Free Practice Questions for Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam

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Exam Review

Key Facts: Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam Exam

2 parts, not 5

Lugemine (reading) and Kirjutamine (writing) only - no listening, speaking or separate language-structure section, unlike the Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam

Harno; ERR, 'Harno avalikustas tänavused eesti keele riigieksami teemad' (2026)

40 / 60 point split

Lugemine worth 40 of 100 points, Kirjutamine worth 60 (content 25, correctness 20, style 10, structure 5), essay scored by two independent assessors

Eesti keele riigieksami hindamisjuhendid (Harno assessment guidelines)

360 minutes, no break

Single continuous sitting covering both sections, with four text/topic variants to choose from

Eesti keele riigieksami eksaminandi meelespea (Harno exam-day guidance)

8,854 candidates, 59.6 avg (2026)

Number of candidates who sat the spring-2026 exam and their average score out of 100, unchanged from 2025

ERR, 'Harno: eksamitulemused püsivad mullusega sarnasel tasemel' (2026)

8 perfect scores of 8,854

Only 8 candidates nationwide scored a perfect 100 in 2026; a perfect score requires flawless work, 'not even a single typo,' per Harno's assessment-center head

ERR, 'Harno: eksamitulemused püsivad mullusega sarnasel tasemel' (2026)

ÕS dictionary permitted (ÕS 1999+)

The only language riigieksam in the family allowing a spelling dictionary during the exam; the second-language exam permits none

Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium, riigieksamid page

Free 100-question English-language MCQ study bank for Estonia's native-speaker eesti keele riigieksam, covering literary/journalistic/popular-science reading comprehension, argumentative-essay structure and register, and advanced native-level spelling/mechanics behind the official two-part written exam. Official exam: Lugemine/Reading (40 of 100 points, three tasks per one of four text variants) plus Kirjutamine/Writing (60 points, a single ~400-word arutlev kirjand scored on content/correctness/style/structure by two assessors), 360 minutes total with no break. Written exam 13 April 2026, makeup 25 May 2026. Structurally far simpler than the Eesti keel teise keelena exam (2 parts vs. 5, ÕS dictionary allowed vs. none, no CEFR certificate). No substitution/exemption route exists for this native exam. Not an official-format simulation and not a replacement for essay-writing practice; no fee for regular gümnaasium candidates.

Sample Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Fill the blank with the grammatically correct verb form: "Ma tahan homme raamatut ___." (I want to read a book tomorrow.)

A.lugeda

B.lugema

C.loeb

D.lugemas

Explanation: After verbs expressing a wish or ability, such as tahtma (to want), Estonian uses the da-infinitive (here, lugeda). The da-infinitive is the default citation form used as the object of most main verbs.

2Fill the blank with the grammatically correct verb form: "Ma lähen kooli ___." (I am going to school to study.)

A.õppima

B.õppida

C.õpin

D.õppinud

Explanation: After verbs of motion such as minema (to go), Estonian uses the ma-infinitive to express the purpose of the movement, so õppima ("[in order] to study") is correct here.

3Which relative pronoun correctly completes this sentence: "Õpetaja, ___ meid eesti keelt õpetas, on nüüd pensionil." (The teacher who taught us Estonian is now retired.)

A.kes

B.mis

C.kus

D.mida

Explanation: Kes ("who") is the relative pronoun used to refer back to a person, here õpetaja ("teacher"). Mis ("which/that") is reserved for things, animals, and abstract nouns.

4Which sentence uses Estonian capitalization correctly?

A.Ta räägib väga hästi eesti keelt.

B.Ta räägib väga hästi Eesti Keelt.

C.Ta räägib väga hästi Eesti keelt.

D.Ta räägib väga hästi eesti Keelt.

Explanation: In Estonian, language and nationality words such as eesti ("Estonian") are written in lowercase as ordinary adjectives, unlike in English. Only the country name itself, Eesti, is capitalized as a proper noun.

