The five inburgering exam sections
The A2 inburgering exam from DUO has five parts:
- Lezen (reading)
- Luisteren (listening)
- Schrijven (writing)
- Spreken (speaking)
- KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, knowledge of Dutch society)
DUO treats these as separate exams, each with its own booking, fee and result, so you do not take them in one sitting.
Whether you need all five depends on your law. Under the Wet inburgering 2013, you take the language exams at A2 or higher, plus KNM. Depending on your start date, ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt) and the PVT can be required too. Under the Wet inburgering 2021, most people follow the B1 route, with B1 language exams. There, A2 language parts mostly come in when your gemeente scales parts down to A2. In the Z-route they are optional. The 2021 law also adds the PVT and the MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie), which are separate from the exams. Mijn Inburgering shows which exams you need.
What each section tests, and how long it takes
DUO describes the exams on its language exams page and knowledge exams page.
Lezen, 65 minutes, on a computer. You read short everyday texts, such as letters, notices and adverts, and answer 25 multiple-choice questions about them.
Luisteren, 45 minutes, on a computer. You watch short videos and listen to spoken Dutch, then answer 25 questions.
Schrijven, 40 minutes, with pen and paper. You get 4 writing tasks, for example a short letter or message, or a form to fill in.
Spreken, 35 minutes, on a computer. You watch short videos and answer aloud. Your answers are recorded and assessed afterwards.
KNM, 45 minutes, on a computer. The KNM exam groups its questions by theme, such as housing or work and income. It checks what you know about Dutch society rather than your grammar.
What you need to pass each part
You pass the exam part by part, and no overall score combines them.
- KNM: 40 questions. DUO's KNM practice exam says you need at least 28 correct.
- Lezen and Luisteren: 25 questions each. DUO does not publish a pass mark for them. Its practice exams show your chance of passing instead.
- Schrijven and Spreken: assessed on how well you complete each task, not as a count of right answers.
A failed part never cancels a passed one, so you retake only the part you failed, and DUO issues your diploma once every required part is passed. Results arrive by letter within 8 weeks and also appear in Mijn Inburgering.
A2 exam booking and fees
You book each part in Mijn Inburgering with DigiD by choosing a date and an exam location (DUO on booking). You do not need a minimum number of lesson hours before you book, but it can take more than 6 weeks before you can sit an exam, so book in good time.
Each A2 part costs €50, so €250 for all five. You can change the date or cancel up to 1 week before the exam and get your fee back. After that, the fee is lost.
You have 3 years to complete inburgering, so you can spread the parts over that time, but leave room for a retake, because one failed part means a new booking and another wait for the result.
On the exam day
Bring a valid ID, such as a passport or a residence permit, because you cannot take the exam without one. Come alone, since other people wait outside, and expect staff to explain the rules in the exam room before you start. You may not take paper, a pen, a phone or a watch into the room, so you leave them in a locker (A2 exam rules).
The order to practise in
No order is required, but this one works for most A2 learners:
- Start with Lezen and Luisteren. Understanding Dutch comes before producing it.
- Add Schrijven once everyday texts feel familiar. Reuse phrases from what you read.
- Add Spreken when you have sentences you can say without thinking.
- Study KNM from the start. Its topics, such as the gemeente, work, health care and school, use the same words as the language exams.
DUO's free practice exams show the format and level of each part, so book a part when your practice scores are stable, not after one good day.