The YKI exam (Yleinen kielitutkinto) is one of the most important milestones if you want to live, work, or apply for citizenship in Finland. Especially at the B1–B2 level, it proves that you can handle everyday situations in Finnish – from talking to your child’s teacher to calling the doctor.
In 2025, the structure of the exam is familiar – reading, listening, writing, and speaking – but the focus is even more clearly on one thing: can you actually communicate in Finnish in real life? In this guide, we’ll break down the new emphasis in the grading criteria, share speaking strategies, and show you how to manage your time effectively in each section.
What’s New in the YKI Exam in 2025?
The exam format hasn’t dramatically changed, but the assessment focus is clearer. Examiners are paying special attention to three key areas:
- Communication over perfection: Small grammar mistakes are okay if your message is clear.
- Real-life usefulness: Tasks are based on everyday Finnish life – housing, work, services, health, and daily routines.
- Interaction skills: They look at how naturally you respond, continue a conversation, and adapt to different situations.
YKI 2025 in One Sentence
The exam is no longer about “perfect Finnish” – it’s about functional Finnish: can you get things done, explain yourself, and react naturally in everyday situations?
How the Grading Criteria Work (B1–B2)
If you are taking YKI for citizenship, you usually need to reach B1, but many tasks are designed so that B2-level performance can also be shown. Examiners look especially at:
- Clarity: Is your main message easy to understand?
- Range: Do you use basic vocabulary only, or do you also use connectors and some variety?
- Accuracy: Are your errors small and understandable, or do they cause confusion?
- Interaction: Do you react, ask, answer, and keep the conversation going?
You don’t need to speak like a native. You need to show that you can manage everyday life in Finnish without help.
Speaking Section Strategies (Puhuminen)
For many test-takers, the speaking part is the most stressful – but it can also become your strongest section if you prepare smartly. The speaking test checks how you react, explain, and interact, not how many fancy words you know.
1. Respond Quickly – Don’t Freeze
You are not expected to be perfect; you are expected to react. If you stay silent for a long time, your score drops.
Get used to starting with simple “buffer phrases”:
- “Joo, ymmärrän. Mun mielestä…”
- “Hyvä kysymys. Minä ajattelen, että…”
- “No, toisaalta…”
2. Use Linking Words to Sound More Advanced
Even with simple vocabulary, you can sound B1–B2 if you use connectors:
- Ensinnäkin – first of all
- Toisaalta – on the other hand
- Mun mielestä – in my opinion
- Sen takia – therefore / because of that
- Lopuksi – finally
If you add even a few of these to your answers, your speaking instantly feels more structured and natural.
3. Explain – Don’t Just Answer
A short answer is usually B1. A short answer + explanation moves you closer to B2.
Instead of just:
“Haluan valittaa.”
Say:
“Haluan valittaa naapurin metelistä, koska en pysty nukkumaan öisin ja olen tosi väsynyt
töissä.”
4. Practice the Most Common Situations
Speaking tasks are based on realistic scenarios. Make sure you can handle situations like:
- Booking a time: doctor, hairdresser, official meeting
- Making a complaint about noise, service, or a broken product
- Describing your job, studies, or typical day
- Giving your opinion politely about a topic (school system, work life, hobbies)
- Reacting to unexpected situations (train is late, child is sick, invoice is wrong)
Quick Speaking Practice Idea
Once a day, choose one situation – for example, “calling the health center” – and speak for 1–2 minutes out loud as if you were really on the phone.
Don’t write a script. Just practice reacting and explaining. This builds exactly the skill the YKI speaking part measures.
Time Management for Each Section
Good Finnish is important, but strategy can easily give you an extra “half level”. Here is how you can manage your time in each part of the exam.
Reading (Luetun ymmärtäminen)
- Start with the easiest-looking texts to build confidence.
- Don’t get stuck on one task – move on and come back later if you have time.
- Focus on titles, keywords, and repeated words to guess the main idea.
Listening (Kuullun ymmärtäminen)
- Read the answer options before the audio starts.
- Don’t panic if you miss a word – you only need the overall message.
- Use the second listening to confirm, not to hear everything perfectly.
Writing (Kirjoittaminen)
To reach B1–B2, your texts should be clear, structured, and on-topic. A simple time plan:
- 3 minutes: Read the task carefully. Who are you writing to? What is the purpose?
- 10 minutes: Make a quick outline (beginning, 2–3 main points, ending).
- 20 minutes: Write without over-editing every sentence.
- 5 minutes: Check basic mistakes (verb endings, cases, typos).
Speaking (Puhuminen)
In the speaking part, time is tight. Use the short preparation time to:
- Choose 2–3 key ideas you want to say.
- Think of one or two connectors you’ll use (for example, “ensinnäkin… toisaalta…”).
- Decide how you’ll start the answer so you don’t freeze.
How to Prepare Effectively in 2025
You don’t need 4 hours a day to prepare. Even with a busy life, you can make real progress with focused habits.
1. Practice with YKI-style Tasks
The exam follows certain patterns. Get used to:
- Writing short emails, messages, and complaint letters in Finnish.
- Reacting to invitations, offers, and problems.
- Describing your life: work, studies, hobbies, family, and future plans.
2. Speak Out Loud Every Day
Even 10 minutes per day helps your fluency:
- Talk to yourself about what you are doing: cooking, cleaning, working.
- Answer imaginary questions an examiner might ask you.
- Use Finnish with friends, your partner, or classmates whenever possible.
3. Build Vocabulary in Key Areas
Focus on words and phrases around:
- Health and appointments
- Housing, rent, neighbours
- Work, unemployment office, studies
- Daily life: shopping, transport, bank, daycare, school
4. Simulate the Real Exam
At least a few times before the test day, try to:
- Do a full reading or listening section with a timer.
- Write a text within the real time limit.
- Record yourself answering speaking-style tasks and listen back.
Final Words: You Can Pass YKI in 2025
The YKI exam is not a test of being “perfect” – it’s a test of whether you can live your real life in Finnish. If you:
- React naturally instead of staying silent,
- Explain your thoughts with simple, clear sentences,
- Use a few connectors and everyday phrases,
- Manage your time and stay calm,
…you are already much closer to passing than you think.
Let 2025 be the year you tick this huge goal off your list and say proudly: “Minä läpäisin YKI-kokeen.”