Guides — the Estonian B1 exam
Practical guides to the Estonian B1 language proficiency exam: the structure of the four skills, marking and the pass mark, registration, and a preparation plan.
How to use our exercises to prepare for the B1 exam
Two full practice exams, all four parts, AI feedback on writing and speaking. A concrete guide to getting the most out of this site, instead of clicking around at random.
2 min read
Applying for citizenship — the language and constitution exams together
There is no separate language exam for citizenship applicants — you sit the same B1 proficiency exam everyone else does. A separate constitution and Citizenship Act exam is added on top. There's one exception for people aged 65 and over.
3 min read
Common mistakes on the B1 exam — and how to avoid them
Work written in pencil is invalid. Marking more than one answer turns a correct answer into a wrong one. A blank page costs more than a flawed answer. Mistakes that aren't about language skill, but about form.
2 min read
An 8-week study plan for the B1 exam
Eight weeks, four skills, one simple rhythm — two weeks per skill, then two full timed practice papers. A concrete plan, not just "practise more" advice.
2 min read
Exam-day rules — what to bring and what to leave at home
The exam starts at 10:00 sharp and latecomers are not admitted. A driving licence is not an identity document. Smart watches, phones and dictionaries stay at home. What else to know before you go.
2 min read
Results, certificate and appeal — what happens after the exam
The result arrives within 40 days, never by phone. If you pass, you get an electronic certificate via eesti.ee. If you think the marking was wrong, you have 30 days to file an appeal.
2 min read
The speaking part of the B1 exam — a paired conversation and a roleplay
You don't speak alone in this exam — you have a partner. One task is only counted as "well performed" once the two of you reach an agreement. What that means and how to prepare.
2 min read
The reading part of the B1 exam — four tasks and one hidden trap
50 minutes, four tasks, 33 questions. One task gives you 9 situations but only 6 adverts — and that's not a mistake, it's part of the format.
2 min read
The listening part of the B1 exam — four tasks, played twice each
Every recording is played twice, with time before each task to read the questions first. Four different task types — from very short announcements to a longer interview.
2 min read
The writing part of the B1 exam — two tasks, 35 minutes
The exam always opens with writing — either fill in a questionnaire or write a short notice, then write a story or a personal letter. What each task actually asks for and what gets assessed.
2 min read
The second exam for citizenship — knowledge of the Constitution and the Citizenship Act
A citizenship applicant sits two exams, not one. The second is a multiple-choice civics test on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act — and its question bank is published as a legal instrument.
3 min read
Who is exempt from the Estonian language exam
There are more exemptions than most people realise — age, education acquired in Estonian, health grounds, a higher-level certificate. Before you start studying, check whether the requirement reaches you at all.
3 min read
The exam is free — how to register in EIS and what happens next
There is no fee for the Estonian language proficiency exam. You register in Harno's EIS system, the exam is held quarterly, and the result arrives within 40 days. Here is the whole chain, end to end.
3 min read
The six-month lock-out — the rule that costs more than failing
Scoring under 45%, or missing the exam without good cause, means you may not re-sit for six months. Scoring 45–59% carries no waiting period at all. The gap is small; the price is not.
3 min read
How the B1 exam is marked — 60 points in total, and no zeros
The Estonian B1 exam has no four separate thresholds. It has one: at least 60 points out of 100 in total, and no skill may score zero. That changes how you should prepare more than you would expect.
4 min read
What the Estonian B1 proficiency exam actually unlocks
The B1 proficiency exam is not a formality — it is written into law for two specific things: the long-term resident's residence permit and Estonian citizenship. Here is who has to take it, and in what order.
4 min read
Practise for the B1 exam for free