The Estonian A2 exam
The state A2 proficiency exam (tasemeeksam) is run by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno). In short: what it consists of, how many points you need and how to prepare.
Checked against Harno materials in September 2026. Rules can change — check the Harno website before you register.
At a glance
- Parts
- writing, listening, reading, speaking
- Points
- 20 per part, 80 in total
- Pass mark
- 48 of 80 (60%), and no part may score 0
- Written part
- 1 h 50 min
- Speaking
- in a pair with another candidate, about 12 minutes
- Cost
- free
What the exam consists of
The exam starts with writing, then listening and reading. The speaking part is on the same day, 15–20 minutes after the written part.
Writing (kirjutamine)
30 min20 pts- Task 1: from a business card of a person or an institution, write who it is, where it is, when it is open and how to get in touch — at least 25 words.
- Task 2: a short message, invitation or description on a given topic (e.g. “My weekend”) — at least 30 words.
Listening (kuulamine)
30 min20 pts- Choose the picture, number or word that matches what you hear.
- Mark whether a statement is true or false.
- Write a short answer — a word or a number.
- Match what you hear with the answer options.
Reading (lugemine)
50 min20 pts- Choose the right answer (A, B or C) for short sentences.
- Find which of three texts a statement belongs to.
- Match notices with their explanations.
- Answer questions on a text (A, B or C).
- Fill the gaps in a text with suitable words.
Speaking (rääkimine)
≈ 12 min20 pts- Task 1 (≈ 6–7 min): a topic such as “Family and relatives” — talk about a picture and answer the examiner’s questions.
- Task 2 (≈ 5–6 min): a conversation with your partner using an idea card — ask them, for example, about food or daily life.
- Answers are recorded; the second marking is done from the recording.
How many points you need
- Each part is marked out of 20 points, 80 in total.
- You pass with at least 60% — that is 48 points.
- None of the four parts may score 0: 48 points with a zero in one part is a fail.
Registration, dates and results
- Register in the examination information system EIS (eis.harno.ee). A valid e-mail address is required.
- Registration closes on the 1st of the month before the exam.
- The exam is free.
- Exams are held once a quarter in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Jõhvi; in Pärnu twice a year if enough people register.
- Results come within 40 days, in EIS and on eesti.ee. The certificate is electronic only.
On the day
- The exam starts at exactly 10:00 and latecomers are not admitted. Arrive 15–20 minutes early.
- Bring a valid document: ID card, passport or residence permit. A driving licence is not accepted.
- Dictionaries, textbooks, phones, smartwatches and headphones are not allowed.
- Write legibly in black or blue pen; in multiple-choice tasks use capital letters (A, B, C).
Exam topics
The exam tasks are built on everyday A2 topics: yourself and your family, education and work, services, home and daily life, health, free time, shopping, food, relationships, town and nature, culture, travel. The A2 topics on this site follow the same 13 blocks of the Harno handbook.
A2 grammar
- Genitive: whose?
- Pronouns: mind, sind, teda
- With, without: -ga, -ta
- Becoming: -ks, -na
- Comparison: bigger, biggest
- Imperative: tule, ära mine
- Past tense: more verbs
- Perfect: olen käinud
- Politely: tahaksin, saaksin
- Future and plans
- Verbs: võtma, andma, panema
- Infinitives: -ma, -da, -mas, -mast
- The object: raamatu or raamatut?
- käima, minema, tulema, sõitma
- Plural in the cases
- Postpositions: juurde, juures, vastas
- Complex sentences: et, kui, kuigi
- When, in, ago
- Years and big numbers
How to prepare
- Work through A2 grammar: cases, the past tense, the conditional, käima vs minema, the object raamatu / raamatut.
- Learn vocabulary by exam topic and test yourself with exercises right away.
- Write short texts of 25–30 words: a notice, an invitation, your weekend.
- Listen to Estonian every day: radio, podcasts, announcements on public transport.
- Practise speaking out loud: your family, work and weekend, questions to a partner.
- Look through the official Harno booklet with sample tasks and answers.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need to pass the Estonian A2 exam?
48 points out of 80, that is 60%. Each of the four parts — writing, listening, reading and speaking — is marked out of 20, and no part may score zero.
How much does the A2 exam cost?
The exam is free.
How do you register for the A2 exam?
Through the examination information system EIS (eis.harno.ee). Registration closes on the 1st of the month before the exam, and you need a valid e-mail address.
How long is the A2 exam?
The written part takes 1 hour 50 minutes: writing 30 minutes, listening 30 minutes, reading 50 minutes. The speaking part takes about 12 minutes in a pair with another candidate, on the same day.
Can you use a dictionary in the exam?
No. Dictionaries, textbooks, phones, smartwatches and headphones are not allowed.
When and where do the results come?
Within 40 days of the exam, in EIS and on eesti.ee. The certificate is electronic only.
Where and how often is the exam held?
Once a quarter in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Jõhvi; in Pärnu twice a year if enough people register.
How can you prepare for the A2 exam for free?
Work through the A2 topics on this site, take the final A2 test and look through the official Harno booklet with sample tasks.