Language assessment for municipalities and employment areas
A non-native client’s Finnish language skills are the starting point for service guidance. SIGNAL gives employment and integration services a comparable CEFR level (A1–C1) for every client in about 40 minutes, without scheduling assessors or waiting lists.
A comparable CEFR level for every client.
Results are based on AI analysis and predefined measurement algorithms.
Adaptive test
Task difficulty adapts to the answers.
PIN login, no installations
Works in the browser and on mobile. Data stored in the EU.
Instant results
Skill-level results, PDF and CSV export.
About 150 specialists in Espoo employment services.
All four skills, instant results. C1 available from October 2026.
No personal data by default, PIN login. Audited by Elisa (spring 2026).
Why does a municipality need language assessment?
The same test serves three different needs in the daily work of municipalities and employment areas.
Initial integration assessment
The client’s language level is part of the statutory assessment of competence and service needs at the start of the integration programme.
Jobseeker guidance
Find out language skills before referring a client to work or training, also after the integration period.
Placement into training
Skill-level results help choose the right level of integration or language training. The goal of integration training is functional basic proficiency B1.1 (Act 681/2023, section 26), and SIGNAL’s A1–C1 scale covers both sides of that target.
SIGNAL in brief
Browser-based CEFR language assessment built for public-sector client work.
- Assesses all four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing
- Level: CEFR A1–C1 per skill
- AI analyses every response: task completion, grammar, pronunciation, relevance of the answer and comprehension
- About 40 minutes on average, instant results; also works on mobile
- PIN-code login, no installations or email accounts
- Data in the EU, no personal data by default, audited by Elisa (spring 2026)
- In use e.g. in Espoo employment services (KIT tool), about 150 specialists
The assessment algorithms were developed with an expert team and tested with the help of Finnish language testers. Results are based on AI analysis and predefined measurement algorithms.
How SIGNAL works – 4 steps
1. Rollout
The organization gets an admin view. No installations and no email accounts for participants.
2. Invitation
Give the participant a link and a PIN code. Works in all modern browsers, including on phones.
3. Taking the test
About 40 minutes on the participant’s own device or on site. Adaptive: task difficulty adapts to the answers.
4. Instant results
Skill-level CEFR levels (A1–C1), an overall assessment and development suggestions. PDF and CSV export.
SIGNAL and the Integration Act (681/2023)
The Finnish Act on the Promotion of Integration (681/2023) requires an assessment of competence and service needs at the start of the integration programme. It must begin within two months of the client relationship starting. SIGNAL provides the language assessment this requires.
Minimum content of the integration programme
- 1Assessment of competence and integration service needsSIGNAL
- 2Integration plan (based on the assessment)
- 3Multilingual civic orientation
- 4Integration training, including the final language test
- 5Other training and services that promote language skills, working-life readiness and employmentSIGNAL
- 6Guidance and counselling during the integration programme
Current approach vs. SIGNAL
Same work, different outcome. The comparison shows what SIGNAL does differently from manual or partial assessment.
| Feature | Typical current approach | SIGNAL |
|---|---|---|
| Skills assessed | Usually 1–2, often only vocabulary and reading | All four: listening, speaking, writing, reading |
| Scoring | Manual, depends on the assessor | Automatic, also for open responses: AI analysis and predefined measurement algorithms |
| Turnaround | Days or weeks: scheduling, coordination, assessor resources | Typically about 40 minutes, results immediately |
| Access for participants | Email accounts, installations, IT support | PIN code, no installations |
| Reporting | A single overall score | Skill-level CEFR levels and development suggestions, PDF and CSV export |
| Security | Varies by vendor | Built for public-sector requirements, data stays in the EU |
Case: City of Espoo
Espoo has more than 12,000 non-native jobseekers. The city piloted a digital language test in its 2024 digital pilot programme and in spring 2026 introduced the KIT self-assessment tool, which is based on Reactored’s SIGNAL.
non-native jobseekers in Espoo
assessments per year (target)
agreement term
specialists use it
Cost benefit in concrete terms
Validated example calculation with an annual volume of 500 assessments.
lower cost
saving / assessment
faster turnaround
staff time freed / year
Packages and quotes
SIGNAL packages: 50, 120 or 250 tests per month; custom pricing for larger volumes. No setup fee, and interrupted or unstarted tests are not charged. Every municipality receives its own quote.
Procurement and rollout
Direct purchase
The fastest way to start with a smaller volume.
Paid pilot
Priced by the agreed number of tests – try before a wider rollout.
Tender or framework agreement
Larger procurements through a tender or framework agreement.
Frequently asked questions
No. SIGNAL does not issue an official certificate or replace the YKI test. It is an assessment tool for client work whose result supports the specialist’s overall assessment.
About 40 minutes on average.
CEFR A1–C1 in each of the four skills. C1 is the highest level measured (available from October 2026); C2 is not measured.
AI analyses every response. The assessment algorithms were developed with an expert team and tested with the help of Finnish language testers. Results are based on AI analysis and predefined measurement algorithms.
No. Login with a PIN code in the browser.
By default SIGNAL collects no personal data: the test is taken with a PIN code and login link. Only the organization’s admins log in with their own accounts. Data is stored in the EU; test data for 30 days and statistical data for up to 3 years per the service agreement. A data processing agreement (DPA) is available.
Yes. The participant and the organization’s admin see the result immediately after the test, by skill and level.
A Swedish-language test is in development; the Finnish test is in production use.
Packages of 50, 120 or 250 tests per month; every municipality receives a tailored quote. No setup fee.
Typically 1–2 weeks.
Yes. Good headphones and a microphone are needed (usually built into phones). On computers we recommend Chrome (Edge also works), on iOS Safari.
Yes: a paid pilot priced by the agreed number of tests. Book a demo and we will agree on the scope.
Book a 30-minute demo
We’ll show you the product, walk through rollout and prepare a tailored quote for your municipality.