Members
University of Jyväskylä and the National Board of Education
Yleiset kielitutkinnot – The National Certificates of Language
Proficiency – is an examination system for adults which comprises
tests in several languages, including Finnish. The tasks measure
language skills in practical situations where an adult could be
required to use the language.
The development of the National Certificate is a joint non-profit project between the National Board of Education and the University of Jyväskylä. Given that the development was started in 1992, the National Certificate system is quite new, but the University of Jyväskylä was chosen as the collaborating partner due to quite extensive prior experience in language testing at a national level. The test system became operational in November 1994. The system includes three different test levels:
Perustaso (Basic Level)
Keskitaso (Intermediate Level)
Ylin taso (Advanced Level)
In the Certificates, language proficiency is assessed on a six-level scale, which has been empirically related to the Council of Europe Common European Framework scale.
The test in Finnish as a Second Language derives from a prior examination system called Suomen kielen tasokoe. This test was developed in response to the need to assess the Finnish skills of an increasing number of immigrants and refugees. When the National Certificate was developed, it was natural to merge the two systems. The examinations can currently be taken in approximately 100 test centres around Finland, and they are available twice a year (April and November). The tests are administered from the Centre of Applied Language Studies, at the University of Jyväskylä.
Contact details
The National Certificates
Dr Sari Luoma, Coordinator
University of Jyvaskyla
Centre for Applied Language Studies
PO Box 35
FIN-40014 University of Jyvaskyla
Finland
Tel +358 14 260 3538
E-mail sluoma@jyu.fi
Mr Ari Huhta, Researcher
University of Jyvaskyla
Centre for Applied Language Studies
PO Box 35
FIN-40014 University of Jyvaskyla
Finland
Tel +358 14 260 3539
E-mail huhta@jyu.fi
The National Board of Education supplies educational development, evaluation and information services to policy makers, teachers, owners and managers of schools, and working life. It is a traditional institution that was originally founded in 1869. It was reorganised into its current form in 1991. It has about 300 experts in different fields. The Adult Education Division develops and maintains two language examination systems, Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate and the National Certificate of Language Proficiency. The Board hosts the National Certification Examination Board and maintains a link between the practical development of the examination system and the law and statures governing it. In maintaining and developing the examination system, it collaborates with the University of Jyväskylä. |
Mrs Tarja Jukkala, Senior Adviser
National Board of Education
PO Box 380
FIN - 00531 Helsinki
Finland
Tel +358 9 7747 7709
E-mail tarja.jukkala@oph.fi