5Which word pair is spelled with the correct vowel length to distinguish its meaning: "Poes maksis see kott ___ eurot" (the bag cost one hundred euros) versus "Ma pean sulle kirja ___" (I need to send you a letter)?

A.sada / saatma

B.saada / sada

C.sada / saada

D.saata / sada

Explanation: Sada ("hundred") has a short vowel, while saada (the da-infinitive of saatma, "to send") has a long double vowel. Estonian regularly distinguishes otherwise similar-looking words by vowel and consonant length, so the pair sada / saada fits both blanks correctly.

6Which sentence correctly writes the compound noun kokkuvõte ("summary") as a single word?

A.Ma tegin artiklist lühikese kokkuvõtte.

B.Ma tegin artiklist lühikese kokku võtte.

C.Ma tegin artiklist lühikese kokku-võtte.

D.Ma tegin artiklist lühikese kokkuvõte.

Explanation: Kokkuvõte ("summary") is a fixed compound noun written as one word; its genitive singular form is kokkuvõtte, which is required here because tegin ("I made") takes a total object marking a completed action.

7Which sentence correctly uses the -tud past participle to describe a book that was written by someone else, rather than one that did the writing itself?

A.See raamat on eesti keeles kirjutatud.

B.See raamat on eesti keeles kirjutanud.

C.See raamat on eesti keeles kirjutama.

D.See raamat on eesti keeles kirjutades.

Explanation: Kirjutatud is the passive past (tud-) participle, used when the subject is the target of the action rather than its performer; a book is written by someone, so the passive form fits.

8Which sentence is punctuated correctly according to Estonian rules for subordinate clauses?

A.Ta ütles, et tuleb hiljem koju.

B.Ta ütles et, tuleb hiljem koju.

C.Ta ütles et tuleb hiljem koju.

D.Ta, ütles et tuleb hiljem koju.

Explanation: A main clause and a subordinate clause introduced by et ("that") are always separated by a comma placed immediately before the conjunction, giving Ta ütles, et tuleb hiljem koju.

9Which sentence correctly needs NO comma before ja ("and") because it simply joins two equal items in a list?

A.Ma ostsin poest õunu ja apelsine.

B.Ma ostsin poest õunu, ja apelsine.

C.Ma, ostsin poest õunu ja apelsine.

D.Ma ostsin, poest õunu ja apelsine.

Explanation: The coordinating conjunction ja normally joins equal elements, such as two objects in a list, without a comma: Ma ostsin poest õunu ja apelsine needs no comma at all.

10Which sentence correctly places the -gi suffix, which must always attach to the very end of the word it modifies?

A.Ma ei öelnud sellest kellelegi midagi.

B.Ma ei öelnud sellest kellegile midagi.

C.Ma ei öelnud sellest kellegilegi midagi.

D.Ma ei öelnud sellest kelle-legi midagi.

Explanation: Clitic suffixes such as -gi/-ki always attach after the full case ending, so the allative form kellele ("to someone") plus -gi becomes kellelegi, never split or reordered mid-word.

