks; it follows the written block and is recorded

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno) · Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations

How many points do I need to pass the B1 exam?

You pass if you collect at least 60 points out of 100 in total and no single skill scores 0 points. That is one pooled threshold, not four separate ones: each of the four skills is weighted to 25 points and the four are added up. So a weak part does not automatically fail you — 8 out of 25 in writing is fine as long as the total reaches 60. But a zero in any one skill fails the exam no matter how high the total is.

• Writing — 20 raw points, weighted to 25
• Listening — 30 raw points → 25
• Reading — 33 raw points → 25
• Speaking — 20 raw points → 25
• 100 points in total: you need at least 60, and not a single zero

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno) · Guide: how the B1 exam is scored

What happens if I fail — can I sit it again straight away?

It depends on the result. If you score below 45% of the available points, or you miss the exam without good cause, you may not re-sit it until six months have passed. A result of 45–59% carries no waiting period: you can register for the next sitting whose registration is open. Harno accepts cancellation up to four working days before the exam, and that avoids the six-month lock-out; the regulation itself names at least seven days, so cancel at least a week ahead to be safe. If you had good cause for missing it, the explanation and supporting documents must reach Harno within 14 days. Note also that you cannot register for the next sitting until your previous result has been published.

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno) · Guide: the six-month waiting period

Is the exam free, and how do I register?

Sitting the tasemeeksam is free — Harno charges no exam fee. You register in the examination information system EIS (eis.harno.ee), for whichever sitting currently has registration open. A registration can be cancelled. On top of that, Estonia reimburses language-course fees up to 100 %, within a state-set cap, once you pass the exam at the matching level, so the cost of preparing can come back to you.

Source: EIS — examination information system · Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations · Guide: the free exam and registering in EIS

How often and where is the exam held?

Sittings are organised quarterly, i.e. roughly four times a year per level. They are held in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Jõhvi, and twice a year (in March and September) also in Pärnu, provided at least 12 candidates have registered; Harno publishes the exact dates and venues in its exam calendar. The exam starts at 10.00 and latecomers are not admitted, so arrive 15–20 minutes early. Bring a valid identity document: an ID card, a passport or a residence permit card. A driving licence is not accepted as proof of identity.

Source: Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations · Information sheet for the examinee (Harno)

When do results arrive and what is the certificate?

Results are announced within 40 days of the exam, to the address you gave when registering; they are never given by telephone. Everyone who passes receives an electronic proficiency certificate, which you can view, download and print through the state portal eesti.ee and through EIS. If you disagree with the assessment you can file a reasoned appeal (vaie) with Harno within 30 days; the appeals committee does not re-mark the paper or comment on your performance.

Source: eesti.ee — residence rights and residence permits · EIS — examination information system

What does the B1 certificate open?

Mainly two things. First, the long-term resident's residence permit: the integration requirement is proficiency in Estonian at least at B1 level (välismaalaste seadus § 234 lg 1). Second, citizenship: an applicant for naturalisation must know Estonian at B1 level (kodakondsuse seadus § 6 and § 8) and must additionally pass a separate exam on the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act. Third, the Language Act sets a required level for many occupations. Always confirm your own case with the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA).

Source: PPA — long-term resident's residence permit · Aliens Act (Riigi Teataja) · Guide: what B1 opens

Who is exempt from the exam?

There are several exemptions and they are worth checking before you register. The largest one in practice is education acquired in Estonian, which replaces the exam entirely.

• people under 15
• people over 65
• adults with restricted active legal capacity
• people who acquired their basic, secondary or higher education in Estonian — no exam is needed
• health grounds: an expert commission can reduce the scope of the exam, change its form, or grant a full exemption; the application must be made before the exam
• citizenship applicants born before 1930
• a citizenship applicant aged 65 or over is released from the writing paper at B1 and sits three parts: listening, reading and speaking

Source: Citizenship Act (Riigi Teataja) · Guide: who is exempt from the language exam

Does a higher-level certificate count instead of B1?

Yes. A valid B2 or C1 proficiency certificate satisfies a B1 requirement — if you already hold a higher level, you do not need to sit B1 separately. Nor do you need the exam at all if you were educated in Estonian.

Is the tasemeeksam the same as the eesti keele riigieksam?

