YKI speaking test: tasks, assessment and model answers
For many learners, speaking is the hardest part of YKI. Here is what the intermediate speaking tasks are like, how they are graded, and how to practise.
6 min read · Updated 10 October 2026
How the speaking test works
At the intermediate level (keskitaso), the speaking test is done in a language studio. You wear headphones, hear instructions and recorded speakers, and speak into a microphone. There is no examiner in front of you. Your answers are recorded and graded later by trained raters.
This feels strange at first. You talk to a recording, and the timing is fixed. When the time is up, the next task starts. That is why practising with a timer matters so much.
OPH plans to move the Finnish and Swedish YKI tests to computers from the start of 2027, with pilots in late 2026. The task types should stay similar, but check the current format on oph.fi before your test day.
The types of speaking tasks
The official YKI description lists tasks such as these:
| Task type | What happens | What to show |
|---|---|---|
| Simulated conversation | A recorded person talks to you and you answer in the pauses | Natural replies, questions back |
| Situations | You hear or read a situation and say what you would say | Right tone: polite, friendly or firm |
| Telling or describing | You talk about a topic, such as your weekend or a past event | Clear order, past tense, detail |
| Opinion | You give and justify your view on an everyday issue | Reasons, examples, a conclusion |
Topics come from everyday life: home, shops and services, health, work, travel, culture, the environment and society.
How speaking is assessed
Raters compare your speech with level descriptions. In short, the official descriptions say this:
- Grade 3 (about B1): you manage the most common practical situations and can take the initiative in everyday talk. Speech may be quite slow, but there are not many unnatural breaks. You are understood despite gaps in language or pronunciation.
- Grade 4 (about B2): you manage fairly well in formal and informal situations, and can tell them apart to some degree. You can give and justify an opinion, and describe what you have seen, heard and experienced.
So raters do not expect perfect grammar. They listen for whether you complete the task, how fluent and understandable you are, how wide your vocabulary is, and whether your style fits the situation. An accent is fine if people can understand you. See Finnish pronunciation for the sounds that matter most.
Practical preparation
- Speak out loud every day. Silent reading does not train your mouth. Ten minutes a day beats two hours on Sunday.
- Time yourself. Set a timer for one or two minutes and speak until it rings. Learn to fill the time without long silences.
- Record yourself. Listen back. Did you answer the question? Did you use past tense when you needed it?
- Build a phrase bank for each topic: home, work, services, health, free time, environment.
- Practise both tones. A friend gets Moi, kiva idea!; a doctor's office gets Hyvää päivää, haluaisin varata ajan.
- Keep going when you get stuck. Say it in a simpler way. Silence is worse than a small mistake.
If you forget a word, describe it: se on sellainen kone, jolla pestään astioita (it's a machine that washes dishes). Getting around a gap is a real speaking skill, and raters notice it.
Phrases that buy you time
Hetkinen, mietin vähän.
Just a moment, let me think.
Miten sen nyt sanoisin…
How should I put it…
Tarkoitan, että…
I mean that…
Ensinnäkin… Toiseksi… Lisäksi…
First of all… Secondly… In addition…
Kaiken kaikkiaan olen sitä mieltä, että…
All in all, I think that…
Sample prompts and model answers
These are practice prompts in the style of the intermediate test, not real test tasks. The answers aim at grade 3–4: clear, simple and complete.
1. Conversation: a friend invites you
The recording says: Lähdetkö mukaan elokuviin lauantaina?
Kiva idea, kiitos! Lauantaina en valitettavasti pääse, koska olen töissä. Sopisiko sinulle sunnuntai?
Nice idea, thanks! Unfortunately I can't make it on Saturday, because I'm at work. Would Sunday suit you?
2. Situation: calling the health centre
Prompt: Your child has had a fever for three days. Call the health centre and book an appointment.
Hyvää päivää, tässä puhuu Anna Virtanen. Haluaisin varata ajan lääkärille lapselleni. Hänellä on ollut kuumetta jo kolme päivää, eikä se ole laskenut. Onko teillä vapaita aikoja tänään tai huomenna?
