Common mistakes on the B1 exam — and how to avoid them

Some B1 exam failures have nothing to do with language ability — they're about form. These are mistakes you can avoid once you know about them in advance.

1. Using a pencil

Work written in pencil is invalid — even if you later wrote over it in pen. Write only in black or blue ink from the start. Bring a spare pen to the exam.

2. Marking more than one answer

If you mark more than one option in a multiple-choice task, the answer counts as wrong even if one of the marked options is correct. If you change your mind, clearly strike through the wrong option, don't leave both visible.

3. Leaving a page blank

This is the most expensive mistake on the exam. No skill may score zero — regardless of your total score, one zero result means failing. A flawed but genuinely written 50-word notice earns points; a blank page never does.

• Writing: always write something, even if you can't finish.
• Speaking: silence isn't a "neutral" answer, it's a near-zero result.
• Multiple choice: a wrong answer doesn't cost points, a blank box does.

4. Bringing a driving licence as ID

A driving licence is not an identity document. Candidates have been turned away for not bringing an ID card or passport. Check your document's validity a week ahead, not the morning of the exam.

5. Not reading the questions before listening

The listening part gives you time to read the questions before each task — that time exists because it's needed. Candidates who only start reading the questions while listening sometimes miss the most important part of the first playback.

6. Over-focusing on exact spelling during listening

In the listening part's short-answer task, grammar and spelling mistakes don't affect marking as long as the answer is understandable. Some candidates leave the answer blank because they're unsure of the exact spelling — that's the wrong strategy. Write what you heard, even if the spelling isn't 100% certain.

7. Underestimating registration timing

The result arrives within 40 days, and you can't register for the next exam before your result is published. Candidates who wait for the result before making a plan often lose a whole quarter because of the registration deadline. Plan ahead for both scenarios — passing or not.

In short

Most of these mistakes aren't about language ability, but about paying attention to form and rules. Read the exam-day rules before the exam, not on the morning of it, and practise a full practice exam against the clock so these rules become habit, not a surprise.

Sources: Eesti keele B1-taseme eksam — eristuskiri (test specification, Harno); Information sheet for the Estonian language proficiency examinee (Harno, 2025). Facts reviewed 14 September 2026.

An explanatory article, not legal advice.