Slaagkans
Exam day
What each Dutch exam looks like on the day — the parts, how many questions, how long, and what you need to pass. Then jump straight into a realistic mock.
Fees and booking change over time — always confirm with the official source linked in each exam.
Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland (A1)A1
DUO (sat at a Dutch embassy or consulate)Needed for: MVV provisional-residence (family migration) visa — sat abroad, before you move to the Netherlands.
- Where
- At a Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country — you take it before moving to the Netherlands.
- When & booking
- Register and pay with DUO first; DUO then emails you, and you book the appointment with the Dutch embassy or consulate.
- Exam fee
- €150 for the complete exam, or €50 for a single part — paid to DUO, not the embassy
- Results
- DUO sends the result within 8 weeks. Reading and KNS are computer-marked; Speaking is marked by two trained assessors.
| Part | Format | Time | Amount | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennis Nederlandse SamenlevingKnowledge of Dutch Society | on computer | 30min | 30 | ≈ 21 |
| LezenReading | on computer | 35min | 19 | assessed |
| SprekenSpeaking | on computer | 30min | 22 | assessed |
| Total | 95min | Each of the 3 parts is graded 1–10; you need a 6 or higher on all three. Passed parts stay valid indefinitely. | ||
Good to know
- This is an abroad exam and a condition for the MVV (family-migration) visa.
- Three parts: Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS), Reading, Speaking.
- KNS: you need at least 21 of 30 correct to pass.
- The official study pack is “Naar Nederland” — this mock mirrors its format.
Bring: A valid passport · Your embassy appointment confirmation
Inburgeringsexamen (A2)A2
DUONeeded for: Civic integration duty at A2: applies under the Wet inburgering 2013, or if your level was lowered to A2. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 the standard level is B1.
- Where
- At a DUO exam location in the Netherlands.
- When & booking
- Book year-round through Mijn Inburgering. Each of the five parts is scheduled separately.
- Exam fee
- €50 per exam part — €250 for all five parts (DUO). Asylum status holders under the Wet inburgering 2021 get the first 2 attempts of each exam free.
- Results
- Usually within about 8 weeks per part.
| Part | Format | Time | Amount | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LezenReading | on computer | 65min | 25 | ≈ 18 |
| LuisterenListening | on computer | 45min | 25 | ≈ 18 |
| SchrijvenWriting | on paper | 40min | 4 | assessed |
| SprekenSpeaking | on computer | 35min | 16 | assessed |
| Kennis Nederlandse MaatschappijKnowledge of Dutch Society | on computer | 45min | 45 | ≈ 27 |
| Total | 230min | Each part is passed separately and reported pass/fail. DUO does not publish the exact question counts or cut scores. | ||
Good to know
- You must pass every part within your integration deadline (usually 3 years).
- Each part is passed separately — failing one does not affect the others.
- KNM (Knowledge of Dutch Society): you need at least 27 of 45 correct.
- Under the Wet inburgering 2013, ONA (orientation on the Dutch labour market) is a separate portfolio, not a timed exam — it costs €40. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 it has been replaced by the MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie), arranged free of charge through your municipality.
Bring: A valid ID or residence document · Your DUO appointment confirmation
Staatsexamen NT2 — Programma I (B1)B1
DUO / CvTENeeded for: Vocational study (MBO/ROC), work; counts for integration/naturalisation at B1.
- Where
- At a Staatsexamen NT2 exam location in the Netherlands (e.g. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zwolle, Eindhoven).
- When & booking
- Several exam periods each year; book through DUO. The four parts can be on different days.
- Exam fee
- €50 per exam part, €200 for a complete exam of all four parts (DUO)
- Results
- Usually within about 5 weeks, via Mijn DUO.
| Part | Format | Time | Amount | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LezenReading | on computer | 110min | 36 | scaled score |
| LuisterenListening | on computer | 90min | 40 | scaled score |
| SchrijvenWriting | on computer | 100min | 12 | scaled score |
| SprekenSpeaking | on computer | 25min | 16 | scaled score |
| Total | 325min | Scaled score ≥ 500 per part, set by CvTE. A mock approximates this and labels the result an estimate. | ||
Good to know
- Programma I is level B1 — for vocational study (MBO) and most work.
- Each part is graded on a scaled Cito score; you pass a part at 500 or higher.
- You receive a certificate per part; collect all four for the full diploma.
- A mock can only estimate the scaled score — treat the result as indicative.
Bring: A valid ID · Your DUO admission ticket
Staatsexamen NT2 — Programma II (B2)B2
DUO / CvTENeeded for: Higher education (HBO/WO), academic work.
- Where
- At a Staatsexamen NT2 exam location in the Netherlands (e.g. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zwolle, Eindhoven).
- When & booking
- Several exam periods each year; book through DUO. The four parts can be on different days.