Good afternoon, this is Anna Virtanen speaking. I'd like to book a doctor's appointment for my child. She has had a fever for three days already, and it hasn't gone down. Do you have any free times today or tomorrow?
3. Situation: a noisy neighbour
Prompt: Your neighbour plays loud music late at night. Ask politely for a change.
Anteeksi, että häiritsen. Asun tässä viereisessä asunnossa. Teiltä kuuluu musiikkia myöhään illalla, ja minun täytyy herätä aikaisin töihin. Voisitteko laittaa musiikin hiljemmalle kymmenen jälkeen?
Sorry to bother you. I live in the flat next door. Music can be heard from your place late in the evening, and I have to get up early for work. Could you turn the music down after ten?
4. Telling: your normal weekend
Prompt: Kerro, millainen on tavallinen viikonloppusi.
Lauantaisin nukun yleensä vähän pidempään. Sen jälkeen käyn kaupassa ja siivoan kotona. Iltapäivällä menen usein lenkille tai uimahalliin. Sunnuntaina tapaan ystäviä tai soitan perheelleni, koska he asuvat ulkomailla. Illalla valmistaudun uuteen työviikkoon.
On Saturdays I usually sleep a bit longer. After that I go to the shop and clean at home. In the afternoon I often go for a run or to the swimming pool. On Sunday I meet friends or call my family, because they live abroad. In the evening I get ready for the new work week.
5. Opinion: free public transport
Prompt: Pitäisikö julkisen liikenteen olla ilmaista? Perustele mielipiteesi.
Minun mielestäni julkisen liikenteen pitäisi olla halvempaa, mutta en usko, että se voi olla kokonaan ilmaista. Jos liput olisivat halvempia, useampi ihminen jättäisi auton kotiin. Se olisi hyvä ympäristölle. Toisaalta bussien ja junien ylläpito maksaa paljon. Siksi kannatan esimerkiksi edullisempia kuukausilippuja.
In my opinion, public transport should be cheaper, but I don't think it can be completely free. If tickets were cheaper, more people would leave their car at home. That would be good for the environment. On the other hand, running buses and trains costs a lot. That's why I support, for example, more affordable monthly tickets.
6. Situation: calling in sick
Prompt: You are ill. Leave a message for your manager.
Hei Mikko, täällä Ahmed. Olen sairastunut, ja minulla on kova kuume, joten en pääse tänään töihin. Käyn työterveydessä ja kerron huomenna, miten voin.
Hi Mikko, it's Ahmed. I've fallen ill and I have a high fever, so I can't come to work today. I'll visit occupational health and tell you tomorrow how I'm doing.
Notice what these answers do: they react to the prompt, give a reason (koska, joten), and end with a question or next step. That is the pattern to practise. For more workplace language, see Finnish for work.
On the test day
- Read or listen to each instruction carefully. Answer the task that is asked, not the one you prepared.
- Speak at a normal volume and a calm pace.
- Use the preparation time to plan two or three key points, not full sentences.
- If you make a mistake, correct it quickly and move on: anteeksi, siis… (sorry, I mean…).
Practise with Maija
Speaking improves only by speaking. Maija gives you YKI-style speaking practice out loud: she sets the task, listens to your answer, and gives gentle, specific feedback. She also runs real-life scenarios like the doctor, the shop and work. Maija is an independent app, not part of YKI, and it cannot guarantee a grade. To find your starting point, take the free level check.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an examiner in the YKI intermediate speaking test?+
No. At the intermediate level you speak in a language studio and your answers are recorded. Trained raters grade the recordings later. The advanced level also includes an interview.
Do I need perfect grammar to get grade 3?+
No. Grade 3 means you manage common everyday situations and are understood despite some mistakes. Completing the task and speaking fluently matter a lot.
Can I use spoken Finnish in the YKI speaking test?+
Clear standard Finnish is the safest choice. Some informal forms are fine with friends, but formal situations, like calling a doctor's office, call for polite forms.
What topics come up in the YKI speaking test?+
Everyday topics: yourself, home and housing, shops and services, health, work, travel, culture, the environment and society.