Free Practice Questions for Estonian Basic-School Estonian as a Second Language Exam

Only in part. The written components combine multiple-choice, gap-fill and short open-ended items across kirjutamine (writing), kuulamine (listening, with recorded audio) and lugemine (reading), plus a separately scheduled, individually assessed rääkimine (speaking) interview conducted with an examiner and a paired fellow candidate. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for learning and checking the underlying case-system, vocabulary, reading, listening-judgement and writing-register skills - it is not a simulation of the official format and does not replace dedicated writing or speaking practice.

It is mandatory for the students it applies to, not an elective. Every basic-school graduate must pass an Estonian-language exam, Matemaatika, and a separate valikeksam (elective) chosen from subjects like biology, history, physics or English. Eesti keel teise keelena is the required substitute for the native Eesti keel exam - it applies to students whose language of instruction is not Estonian, students in immersion classes, and students studying under the second-language curriculum track (overwhelmingly Russian-medium school graduates), and is entirely separate from the nine-subject valikeksam list.

Two different thresholds matter. Scoring roughly 50 of 100 points means the exam counts as completed and satisfies the basic-school graduation requirement. Scoring at least 60% of the maximum, with no individual sub-skill (kirjutamine, kuulamine, lugemine, rääkimine) at 0 points, additionally earns a separate, nationally recognised eesti keele B1-taseme tunnistus (Estonian B1-level certificate) from Harno - valuable later for citizenship applications and many jobs.

Four skills at B1 CEFR level: kirjutamine (writing, 30 minutes), kuulamine (listening with recorded audio, 30-35 minutes) and lugemine (reading, 50 minutes) on one written exam day, plus a separately scheduled rääkimine (speaking) interview of about 15-18 minutes in which a candidate describes pictures and discusses topics with an examiner and a paired fellow candidate. Harno's stated priority is practical communicative ability - being understood - rather than flawless grammar.

This is the simpler, Grade 9 basic-school version, tested at B1 level. The upper-secondary Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam in the same exam family is tested at the harder B2 level, adds a fully separate written keele struktuur (grammar/language-structure) section, and covers more advanced grammar such as participles, converbs and complex case government. A basic-school student who already holds a B1 result may optionally attempt the harder B2 exam in Grade 9 alongside gümnaasium graduates.

For the 2025/2026 school year, the written paper is scheduled for 21 April 2026, with individually scheduled oral interviews conducted 21-24 April 2026. Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, this exam (together with the English elective) is planned to become one of the first Estonian basic-school subjects delivered as a fully digital e-exam.

No. Basic education in Estonia is free, and this unified final exam - including the combined official Estonian B1-level language certificate obtainable through it - is administered by Harno at no cost to regularly enrolled Grade 9 students.