No. The eesti keele riigieksam is the school-leaving exam taken by upper-secondary students; it has its own papers and its own rules. The tasemeeksam is the proficiency exam whose certificate is asked for when you apply for a residence permit or citizenship, or when a job requires a language level. Both are run by Harno, but they are not the same exam — always look for the word "tasemeeksam".

Is there a separate language exam for citizenship?

No. The citizenship applicant's Estonian exam has been merged with the ordinary B1 tasemeeksam, so you sit exactly the same paper as everyone else. What a citizenship applicant does have on top is a separate exam on the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act — a multiple-choice civics test in Estonian, not a language-level exam, and it carries no CEFR level. Its questions are published in Riigi Teataja.

Source: Questions of the Constitution and Citizenship Act exam · Guide: the Constitution and citizenship exam

How hard is the B1 exam?

Harno publishes the figures: in 2025, 3,824 people sat the B1 exam and 2,278 passed — 59.57%. B1 is the proficiency exam with the most candidates in Estonia. The most common preparation mistake is to assume each part has to be passed on its own; the threshold is pooled, so the most useful moves are to lift your weakest skill clearly above zero and to collect points where they come easiest to you.

Source: Estonian language proficiency exam statistics 2025 (Harno)

What is this site, and what is it not?

Eesti keel B1 is a free practice environment for people preparing for the B1 proficiency exam: exam-format sample tests, exercises, and AI feedback on writing and speaking. We are not an examination centre and we are not affiliated with Harno; we do not register you for the exam, we do not issue certificates, and we do not give legal advice. Official information, registration and certificates come from Harno and EIS.

Source: Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations · EIS — examination information system

How should I prepare?

The most effective approach is to practise each part in exactly the form it takes in the exam: writing against the clock, listening with each recording played twice, reading across 33 items, and speaking in dialogue. Harno publishes consultation materials, marked sample performances and a listening test; on this site you will find free exam-format tests plus writing and speaking practice with AI feedback.

Source: Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations

How does the speaking part work — am I on my own?

No. The speaking part is paired: one examiner and two candidates. If an odd number of candidates turns up, the last one talks with the examiner instead. It opens with a short introduction, then come two tasks: a conversation and a discussion in which the two of you have to reach an agreement, and a roleplay where one candidate phones the institution named on their card and the other plays an employee of that institution. Idea cards with pictures and topic sheets are provided. Everything is recorded, and a second, independent assessor rates you from the recording.

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno)

Does someone aged 65 or over still have to do the writing paper?

A citizenship applicant aged 65 or over is released from the writing test at B1 and sits three parts: listening, reading and speaking. The waiver applies only at B1 and only to citizenship applicants — if you need B1 for an occupational language requirement, you sit all four parts regardless of age. A separate adaptation on health grounds (reduced scope or a changed format) can be applied for in advance of the exam.

Source: Citizenship Act (Riigi Teataja)

What should I bring, and what is banned?

Bring a valid identity document — an ID card, a passport or a residence-permit card; a driving licence does not count. Write in a black or blue ballpoint or ink pen: a paper written in pencil, or in pencil and then gone over in pen, is invalid. Watches of any kind including smart watches, phones, headphones, dictionaries, textbooks and correction fluid or tape are all banned. The exam starts at 10.00 and latecomers are not admitted. If outside help is detected during marking, the paper is scored 0 — and a zero in any one skill means a fail even when the other points would have been enough.

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno)

I cannot make it to the exam — what should I do?

Cancel your registration in good time. Cancelling is free and can be done by e-mail or by telephone to Harno. Harno accepts cancellation up to four working days before the exam, and then the six-month lock-out that otherwise follows an unexcused absence does not apply to you; the regulation itself names at least seven days, so cancel at least a week ahead to be safe. If something unexpected happens (illness, for example), send Harno an explanation with supporting documents and an application to re-register within 14 days; later claims are refused.

Source: Information sheet for the examinee (Harno)

Can I get the money for a language course back?

Estonia reimburses language-course fees up to 100 %, within a state-set cap, once you pass the proficiency exam at the matching level — so passing B1 can also bring back what you spent preparing. Since the exam itself is free, the course or the study materials are usually the only direct cost. Check the current conditions, deadlines and the application procedure on Harno's pages: they have changed from time to time.

Source: Harno — Estonian language proficiency examinations