About the Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam Exam

The Estonian Upper-Secondary State Examination in Estonian (eesti keele riigieksam) is the national gümnaasiumi riigieksam that Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) administers each spring to students whose language of instruction is Estonian - the large majority of Estonian gümnaasium graduates. Every graduate must sit either this exam or the Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam, never both; only students formally enrolled in the second-language curriculum track, or vocational-secondary students without Estonian as their instruction language, may take that alternative instead. Structurally, the native exam is much simpler than its second-language counterpart: just two parts, Lugemine (reading) and Kirjutamine (writing), with no listening, speaking or dedicated grammar-structure section, sat in a single 360-minute (6-hour) session with no break. The Lugemine section offers four variants of texts representing ilukirjandus (literary fiction), publitsistika (journalism) and populaarteadus (popular science) - the spring 2026 sitting used a Tiia Toomet short story about a grandmother's travels, a Mats Traat poetry excerpt, an article on AI chatbots and relationships, and a careers feature - each with three tasks testing information retrieval, comprehension and analytical reasoning, worth 40 of 100 points. The Kirjutamine section requires a single ~400-word arutlev kirjand (argumentative essay) chosen from four assigned topics, worth the remaining 60 points (content 25, correctness 20, style/wording 10, form/structure 5) and independently scored by two assessors. Uniquely among the three language riigieksamid, candidates may use an official Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat (ÕS) spelling dictionary during the exam - any edition from ÕS 1999 onward - with no other aids permitted; the second-language exam, by contrast, allows no dictionaries at all. A candidate needs only 1 point to satisfy the compulsory graduation requirement; in spring 2026, 8,854 candidates sat the exam averaging 59.6 points, with just 8 nationwide achieving a perfect 100 (assessors require flawless work, 'not even a single typo,' for a perfect score) - and Harno's own assessment-center feedback flagged that too many candidates still submit descriptive storytelling instead of the required reasoned argumentation. Unlike the English or second-language riigieksamid, there is no international-certificate substitution or exemption route for this native-language exam. This free bank of 100 original multiple-choice questions is an English-language study adaptation designed to build and check command of the literary/journalistic/popular-science reading-comprehension, argumentative-essay and advanced native-level spelling/mechanics skills the riigieksam draws on. It is not a simulation of the official exam, which requires handwritten open-response reading answers and an extended, independently graded essay, and it is not a replacement for dedicated essay-writing practice.

Exam sponsor: Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) - the Estonian Education and Youth Board, under the Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium (Ministry of Education and Research). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Official national gümnaasiumi riigieksam administered once a year each spring by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) under the Põhikooli- ja gümnaasiumiseadus and its implementing final-examination regulation. Every gümnaasium graduate must sit either the Eesti keel (native-speaker) or the Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam, never both; this native exam is the default, compulsory choice for students whose language of instruction is Estonian. It has a materially simpler structure than the second-language exam - just Lugemine (reading) and Kirjutamine (writing), with no listening, speaking or dedicated language-structure section. The Lugemine section offers four text variants drawn from ilukirjandus (literary fiction), publitsistika (journalism) and populaarteadus (popular science), each with three tasks testing information retrieval, comprehension and analytical reasoning. The Kirjutamine section requires a single ~400-word arutlev kirjand chosen from four topics, independently scored by two assessors on content, correctness, style and structure. Uniquely among the three language riigieksamid, an official Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat (ÕS) spelling dictionary (any edition from ÕS 1999 onward) is permitted during the exam - the reverse of the second-language exam, which allows no dictionaries. There is no international-certificate substitution or exemption route for this native-language exam, unlike the English riigieksam's Cambridge/IELTS/TOEFL option or the second-language exam's C1-certificate exemption. This bank is a unified English-language MCQ study adaptation - it does not reproduce the official open-response reading tasks or the extended handwritten essay, and it is not a replacement for dedicated essay-writing practice.

Time Limit

360 minutes (6 hours) in a single sitting with no scheduled break, covering both the Lugemine and Kirjutamine sections in one exam booklet, with four text/topic variants to choose from. For the 2025/2026 school year, the written paper is scheduled for 13 April 2026 - traditionally the opening exam of the spring riigieksamid period - with a lisaeksam (makeup) sitting on 25 May 2026 for candidates with a valid excuse.

Passing Score

Scored on a 0-100 point scale, weighted approximately 40% Lugemine/Reading and 60% Kirjutamine/Writing (content 25, correctness 20, style/wording 10, form/structure 5 of the writing total), with the essay independently scored by two assessors. A candidate who scores at least 1 point is considered to have completed the exam and satisfies the compulsory graduation requirement; there is no separate proficiency-certificate threshold, since this is a native-language literacy exam rather than a CEFR-leveled test. In spring 2026, 8,854 candidates sat the exam, averaging 59.6 points (identical to 2025), and only 8 nationwide scored a perfect 100 - Harno's assessment-center head noted that a perfect score allows 'not even a single typo.'

