What to expect on exam day
You take the KNM exam on a computer at a DUO test centre. Headphones are available.
The live exam uses static images and visible Dutch text. It does not use auto-playing audio, and it does not show video clips.
On each question, you see one image card and one Dutch question. Sometimes there is only the question. Sometimes there are a few short Dutch setup lines above the question that explain the situation.
You can also use an on-screen read-aloud button. This reads the visible Dutch text aloud with text-to-speech. It is optional, on demand, and it does not add new information.
Between groups of questions, DUO shows a theme intro screen in Dutch, such as: De volgende vragen gaan over het thema X.
English meaning: The next questions are about theme X.
How the Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) section is built
This section is multiple choice only. Every question is one separate item, so you answer one question at a time.
Each item has one stimulus and one question. The stimulus is usually a photograph, sometimes a symbolic image, and sometimes map options for place questions.
The most common screen shows:
- one photo or image
- a Dutch question stem
- sometimes 0 to 4 short Dutch setup lines
- three answer options: A, B, and C
There is one correct answer for each question. DUO does not group several questions under one image.
Most items use a real-world photo that shows the situation, not the answer by itself. You still need knowledge about Dutch society to choose the right option.
Here is a simple example of the kind of Dutch text you may see:
Waarom zijn de Deltawerken gebouwd? A. Om vis te vangen B. Om Nederland te beschermen tegen de zee C. Om steden te bouwen
English meaning: Why were the Delta Works built? A. To catch fish B. To protect the Netherlands from the sea C. To build cities
Another common pattern is a short setup with a practical situation:
Erik woont in een sociale huurwoning. Wat is dat? A. Een woning met een maximum huurprijs B. Een woning zonder huurcontract C. Een woning die je altijd kunt kopen
English meaning: Erik lives in social housing. What is that? A. A home with a maximum rent price B. A home without a rental contract C. A home that you can always buy
Some questions use a yes/no rule with a conditional middle option:
Mag een werkgever eisen dat je goed Nederlands kunt schrijven? A. Ja, dat mag altijd B. Alleen als het nodig is voor de baan C. Nee, dat mag nooit
English meaning: Can an employer require you to write Dutch well? A. Yes, always B. Only if it is needed for the job C. No, never
The questions are grouped by theme. DUO uses eight official themes in the A2 KNM exam:
- Werk en inkomen (work and income)
- Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen (social behaviour, values, and norms)
- Wonen (housing)
- Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (health and healthcare)
- Geschiedenis en geografie (history and geography)
- Instanties (institutions)
- Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat (state structure and rule of law)
- Onderwijs en opvoeding (education and parenting)
How it is scored
Each question has one correct answer. You choose A, B, or C.
The pass mark is 28 out of 40. That is about 70%, and it matches a passing grade of 6 or higher.
Because every item is a separate multiple-choice question with one correct answer, your score comes from how many answers you get right. The spec does not describe partial credit.
Number of questions and time
The KNM exam has 40 questions. You get 45 minutes.
That means you need to work at a steady pace on the day. Some questions are short with no setup text. Others include one, two, or sometimes three short setup sentences before the question.
The questions are grouped into theme blocks. The number of questions per theme can vary.
Tips to pass
Use the screen the way DUO gives it to you. Read the visible Dutch text first, then look at the image for context. If a sentence is hard to read, use the read-aloud button, but remember that it only repeats the same text.
Learn the common answer patterns. Many wrong options look plausible because they use the wrong Dutch institution, the wrong time, the wrong place, or the wrong rule.
Focus your practice on these habits:
- expect three options only: A, B, C
- watch for rule questions with Ja / Alleen als / Nee
- read short setup lines for date, contract, salary, or place details
- study the eight official themes, not only one topic
- practise with still images and Dutch text, because that matches the live exam
The best preparation is repetition with the same structure you will see on the day. InburgeringPrep lets you practise KNM items with clear Dutch text, English support, and exam-style question patterns so you can train the exact decisions DUO tests.