Estonian State Exam Preparation

Estonian state language exam · CEFR level A2

A2 Estonian Exam — full student guide

Everything you need to sit the A2 eesti keele tasemeeksam: what A2 is used for when you settle in Estonia, the exam structure, how to register through EIS, exam-day rules, results, and what happens if you do not pass.

Where A2 is required — residence & settling in Estonia

A2 Estonian is one of the integration requirements checked by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) for several residence situations. The most common cases:

Temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia (elamisluba püsivalt Eestisse elama asumiseks): you must have met the integration requirement and know Estonian at least at level A2. politsei.ee
Employment-based temporary residence permit: if you have lived in Estonia for 5 years on an employment permit issued since 16 July 2018, an A2 exam pass is required when you apply to extend it or for a new permit. politsei.ee
Long-term resident's residence permit(the EU long-term / "permanent" status): the language bar is higher — at least B1, not A2. politsei.ee
Estonian citizenship by naturalisation also requires B1, plus a Constitution and Citizenship Act exam — A2 alone is not enough.

Exemptions from the language exam

You do not need to sit the exam if you obtained your basic, secondary or higher education in Estonian. PPA also generally exempts applicants who are under 15 or over 65, or who have limited active legal capacity. Confirm your own case with PPA before you register.

The A2 exam — structure and scoring (Harno)

The exam is set and run by the Education and Youth Board (Haridus- ja Noorteamet / Harno) and is built on the Council of Europe CEFR scale (A2, B1, B2, C1 are offered). It has four parts:

Total 100 points — each part (reading, writing, listening, speaking) is worth 25 points.
To pass you need at least 60% of the total (60 of 100), and no single part may score 0. harno.ee
The exam is free of charge. Legal basis: the Language Act (keeleseadus) and the minister's regulation on exam structure.

What each part looks like

Reading · Lugemine

50 min5 tasks20 points30 items

Practical everyday texts: short spoken responses, notices and announcements (teated), letters and e-mails (kirjavahetus), descriptions of rooms and places, and a short personal letter with gaps.

Task	What you do	Size	Points
Esimene ülesanne	Short spoken responses — choose the fitting reply (A/B/C)	6 items	4 p
Teine ülesanne	Match statements to three short texts (A, B, C)	6 items	4 p
Kolmas ülesanne	Match notices to their explanations — two explanations are extra	5 items	4 p
Neljas ülesanne	Longer text — multiple choice (A/B/C)	5 items	4 p
Viies ülesanne	Gap-fill — choose the right word for each blank (A/B/C)	8 items	4 p

How it is scored

One point per correct item — 30 items scaled to 20 points
Every question has exactly one correct answer
No points are deducted for wrong answers, so always guess

Prep tip: Read the questions first, then scan the text for keywords. Never leave a multiple-choice item blank — wrong answers lose nothing.

Writing · Kirjutamine

30 min2 tasks20 pointsAssessed by criteria

Assessed on content (did you cover all bullet points), vocabulary, grammar and format. Aim for at least 25–30 words per task.

Task	What you do	Size	Points
Esimene ülesanne	Fill in a form, business card or table from given data	≈25 words	8 p
Teine ülesanne	Write a short message, note or invitation (teade, sõnum, kutse)	≈30 words	12 p

How it is scored

Content — every bullet point of the task must be covered
Vocabulary and grammar — simple but correct A2 structures
Format — correct greeting, closing and signature where required

Prep tip: Cover every bullet point of the task, keep to ~25–30 words, and use the right greeting and sign-off. Off-topic or far-too-short answers can score 0.

Listening · Kuulamine

30–35 min4 tasks20 points25 items

Short dialogues, announcements, radio messages and everyday conversations. Every recording is played twice.

Task	What you do	Size	Points
Esimene ülesanne	Short dialogues — multiple choice (A/B/C)	6 items	5 p
Teine ülesanne	Announcement or message — true / false	6 items	5 p
Kolmas ülesanne	Matching speakers with statements	6 items	5 p
Neljas ülesanne	Longer conversation — short answers	7 items	5 p

How it is scored

One point per correct item — 25 items scaled to 20 points
Each recording is played twice, with a pause to read the questions first
Answers written in the wrong place are not counted, so keep the numbering exact

Prep tip: Each recording plays twice. Use the first play for the gist and the second to confirm details. Keep your answer numbers exactly aligned to the questions.

Speaking · Rääkimine

~15 min2 tasks20 pointsAssessed by criteria

A face-to-face interview with an examiner and often a partner. Assessed on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and interaction.

