The YKI exam (Yleinen kielitutkinto) is the National Certificate of Language Competence in Finland. The YKI exam is also available for Swedish and North Sami.
The YKI test is an important tool for certifying language skills in Finland, especially for those seeking citizenship or needing to prove their language proficiency for employment or educational purposes.
YKI Levels
The YKI has three main levels, which in turn are divided into six levels that correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
- Basic level (perustase): CEFR levels A1 and A2 (YKI 1 and 2).
- Intermediate level (keskitaso): CEFR levels B1 and B2 (YKI 3 and 4).
- Advanced level (ylin taso): CEFR levels C1 and C2 (YKI 5 and 6).
The test consists of four parts that assess language skills in different areas:
- Listening comprehension (puheen ymmärtäminen)
- Reading Comprehension (luetun ymmärtäminen)
- Written expression (kirjoittaminen)
- Oral expression (puhuminen)
You receive a separate evaluation for each subtest. To obtain the certificate, you generally need to achieve a certain level in all or a specific combination of the subtests, depending on the purpose of the certificate (e.g., for citizenship).
More information and registration for the exam can be found on the website of Opetushallitus.
Preparation course for YKI keskitaso at Institut Nòrdic
This year, Institut Nòrdic offers the preparation course for the official exam. YKI keskitaso.
Finnish – official YKI exam preparation. Wednesday from 16 to 17:45h
- Start date: 29th October 2025
- End date: January 14th 2026
- Time: Wednesday 16-17:45h (CET)
- Sessions: 10
- Price: 240€ + material
Make your way to Finland with the Institut Nòrdic guarantee!