Exam / Certification Fees

No fee for regularly enrolled gümnaasium candidates - riigieksamid are free state examinations administered by Harno. Unlike the English or second-language riigieksamid, there is no substitution or exemption route (such as an international certificate) for this native-language exam, so it carries no alternative cost path either.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Study emphasis ~28%

Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis

Gist, detail, inference, tone, theme and rhetorical-device recognition, plus fact-versus-opinion judgment, across original literary, journalistic and popular-science passages.

Study emphasis ~23%

Essay Writing and Argumentation

Thesis construction, concession/counterargument structure, cohesion devices, formal register, and correcting the description-instead-of-argumentation weakness Harno's assessors flag most often.

Study emphasis ~49%

Advanced Spelling, Grammar and Mechanics

Total-vs-partial object case, compound-word spelling, vowel length, punctuation before subordinate/parenthetical clauses, direct-speech conventions, clitic placement, case government and causal-conjunction precision.

Preparing for the Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Scored on a 0-100 point scale, weighted approximately 40% Lugemine/Reading and 60% Kirjutamine/Writing (content 25, correctness 20, style/wording 10, form/structure 5 of the writing total), with the essay independently scored by two assessors. A candidate who scores at least 1 point is considered to have completed the exam and satisfies the compulsory graduation requirement; there is no separate proficiency-certificate threshold, since this is a native-language literacy exam rather than a CEFR-leveled test. In spring 2026, 8,854 candidates sat the exam, averaging 59.6 points (identical to 2025), and only 8 nationwide scored a perfect 100 - Harno's assessment-center head noted that a perfect score allows 'not even a single typo.'
Assessment: Official national gümnaasiumi riigieksam administered once a year each spring by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) under the Põhikooli- ja gümnaasiumiseadus and its implementing final-examination regulation. Every gümnaasium graduate must sit either the Eesti keel (native-speaker) or the Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam, never both; this native exam is the default, compulsory choice for students whose language of instruction is Estonian. It has a materially simpler structure than the second-language exam - just Lugemine (reading) and Kirjutamine (writing), with no listening, speaking or dedicated language-structure section. The Lugemine section offers four text variants drawn from ilukirjandus (literary fiction), publitsistika (journalism) and populaarteadus (popular science), each with three tasks testing information retrieval, comprehension and analytical reasoning. The Kirjutamine section requires a single ~400-word arutlev kirjand chosen from four topics, independently scored by two assessors on content, correctness, style and structure. Uniquely among the three language riigieksamid, an official Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat (ÕS) spelling dictionary (any edition from ÕS 1999 onward) is permitted during the exam - the reverse of the second-language exam, which allows no dictionaries. There is no international-certificate substitution or exemption route for this native-language exam, unlike the English riigieksam's Cambridge/IELTS/TOEFL option or the second-language exam's C1-certificate exemption. This bank is a unified English-language MCQ study adaptation - it does not reproduce the official open-response reading tasks or the extended handwritten essay, and it is not a replacement for dedicated essay-writing practice.
Time limit: 360 minutes (6 hours) in a single sitting with no scheduled break, covering both the Lugemine and Kirjutamine sections in one exam booklet, with four text/topic variants to choose from. For the 2025/2026 school year, the written paper is scheduled for 13 April 2026 - traditionally the opening exam of the spring riigieksamid period - with a lisaeksam (makeup) sitting on 25 May 2026 for candidates with a valid excuse.
Exam / certification fees: No fee for regularly enrolled gümnaasium candidates - riigieksamid are free state examinations administered by Harno. Unlike the English or second-language riigieksamid, there is no substitution or exemption route (such as an international certificate) for this native-language exam, so it carries no alternative cost path either. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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Estonian Upper-Secondary Estonian (Native Language) Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Practise the two sections in the same 360-minute, no-break rhythm the real exam uses, since Lugemine and Kirjutamine are sat back-to-back in one booklet with no built-in recovery time.

