Language courses in Finland are divided into levels A to C, with A being the beginner’s level. The levels are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The YKI test for Finnish citizenship will test your knowledge at the level of B1. The different levels are:
A1: At this level, you have extremely limited knowledge of the language and are close to being a beginner.
A2: You still have relatively little knowledge of the language.
B1: You begin to have a good grasp of the language, and can express yourself quite well in certain contexts.
B2: You have a good knowledge of the language.
C1 and C2 are advanced levels. If you are at these levels, you have likely studied the language at a university or similar level, and can speak and write the language fluently.
If you’re unsure about what level you’re at in Swedish, you can take this online test. Many education providers also test their new students’ language levels before enrollment.
Many taught Swedish language courses use the books in the series Rivstart. In the picture above, you can see which Rivstart book you may need for the level you plan to study at. You can buy this book new or second-hand.