- Exam fee
- €50 per exam part, €200 for a complete exam of all four parts (DUO)
- Results
- Usually within about 5 weeks, via Mijn DUO.
| Part | Format | Time | Amount | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LezenReading | on computer | 100min | 36 | scaled score |
| LuisterenListening | on computer | 90min | 40 | scaled score |
| SchrijvenWriting | on computer | 100min | 12 | scaled score |
| SprekenSpeaking | on computer | 25min | 13 | scaled score |
| Total | 315min | Scaled score ≥ 500 per part, set by CvTE. A mock approximates this and labels the result an estimate. | ||
Good to know
- Programma II is level B2 — required for higher education (HBO/university) and academic work.
- Each part is graded on a scaled Cito score; you pass a part at 500 or higher.
- Texts and audio are longer and more abstract than at B1.
- A mock can only estimate the scaled score — treat the result as indicative.
Bring: A valid ID · Your DUO admission ticket
Residence & integration
Integration is a legal duty — and a step toward residence and citizenship.
For most newcomers, passing the inburgering exam is a legal requirement and a milestone on the way to permanent residence and naturalisation. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 the standard target is B1, with A2 applying through the Z-route and to people who became obliged before 2022. Your municipality sets your route and level in your PIP.
This isn’t legal advice — your route, level and deadline come from DUO and your gemeente, and you should always confirm current requirements with them and the IND.
Frequently asked questions
Rules, fees and deadlines are set by DUO and the IND and do change — use these as orientation and confirm your own situation with the official source.
- Which Dutch exam do I need?
- It depends on your situation. The Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland (A1) is taken abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate before you move, as a condition of the MVV provisional-residence permit for family migration. The Inburgeringsexamen (A2) and the Staatsexamen NT2 (B1 or B2) are taken in the Netherlands. NT2 Programma I (B1) is aimed at vocational study (MBO/ROC) and work; Programma II (B2) at higher education (HBO/WO). Confirm your own obligation with DUO and the IND.
- Is the A1 basisexamen the same as the A2 inburgeringsexamen?
- No — they are two separate exams. The Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland is an A1-level exam sat abroad before arrival, and it has different parts (knowledge of Dutch society, reading and speaking). The Inburgeringsexamen is the in-country integration exam and adds listening and writing. Passing the basisexamen abroad does not count towards the inburgeringsexamen.
- Do I have to reach A2 or B1?
- Under the Wet inburgering 2021, in force since 1 January 2022, the standard language target is B1 via the B1-route, with the Onderwijsroute and the Z-route as alternatives; your municipality sets your route in your PIP (Persoonlijk plan Inburgering en Participatie). If you became subject to the integration requirement before 1 January 2022 you generally fall under the older Wet inburgering 2013, where A2 plus KNM applies. DUO and your gemeente confirm which regime and level applies to you.
- How often can I take the exam?
- The inburgeringsexamen is offered year-round at DUO test centres and is booked through Mijn Inburgering. The Staatsexamen NT2 runs in several exam periods across the year and is registered for per part. For the Basisexamen abroad you register and pay with DUO first, and then book the appointment with the Dutch embassy or consulate.
- What does the exam cost?
- DUO charges €50 per exam part. That makes the Staatsexamen NT2 €200 for a complete exam of four parts, and the inburgeringsexamen €250 for all five parts — plus €40 for ONA if you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013. The Basisexamen taken abroad is €150 for the complete exam, or €50 for a single part, and is paid to DUO rather than at the embassy. Asylum status holders under the Wet inburgering 2021 get the first two attempts of each exam free. Fees can be indexed, so confirm the current amount on duo.nl before you book.
- Can I retake just the part I failed?
- Yes. You re-register and pay €50 for only the part you still need, and parts you have already passed stay valid — for the Basisexamen abroad a passed part is valid indefinitely. One deadline to watch: after passing the Basisexamen you must apply for your MVV within a year, or you have to sit the whole exam again.
- How long do I have to pass?
- The standard integration period is three years, running from the start of your inburgeringstermijn, and your municipality can extend it in certain circumstances. Your exact deadline is stated in your correspondence from DUO and your gemeente — that letter, not a general rule, is what applies to you.
- Is Slaagkans official?
- No. Slaagkans is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with DUO, the IND, the CvTE or any exam authority. Our questions are original practice material written to the published exam format — they are not real exam questions. Always confirm rules, fees and dates with the official sources.
- Is it free?
- You can create an account for free and sit every part of one exam — Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Knowledge of Dutch Society where it applies — at half length, with real timing and per-part results, and no card details. Your free exam is the level you sit first. Full-length mocks, the complete question bank and the answer explanations are a one-time payment per exam.
- What happens if I fail a mock?
- Nothing — a mock is practice, and no result is ever reported to DUO or anyone else. You get a per-part score against the real pass rule, an answer review showing the correct answer and why, and weak-area feedback so you know what to work on before the real exam.