2Read across all three text types - ilukirjandus (fiction), publitsistika (journalism) and populaarteadus (popular science) - since the four Lugemine variants each year draw from different genres, and gist, inference and analytical-reasoning skills differ subtly across them.

3Before drafting an essay, write a one-sentence thesis and a rough for/against outline first: Harno's own assessors report that the single biggest essay weakness is descriptive storytelling submitted in place of reasoned argumentation.

4Drill total-versus-partial object case (aspect), kokku-lahku kirjutamine (compound-word spelling) and vowel-length minimal pairs specifically - these are the native-level error patterns that most often cost points in the õigekeelsus (correctness) score on both sections.

5Practise punctuation before subordinate and parenthetical clauses and direct-speech conventions in your own writing, not just in isolated drills, since the writing score's correctness component is graded within your actual essay, not a separate multiple-choice section.

6Familiarize yourself with your permitted Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat (ÕS) before exam day - knowing how to look up a word's compound-spelling or inflected form quickly during the timed exam is itself a practiced skill.

7Since a perfect score requires zero errors of any kind, build a habit of a final proofreading pass focused purely on spelling and punctuation after finishing the content of both the reading answers and the essay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official exam multiple-choice?

No. The official eesti keele riigieksam combines an open-response Lugemine (reading) section - three tasks per text variant requiring 50-100-word written answers - with a Kirjutamine (writing) section requiring a full ~400-word argumentative essay (arutlev kirjand). This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for learning and checking the underlying reading-comprehension, text-analysis and essay-writing skills - it is not a simulation of the official format and does not replace dedicated essay-writing practice.

How is this exam different from the Eesti keel teise keelena riigieksam?

Structurally, not just linguistically. Every gümnaasium graduate sits one of the two, never both. This native exam has only two parts (Lugemine and Kirjutamine), runs 360 minutes with no break, has no listening, speaking or grammar-structure section, and permits an official ÕS spelling dictionary. The Eesti keel teise keelena exam adds a dedicated Keele struktuur (grammar) section and a Rääkimine (speaking) interview, runs 260 written minutes plus a break, and permits no dictionaries at all.

What score do I need, and what does it get me?

Scoring at least 1 point (of 100) means the exam counts as completed and satisfies the compulsory graduation requirement. Unlike the second-language or English riigieksamid, there is no separate proficiency-certificate threshold to chase, since this is a native-language literacy exam rather than a CEFR-leveled test - the numeric score itself is what matters for university admission and scholarship purposes. In spring 2026, 8,854 candidates averaged 59.6 points, and only 8 nationwide scored a perfect 100.

Can I substitute an international certificate the way English riigieksam candidates can use Cambridge, IELTS or TOEFL?

No. There is no substitution or exemption route for this native-language exam - it tests native command of Estonian, not foreign-language proficiency, so no international certificate can stand in for it. (By contrast, students who study Estonian as a second language may qualify for a C1-certificate exemption from their own, different exam.)

What can I bring into the exam?

Only an official Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat (ÕS) spelling dictionary - any edition from ÕS 1999 onward, including the current ÕS 2025 - which the school provides in the exam room. No other dictionaries, notes, devices or reference materials are permitted. This is the one language riigieksam in the family that allows a dictionary at all; the second-language exam permits none.

When is the 2026 exam?

Per Harno's confirmed exam calendar for the 2025/2026 school year, the written paper is scheduled for 13 April 2026, traditionally the opening exam of the spring riigieksamid period. A lisaeksam (makeup) sitting is available for candidates with a valid excuse on 25 May 2026.

What's the most common weakness examiners flag in the essay section?

Per Harno's own 2026 assessment-center feedback, too many candidates submit descriptive storytelling (kirjeldamist-jutustamist) when the task calls for reasoned argumentation (arutlemist) - restating a personal anecdote instead of building and supporting a clear position. Orthographic slips are the other major cost: assessors note that even a single typo rules out a perfect score.