OLS Language testing

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The European Commission makes it possible to test the language skills of those who go on the Erasmus exchange programme before and after the exchange period. We highly recommend that you take a language test and join the available language courses. The idea is for the student to see how their language skills have improved during the exchange. The name of the current online language support (OLS) language test system is EU Academy.

The OLS language tests are conducted independently and under open conditions. The result of the test serves primarily as a tool to evaluate your own language skills, and it cannot be used as an official language skills tool. 

Registering in the OLS system and problem situations
OLS language testing

Registering in the OLS system and problem situations

Registering in the OLS system

  • You can access the language test on the website of European Union.
  • You should start by creating EU login credentials.
  • Search for "Placement test" according to your exchange language, e.g. German placement test, English placement test.
  • The result of the test remains visible on your own Dashboard when you are logged into the system, and can be found there whenever needed.

Registration problems

Try different browsers. Contact International Exchange Services: studentexchange@helsinki.fi if that does not help.

OLS language testing

Taking the OLS language test before an Erasmus exchange or traineeship is highly recommended for students studying in or whose working language is one of the following languages:

Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish or Swedish

Your studying or working language is determined by the language you have indicated on your Mobility Online account under Language of instruction at the host university (1st choice). 

OLS language tests (Placement test)

  • The test tests grammar, phrases and listening and reading comprehension. In EU Academy, select the placement test for the main language of your exchange, e.g. English placement test
  • The assessment uses the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
  • The test takes 40-60 minutes.
  • The result does not affect the acceptance of an exchange or internship.
  • We recommend doing the test again after the exchange period ends, except if the first test was the best possible result, i.e. C2

Language courses

In most languages, you can also study online language courses tailored to your level. The most offerings at levels A1 - B2 are in the five most used languages, i.e. English, Spanish, Italian, French and German. In other languages, there are mostly elementary level courses. From spring 2023, the system will also include basic Finnish and Swedish language courses at levels A1 - A2. If you get B1 or lower in the language test, we strongly recommend participating in a language course. Take the course in the same language as the test. Even if your test result is better than the levels mentioned above, participation in the course is still recommended. Start the study language course at the level you reached in the test.