Where to start
- Check whether you are exempt and decide when you want to take the test.
- Take the free demo simulated test to see the format and your starting level in each topic area.
- Pick the two topic areas where you scored lowest and start with those drills.
- Set a routine of short sessions several times a week rather than one long session before the test.
General study strategies
01
Study in Finnish from the start
The test is taken in Finnish or Swedish at roughly level B1. Learn the key words of each topic area in Finnish as you go, so the test language does not surprise you.
02
Rotate through all ten topic areas
Results are reported per topic area, and every topic contributes questions. Do not spend all your time on the ones you enjoy; give the weak ones regular attention.
03
Learn from explanations, not just scores
After each drill, read the explanation for every question. Understanding why an answer is right is what lets you answer a differently worded question on test day.
04
Practise under time pressure
Timed simulated tests with 20–40 questions build the rhythm you need. Aim to finish with time to spare and a score comfortably above the draft 70 % pass mark.
Tips for each topic area
01
Settling in Finland
- Learn the steps a newcomer takes: registering a place of residence, getting a personal identity code and finding integration services.
- Know the roles of the authorities you deal with when you arrive in Finland.
- Practise the vocabulary of permits, registration and integration in Finnish.
02
People and culture
- Know the national languages, the main holidays and how they are celebrated.
- Pay attention to values that come up repeatedly: equality, trust, punctuality and respect for nature.
- Practise questions about everyday customs; the correct option is often about what is typical rather than what is allowed.
03
Everyday life
- Understand how housing works: renting, the basics of housing allowance and a tenant's rights and duties.
- Learn the practical systems: banking and strong identification, public transport, waste sorting and digital services.
- Know who to contact in common situations, such as an emergency, a consumer problem or a lost document.
04
Work and working life
- Learn the essentials of an employment contract, working hours, holidays and pay slips.
- Understand the roles of employers, trade unions and the Tax Administration, and what a tax card is for.
- Know where to get help when looking for work and what your rights are if you are treated unfairly at work.
05
Studying and education
- Map the education path from early childhood education through comprehensive school, upper secondary and higher education.
- Learn how adult education, integration training and language courses fit into the picture.
- Understand the principle of free education and what it means for families.
06
Families
- Learn the forms of family recognised in Finland and the basics of marriage, partnership and divorce.
- Understand family leave, child benefit and the services offered to families with children.
- Know children's rights and the principle that both parents share responsibility.
07
Health and wellbeing
- Learn how public healthcare is organised and how to book an appointment or find urgent care.
- Understand the roles of the wellbeing services counties, occupational healthcare and private providers.
- Know where to turn for mental health support and what to do in an emergency.
08
Society and participation
- Learn how Parliament, the government and the President share power, and how municipalities are governed.
- Know which elections are held in Finland and who is allowed to vote in each of them.
- Understand how residents can influence decisions through associations, initiatives and public consultations.
09
Laws and rights
- Study the fundamental rights in the Constitution and the principle that everyone is equal before the law.
- Learn how the courts, the police and legal aid work, and what to do if your rights are violated.
- Know the everyday rules that touch most residents: consumer rights, traffic rules and the prohibition of discrimination.
10
Finnish history
- Build a timeline of the main periods: the Swedish era, the Russian era, independence in 1917, the wars and the welfare state.
- Learn the events and dates that anchor the timeline rather than every detail around them.
- Connect history to today: how the past explains Finland's languages, institutions and international position.
Test day
Before the test
- Check the venue, the start time and the identification you need from the instructions Migri gives you.
- Sleep well the night before and eat before you go.
- Arrive early so you have time to find the room and settle in.
- Do a light review of your weakest topic areas; do not try to learn new material on the last day.
- Take your last timed simulated test a few days before, not the same morning.
During the test
- Read each question and every option to the end before answering.
- Eliminate the options you know are wrong before choosing between the rest.
- Keep an eye on the time. Answer the questions you are sure of first and come back to the others.
- If a question uses a word you do not know, use the rest of the sentence and the options to work out the meaning.
- Check the instructions on how unanswered questions are treated before you skip any.
Questions about preparing?
If something about the test or the platform is unclear, write to us at support@citizenship.fi. We answer in English and Finnish and update this page as the official material and the decree are published.