What is the YKI test
The Finnish National Certificates of Language Proficiency (YKI) test measures functional language proficiency in everyday situations. You can officially prove your language skills in different languages with a National Certificate of Language Proficiency.
You can take the YKI test at the basic level, intermediate level, or advanced level. Before registering for the test, find out when you need the certificate and at what level. There is fee to enter YKI test ( currently €176). You need to search for correct timing and location for YKI onsite Finland testing.
Read more about selecting the right YKI test on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education: https://www.oph.fi/en/education-and-qualifications/selecting-right-yki-test-test-days
YKI is a Finnish language test, that you can take to prove your language level. The test can be done in three difficulty levels (novice, intermediate, advanced) and it consists of 4 subtests: reading, writing, listening & speaking.
Each subtest is graded from 1-6, depending on the difficulty level. E.g. by taking the intermediate exam, each subtest is graded as "< 3", "3" or "4". The grades are based on the CEFR-levels:
YKI
CEFR
1 (basic test)
A1
2 (basic test)
A2
3 (intermediate test)
B1
4 (intermediate test)
B2
5 (advanced test)
C1
6 (advanced test)
C2
2. YKI test for Finnish citizenship
The most common YKI tests are the intermediate Finnish & Swedish, as in most cases it is required for Finnish citizenship as a proof of your language level (there are some exceptions https://migri.fi/en/exceptions-to-the-language-skills-requirement).
Eligibility for citizenship works as follows. A subtest is passed if you get 3 or higher as grade. You don't need to pass all four areas, as long as you pass:
1. Reading AND Speaking, OR
2. Writing AND Listening, OR
3. Writing AND Speaking.
E.g. if you take the intermediate test and only pass reading & writing, you will not be eligible to apply for Finnish citizenship.
Around 50% of intermediate Finnish or Swedish YKI participants get a score that is eligible for the citizenship. Most common combination to pass is writing & speaking. In recent years, Swedish has been an increasingly popular exam language, possibly because it is easier to learn than Finnish and there are more opportunities in the Nordic countries for Swedish speaking people.
YKI test results never expire & they results from different tests can be combined to apply to for citizenship. E.g. if you have already passed writing in a previous test, and now only passed listening, you can still apply for citizenship.
3. YKI test structure
The test consists of four subtests, that are graded individually.
Reading comprehension (60min)
Types of texts include: letter, message, announcement, advertisement, news, informational text and story.
Six text snippets, to which you need to answer multiple-choice or with short texts.
Listening comprehension (30min)
Six audio clips that can vary from 1 to 5min in length. You get to hear the recordings twice.
Like in reading comprehension, answers are either multiple choice, yes/no or short written answers.
Writing (50min)
Three parts, first two are shorter texts, like writing an email or a complaint.
The third part is longer, and you have to express your opinion on one of two topics.
Speaking (20min)
First part is a question about yourself with sub-questions. You have 1,5min time to answer.
Second part has two conversations with the computer. You are given written hints on what you should say.
Third part is 5 different situations where you need to say something. 20-30s to prepare and 20-30s to answer.
In the last part you have 1,5min to prep for a 2min monologue about a topic with sub-questions.
4. Register for the YKI test
In 2024, the intermediate level test costs 176€. Registrations open 1-2 months before the test. Test slots get filled in minutes in the larger cities.
Test dates in 2024:
18.5.
31.8.
4.10.
9.11.
You can find up-to-date information about the availability of the tests in different cities, and register to tests at: https://yki.opintopolku.fi/yki/ilmoittautuminen .
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Attached picture of a certificate of passed YKI test.
