The inburgering exam is predictable. To prepare, you learn which parts DUO tests and practise the real task types until they feel routine. That is the whole plan. Below we explain it step by step, so you always know what to do next.
What the inburgering exam actually tests
The exam has four language parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking. The fifth part is KNM, Knowledge of Dutch Society. You can read more in our article on what the KNM exam is. Most people take the language parts at B1, the standard level under the current law. Some take them at A2, the level under the old 2013 law. Besides these five exams, inburgering in the Netherlands also has parts without an exam, such as the PVT.
Each part has a fixed format and a fixed time. If you know the format well, nothing on exam day surprises you. The exam exists at three levels: A2, B1 and B2. The table below shows the times for A2 and B1. According to DUO, the language parts take much longer at B1.
| Part | How you take it | What you do | Time (A2) | Time (B1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Computer | Read texts and answer questions | 65 min | 110 min |
| Listening | Computer | Watch short films, listen, answer questions | 45 min | 90 min |
| Writing | Pen and paper | 4 tasks, such as a short letter or a form | 40 min | 100 min |
| Speaking | Computer | Watch short films and answer out loud | 35 min | ±30 min |
| KNM | Computer | Themes like living, work and income | 45 min | 45 min |
The B1 times come from the Staatsexamen NT2. At B1, you take the language parts through that exam. KNM does not depend on your language level, so it takes the same time at both.
None of these parts ask for essays or grammar drills. They ask for everyday Dutch in everyday situations. That tells you exactly what to practise.
Which level do you need, A2 or B1?
Under the current law, the Wet inburgering 2021, B1 is the standard level. Most people who start now work towards B1. A2 is still an option on the Z-route. On the B1-route you can switch to A2 exams, but only after at least 600 hours of lessons at an accredited language school. The gemeente checks this. At B1 and B2 you take the same five parts, with harder texts and more time for the language parts.
Usually you do not choose your level yourself. Your gemeente (municipality) does an intake and sets your route in your PIP. Each route comes with a level. If you are not sure which applies to you, check Mijn Inburgering or your PIP. For the standard route we run a course for the inburgering exam B1. For anyone under the old law there is a course for the inburgering exam A2. You can read more in our article on inburgering A2 or B1.
A step-by-step plan to prepare
Here is the order we recommend. Each step builds on the one before it.
- Check your obligation and deadline. Log in to Mijn Inburgering. It shows which exams you must take. You have 3 years, and under the 2021 law that time starts the day after your gemeente sets your PIP. Plan everything else backwards from that date.
- Find your level. For most people it is B1, the standard level. Under the old law it is A2. Mijn Inburgering or your PIP shows which level applies to you. Your level decides which practice material you use.
- Learn the task types, one part at a time. Do not study "Dutch" in general. Study the actual tasks DUO uses. Each part asks for something slightly different. You will find tips for each part below.
- Use real practice exams. DUO publishes free practice exams for every A2 part, and also for B1 and B2. Start with those. Our page on official DUO practice exams lists them all. They are the closest thing to the real exam, because the same people make them.
- Practise speaking out loud. Speaking is the part most people skip, because it feels strange to talk alone. It is also the part that surprises people most on exam day. Say your answers out loud, record yourself and listen to the recording. Even a few minutes a day helps.
- Do full, timed practice runs. Once the task types feel familiar, do a whole part at once, with a timer. For most people the time limit is harder than the Dutch itself.
What to practise for each part
The four language parts ask for different things. Here is what helps most for each one.
- Reading. Practise reading quickly for the main idea first, then reading closely. The texts are everyday ones: a notice, a short letter, an ad. Look for the information the question asks for. You do not need to translate every word. Reading has the most time (65 minutes at A2). The risk is spending too long on one question, not reading too slowly.
- Listening. Listen to short clips of normal spoken Dutch. Practise catching the main point quickly. Answer right after each clip, before you forget the details.
- Writing. This part is on paper, with four short tasks such as filling in a form or writing a short letter. Practise the formats: an address block, a polite opening, a clear request. Neat, correct and simple Dutch is better than clever sentences.
- Speaking. You watch a short film on a computer and answer out loud. Practise speaking in short, full sentences, not single words. Record yourself so you can hear your own speed and pauses.
Practise on a computer, because most parts of the real exam are on a computer too. With our inburgering practice exams you can do timed practice for each part, including speaking. They follow the DUO task types, so the real exam feels familiar.
Where do people lose points?
Most people lose points on the same few things. Often these have little to do with their Dutch. If you know them in advance, they are easier to avoid.
- The time limit. This is the biggest challenge for most people. If you always practise without a timer, the real exam feels rushed. Start practising with a timer early.
- Skipping speaking. Practising out loud feels strange, so people avoid it. Then it becomes the part they struggle with most. Treat it like any other part and practise it every day.
- Studying general Dutch. Months of general lessons do not match what the exam asks. The exam tests specific task types, so practise those.
- Booking too early. One good practice run does not mean you are ready. Wait until your scores are good every time before you pay.
How long does it take to prepare?
It depends on three things: your Dutch when you start, how many hours a week you can study, and the deadline in your DUO letter.
We will not give you a number that sounds reassuring but is wrong. Someone who already speaks some Dutch and studies a few hours a day will be ready much sooner than someone who starts with very little. The best thing to do is plan backwards from your deadline. Then test yourself with real practice exams to see where you stand.
How do you know when you are ready to book?
You are ready when you pass your practice runs within the time limit every time, not just once.
Each part costs €50. If you do not pass a part, you retake only that part, not the whole exam. So a little extra practice is almost always cheaper than booking too early. You can see all inburgering costs in our separate article. When your practice scores are good every time, you register for an exam and choose your date. For the A2 exams and KNM you do this in Mijn Inburgering. For B1 and B2, the Staatsexamen NT2, you register in Mijn DUO.
You do not have to prepare alone. You also do not have to pay for a full language school. We built this inburgering course to train exactly these parts in this order. That way you always know your next step.