Slaagkans
The basisexamen abroad: how it works and who passes
October 11, 2026 · 2 min
The basisexamen inburgering buitenland is taken at a Dutch embassy or consulate, before you receive your MVV. It has three parts: Speaking, Reading and KNS (Knowledge of Dutch Society). The 2021 monitor shows more than 7 in 10 candidates pass the full exam first time — and that KNS is almost never the problem.
- Where
- embassy or consulate
- Parts
- Speaking, Reading, KNS
- First-time pass
- 72% (2021)
| Part | Pattern | Note |
|---|---|---|
| KNS | almost everyone passes (~99%) | learnable from the official material |
| Speaking | lowest on attempts 1 and 2 | assessed by computer |
| Reading | lowest from attempt 3 onwards | where people stay stuck longest |
Who sits it
- More than **three-quarters** of candidates are women.
- In 2021 women passed about **6 percentage points** more often than men.
- Younger candidates and those with more education score higher on average.
- The gap between higher- and lower-educated candidates sits mainly in **Reading and Speaking**, not KNS.
What to watch for
The exam is computer-based: in Speaking you talk to a system, not to an examiner. That needs different preparation from a conversation with a teacher — clear articulation, at the pace of the task, without a partner filling in your gaps.
What this means for you
- Practise Speaking against a device, not only with a person.
- Do not underestimate Reading: it is where people stay stuck after several attempts.
- KNS is learnable — take your certain points there.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I sit this exam?
At a Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you live.
Do I still have to integrate in the Netherlands afterwards?
Yes. The basisexamen is a condition for your MVV; your integration obligation here is separate.
Practise all three parts at full exam length before you go to the embassy.
Practise the basisexamenSources
- DUO — Basisexamen inburgering buitenlandofficial
- Significant — Monitor basisexamen inburgering buitenland (data 2021)
Last checked: August 5, 2026. Rules and amounts change — always check your own situation with DUO or the IND.
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Read next
- What does integrating cost in total?
The course is the biggest item, but not the only one: exams, resits, PVT and MAP all count. Here is the full list and where to find today's official amounts.
- Divorcing during your inburgering: can you stay?
Your residence right and your integration obligation are two different things. A separation affects both — but not in the same way.
- Exemptions: when do you not have to sit the exam?
There are exceptions to the integration obligation — medical, the 600-hour rule, or a diploma that already counts. None of them happen automatically.