B1 exam sample tasks — where to find them and how to practise with them
4 min read
The best way to find out whether you are ready for the B1 exam is to do the official sample tasks under real exam conditions. They are free and published by the exam organiser, the Education and Youth Board (Harno). This guide explains which materials exist, how to take a mock exam with them and what to do with the result.
Facts checked on 21 October 2026. Sources: Harno's page "Eesti keele tasemeeksamid" (the B1 section), the B1 consultation booklet (konsultatsioonivihik), the B1 writing samples (sooritusnäidis) and Harno's information sheet for examinees — check the official page before your exam.
Which materials exist
On Harno's website, harno.ee → Eesti keele tasemeeksamid → B1-taseme eksam, you will find these files:
| Material | What it is |
|---|---|
| B1-taseme konsultatsioonivihik (B1 consultation booklet) | sample tasks for all four parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking; the correct answers are at the end |
| Konsultatsioonivihik arvutis täitmiseks | the same booklet in a version you can fill in on a computer |
| B1 kuulamistest (B1 listening test) | the audio file (MP3) for the listening tasks; each task is also available as a separate file |
| B1-taseme sooritusnäidis (B1 writing samples) | two real B1-level texts with an explanation of what makes a text B1 level |
| Introduction video | a short video showing what the B1 exam looks like |
The booklet uses the same format as the real exam: the same task types, the same instructions and the same way of marking answers.
What is in the booklet
- Reading — four tasks. You choose the right answer, put parts of a text in the right place or fill gaps with a suitable word.
- Writing — two tasks. The first is a short text (about 50 words, for example a note to colleagues or a questionnaire), the second is longer (about 100 words, for example a story about someone you met recently).
- Listening — four tasks: choosing a picture or a word, filling gaps and deciding whether statements are "true" or "false".
- Speaking — a topic sheet with questions the examiner may ask (for example the topic "Travelling").
- Answers — the correct answers for reading and listening are in the booklet. Writing and speaking have no single correct answer; compare your text with the writing samples.
How to take a mock exam
1. Choose a day and a time. Do the written part in one sitting, as in the exam: writing 35 minutes, listening about 35 minutes and reading 50 minutes.
2. Print the booklet and write by hand. In the exam you write on paper with a black or blue ballpoint or ink pen; pencil and correction fluid are not allowed. Practise with a pen at home.
3. Do not use a dictionary or a phone. They are not allowed in the exam, so your mock exam has to be just as honest.
4. In listening, play each text twice and do not pause the file halfway. In the real exam you cannot stop the recording.
5. Check your answers only at the end. If you check after every task, you will not see how your concentration changes over time.
How to score yourself
In the exam each part gives 25 points, 100 in total. You pass if you get at least 60 points and no part scores 0. How this works in detail is explained in the guide How the B1 exam is scored.
You can work out your reading and listening score yourself with the answers in the booklet. Writing is harder to judge. Check at least:
- whether you answered all the points given in the task;
- whether your text is roughly the required length;
- whether the text is logical and easy to understand, even if it has mistakes.
The comment on the writing samples says that at B1 level a text may contain grammar and spelling mistakes as long as they do not get in the way of understanding.
Practise speaking out loud: answer the questions on the topic sheet and record yourself on your phone.
What to do with the result
- If you score over 70 points, you are on a good track. Keep practising the format and the timing.
- If you score between 60 and 70, pick your two weakest parts and practise them every week.
- If you score under 60, plan for a longer period. Our 8-week study plan helps you divide up the time.
After the booklet, use our practice packs in the exam format. They are our own material in the exam format, not real exam papers. You can practise writing and speaking with AI feedback — this is a training format with its own scoring scale, not the grading of the real exam.
The official sample materials and the exam rules are on Harno's website. Our exercises are independent learning material, not the official exam.