Task	What you do	Size	Points
Esimene ülesanne, I osa	Describe one of two pictures on the given topic	1 min prep, 1–2 min talk	4 p
Esimene ülesanne, II osa	Answer the interviewer’s questions on the same topic	≈7 questions	8 p
Teine ülesanne	Use the idea card (ideekaart) to ask your partner questions	≥6 questions	8 p

How it is scored

Fluency — speak in full sentences, not single words
Vocabulary and grammar — correct simple A2 structures
Interaction — ask and answer, keep the conversation going

Prep tip: Answer in full sentences, not single words. On the idea card, ask at least six real questions and use the correct question words (mida, millal, kus, kui tihti).

Keep practising on ExamsPoint

We have 25 mock exams per section (100 in total) built to the exact task types, item counts and time limits above, each with instant scoring and feedback. Work through a full set for every skill, aim for a 60%+ average across at least 10 mock exams, and your readiness certificate will confirm you are prepared for the real sitting.

How to register — step by step

1Go to the Examinations Information System (EIS) at eis.harno.ee and log in (ID-card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID). You need an Estonian personal ID code and a valid email address.
2Open "Registration" in the menu, click the blue Register button, choose language proficiency examination → A2 level, and pick your region / exam centre and date.
3Check your personal and exam data, then click "Confirm application". You get a confirmation by email.
4No Estonian ID code? Submit a paper application to Harno in person or by post instead of using EIS.

Deadline

Registration closes on the 1st day of the month before the exam month (e.g. register by 1 October for a November exam).

Exam dates

A2 sittings run through the year at centres including Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Jõhvi and Pärnu (Pärnu only if ≥12 people register). Current dates are shown in EIS.

Where and when the exam is held

You choose your city / exam centre when you register in EIS. The written parts and speaking are done in one day; the speaking test is sometimes scheduled for a nearby date depending on the centre.

Tallinn

Pae Gümnaasium, Pae 5. Runs on every A2 exam date.

Tartu

Tartu examination centre. Runs on every A2 exam date.

Jõhvi

Ida-Viru Kutsehariduskeskus, Kutse 13. Every A2 exam date.

Narva

Narva Eesti Gümnaasium, Kraavi 1. Every A2 exam date.

Pärnu

Pärnu Tammsaare Kool, A. H. Tammsaare pst 30. Only on some dates, and only if at least 12 people register.

Start time

The exam begins at 10:00. Doors open earlier — arrive 20–30 minutes before.

Addresses can change between sessions — always check the venue shown in your EIS confirmation. harno.ee

On the day

Bring a valid photo ID (ID-card, residence-permit card or passport). Without it you cannot sit the exam.
Arrive early — latecomers may be refused entry once the exam has started.
Order on the day: writing → listening → reading, then a short break, then speaking (recorded; sometimes on a later day depending on the centre).
Phones and notes are not allowed in the room. Full rules are in Harno's information sheet for the examinee.

Results and certificate

Results are published no later than 40 days after the exam, in EIS.
The certificate is electronic only — no paper certificate is issued. You (and PPA) can retrieve it from eesti.ee and from eis.harno.ee.
An A2 certificate does not expire, but PPA and employers may ask for a recent copy from the state portal.

If you do not pass

You fail if you score below 60% overall, or if any single part is 0.
Mandatory waiting period: anyone who scores below 45% of the possible points, or is absent without a valid reason, can only re-register after six months. harno.ee
If you scored between 45% and 59% you have failed but are generally not held to the 6-month wait — confirm the next open date in EIS. (If you were absent for a valid documented reason, contact Harno about re-registering sooner.)
You may request to review your exam paper and, within the deadline stated with your results, submit a challenge / appeal to Harno if you believe the marking is wrong.

Prepare for A2

Harno publishes an official A2 consultation booklet (konsultatsioonivihik) with sample tasks and the assessment criteria: download the A2 booklet (PDF).

Then drill each section here with exam-format mock papers:

Official contacts & sources

Harno (exam): Estonian language proficiency examinations · info@harno.ee · +372 735 0500
Registration: EIS – eis.harno.ee
A2 booklet: A2 konsultatsioonivihik (PDF) · information sheet for the examinee (PDF)
Residence permits (PPA): settling permanently in Estonia · long-term resident's permit · employment permit
Certificates: eesti.ee

Estonian language and migration rules change often. This page summarises official Harno and PPA guidance as a study aid — always confirm the current requirement, deadline and exam date for your situation on harno.ee and politsei.ee before you rely on it.