Are you currently preparing for the Finnish YKI test? In this article, you’ll find tips for YKI test preparation and how WordDive can help you strengthen the language skills you’ll need for the test.
What does the Finnish YKI test measure?
The YKI test in Finnish can be taken at basic, intermediate or advanced level. At each level, the test consists of four subtests: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking.
The YKI test is designed to measure practical language skills. Preparing for the test is therefore not just about completing practice tasks and learning test-taking techniques, but the aim is to develop sufficiently broad and functional language skills to pass the test.
Read more about the YKI test on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Effective YKI preparation combines language skills with test practice
When preparing for the YKI test, you should try to develop your Finnish language skills as a whole. You’ll need not only vocabulary and grammar structures, but also the ability to understand and use Finnish in a variety of situations.
“Even advanced language skills are always built on the basics. Once the foundation is solid, it’s easier to develop your skills to a higher level,” says Laura Kastell, language teacher and Head of Learning at WordDive.
In addition to developing your general language skills, it’s worth looking at the structure of the YKI test, the types of tasks, and the time limits. It’s a good idea to practise the speaking and writing tasks in advance, also with a timer.
How WordDive can support your YKI test preparation
WordDive can support your YKI test preparation by strengthening the Finnish language skills you’ll need for the test.
Our course selection includes beginner, intermediate and advanced courses. You’ll learn Finnish through vocabulary, sentence, grammar, structure and listening exercises.
Expand your everyday vocabulary
The YKI test covers practical topics from everyday life, so having a vocabulary related to real-life situations will help you understand the tasks and express your own thoughts. A broad vocabulary can also help you understand the context, even when you come across unfamiliar words.
In WordDive’s Finnish courses, the learning materials designed by language teachers are based on real-life vocabulary and topics such as family, the news, everyday errands, work tasks and Finnish culture.
Practise Finnish structures and grammar
In addition to vocabulary, the test measures the ability to form coherent sentences. With WordDive, you’ll become familiar with grammatical cases, verbs, sentence types and other key language structures. You’ll need these to, for example, discuss past events, describe your plans, make requests or give reasons for your opinions.
Explore Finnish grammar on the WordDive grammar pages, which are open to everyone.
Make practice a regular part of your routine
With WordDive, you can make studying Finnish a regular habit. The app makes it easy to fit short study sessions into your day, even when you have a busy schedule.
Regular revision will help you retain the words and structures you’ve learnt, whereas long breaks between practice sessions can make them harder to remember.
Besides using WordDive, how else can you prepare?
When preparing for the YKI test, it’s a good idea to use Finnish as widely as possible in different situations and practise each type of test task separately.
- Complete sample YKI test tasks and make sure you’re familiar with all four subtests.
- Practise Finnish YKI test tasks, for example on the YKI website of the University of Jyväskylä.
- Practise responding to the task instructions rather than simply trying to produce error-free language.
- Practise speaking on your own and with a conversation partner.
- Write different types of texts within a time limit.
- Listen to Finnish spoken by different people, for example in the news, on podcasts and in TV series.
- Read various types of everyday texts. Pay attention to the language around you: try to understand adverts, signs and instructions.
Read these tips on how to incorporate Finnish into your everyday life!
Tips from a language teacher for effective test preparation
Language teacher Laura Kastell reminds learners that when preparing for the YKI test, it’s important to practise all areas of language proficiency. Reading and listening help build vocabulary and show how expressions are used, while speaking and writing provide an opportunity to put them into practice.
“When you come across the same words and structures in different contexts, you gain a broader understanding of their meaning and the situations in which they can be used naturally,” says Laura.
In the YKI test, it’s not enough to simply recognise words or understand what you hear; you also need to produce language yourself. That’s why it’s a good idea to start using new words and expressions in your own sentences, speech and writing as soon as possible. When you learn a new phrase, try forming a few sentences of your own with it, or think of a situation where you could use it.
If speaking makes you nervous, Laura advises starting small. You can first practise speaking to yourself or with someone you know and gradually build up the courage to tackle new situations. You can also prepare for specific situations by thinking of useful phrases you might need.
“More important than perfect grammar or flawless pronunciation is being understood and having the courage to give it a go.”
Build a strong foundation for the YKI test
Studying with WordDive and practising YKI test tasks complement each other. With WordDive, you can strengthen your knowledge of vocabulary, structures and comprehension, while YKI sample tasks allow you to practise applying your skills in tasks similar to those in the actual test.
With WordDive, words are practised in natural example sentences, together with related words, synonyms and antonyms within the same topic. This will help you understand how to use them yourself.
Once you’re familiar enough with the words and structures, you can focus on what you actually want to say or understand instead of trying to remember individual words and structures.
