For applying for citizenship or studies at the Finnish university, you most likely would need to pass YKI Keskitaso. It corresponds to lower (if you get grade 3)/upper intermediate (grade 4) knowledge of the Finnish language under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
YKI Keskitaso contains of following sections:
- Reading comprehension (multiple choice questions, true or false questions, open questions)
- Writing (three writing tasks, most likely, two e-mails and one opinion essay)
- Listening comprehension (multiple choice questions, true or false questions, open questions)
- Speaking (dialogues and monologues)
Some facts and things to remember
✎Exam spots get full really fast - make sure to register for exam as soon as registration opens
✎You can freely choose the place where to pass the exam, especially, if spots in your place of residence get booked fast. If you have to travel to another town, come in advance (even in Finland trains may be late!). Moreover, on some test days, tests are organized not in all test centers ("HUOM! Ei kaikissa tutkintopaikoissa")
✎Be ready that test center may require immediate payment upon registration (slightly over 100 EUR, confirm the fee with the test center)
✎Be ready to write using pencil, not pen, bring sharpener and eraser
Useful links
Check YKI testi calendar (Opetushallitus) Infopankki on YKI
P.S. It is also possible to pass YKI in Swedish, but it is out of scope of this blog. I highly recommend passing YKI in Finnish, as in most cases, it will benefit your ability to survive in everyday Finnish life. YKI questions are not theoretical, in contrast, they are all tailored to daily situations you may encounter (shopping, making an appointment with doctor, meeting friends, bringing your bike to repair, and so on).