Slaagkans
Which exam part is hardest?
August 4, 2026 · 2 min
In the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I (B1), Listening (43% pass) and Reading (44%) were the hardest parts in 2025. Writing — the part most people fear — was the easiest at 62%. If your time goes into Speaking and Writing, you are practising the wrong parts.
- Hardest at B1
- Listening — 43%
- Easiest at B1
- Writing — 62%
- Hardest at B2
- Reading — 53%
Why this feels wrong
In Speaking and Writing you choose your own words. Don't know one? Use another. In Listening and Reading the exam chooses the words, the speed and the topic, and there is nothing to work around.
Harder, not easier
| Year | Speaking | Listening | Writing | Reading | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56% | 66% | 65% | 58% | 61% |
| 2023 | 54% | 62% | 66% | 55% | 59% |
| 2025 | 53% | 43% | 62% | 44% | 51% |
In four years the average fell from 61% to 51%. Listening dropped from 66% to 43%. In its own annual report, CvTE writes that it **has no explanation** and is commissioning research.
What this means for you
- Give Listening and Reading the most practice time — that is where people fail.
- Practise for pace, not just comprehension: you lose points to the clock.
- Measure all four parts once first; Listening is where feeling and score diverge most.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop practising Speaking?
No, just give it proportionally less: 53% at B1 in 2025 — below Writing, above Listening and Reading.
Do these figures apply to the A2 exam?
No, these are Staatsexamen NT2 (B1 and B2). The A2 exam runs through DUO and is reported separately.
How many people sit this exam?
95,642 sittings in 2025, 73,374 of them Programma I — 59% more than 2024.
Want to know where you stand on Listening and Reading? Take a full-length mock and see your score per skill.
Practise Staatsexamen NT2 ISources
- CvTE — Jaarverslag 2025, §2.5 (tabellen 8–10)official
- Significant — Monitor basisexamen inburgering buitenland (data 2021)
Last checked: August 4, 2026. Rules and amounts change — always check your own situation with DUO or the IND.
Got a question about this article? Email us.
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