B2 reading: about 25 correct to pass
If you are preparing for Lezen II (B2 reading exam) in the Staatsexamen Nt2 (Dutch as a second language state exam), use the official practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) to learn the interface. The standard exam gives you 100 minutes for six texts and 35 or 36 multiple-choice questions. You need about 25 correct to pass. The official pass result (External site, opens in a new tab) is a converted score of 500 or higher.
B2 reading level and question types
Lezen is the reading part of Programma II (programme II), which tests B2 Dutch. It is intended for work or study at higher professional or university level (External site, opens in a new tab). B2 is above B1. Check which Dutch exam you need before choosing a level.
You read texts about work, study and daily life, including rules, arguments and practical guides. For an overview of the other exam parts, see the Staatsexamen Nt2 exam guide.
The official reading question types (External site, opens in a new tab) ask you to identify a text’s topic, source or audience, understand meaning, connect information or find a detail. These reading methods can help:
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Question type | What you need to find | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose or source | Why the text was written, where it could appear, or who it is for. | Read the title, introduction, final paragraph, and tone. |
| Meaning or relation | What a sentence means, or how two parts of the text connect. | Check signal words such as hoewel (although), daardoor (as a result), bovendien (moreover), tenzij (unless), and daarom (therefore). |
| Writer's position | Whether the writer agrees, doubts, warns, recommends, or only describes. | Separate the writer's view from quoted experts or examples. |
| Search and combine | Which rule, condition, date, amount, or section applies to a situation. | Use headings and section numbers before reading closely. |
Exam format and dictionary rules
The standard B2 reading exam lasts 100 minutes (External site, opens in a new tab). You receive a paper booklet with six Dutch texts. The questions and answer options are on the computer. The official instruction transcript gives 35 or 36 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer.
If you need an aangepast examen (adapted exam) (External site, opens in a new tab), request adjustments when you register. You may receive extra time.
You may use only the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2) (External site, opens in a new tab) (Van Dale pocket dictionary for Dutch as a second language). If you want to use a dictionary, bring your own copy. It must contain no notes, added texts or loose papers. Other dictionaries, including digital dictionaries, are not allowed.
Pass mark
You need about 25 correct answers to pass B2 reading. Under the official scoring rules (External site, opens in a new tab), each correct answer gives one point. The computer converts your points to a score. You pass with a score of 500 or higher.
Booking and fee details
Use the NT2 registration guide for booking, payment, DigiD access, adapted exams and resits. Check exam costs and fees for fees and funding before you book.
Full B2 reading practice
Watch the Lezen instruction video on the official exam-format page (External site, opens in a new tab) first to learn the interface. Then use the official practice environment (External site, opens in a new tab) on a computer or laptop. Choose Programma II and Lezen.
For extra practice, use our free B2 reading practice workbook. It has six original Dutch text sets and 36 multiple-choice questions, with an answer key and evidence notes. Set a timer for 100 minutes. Use about 25 correct out of 36 as the same pass benchmark. These are Inburgering.org exercises.
Short B2 reading exercise
This original practice text and its questions are in Dutch, as in the exam. Read each question first, then find evidence in the text.
Deze oefentekst komt uit een personeelsblad en gaat over geconcentreerd werken.
Het stille uur is geen luxe Steeds meer organisaties voeren een dagelijks stilteblok in: een uur zonder vergaderingen, telefoontjes of chatberichten. Volgens arbeidspsycholoog Nora de Vries is dat geen modieuze ingreep, maar een reactie op een oud probleem dat zichtbaarder is geworden door digitale communicatie. Medewerkers verliezen niet alleen tijd aan onderbrekingen; ze verliezen vooral de draad van hun eigen redenering. Een rapport controleren, een bezwaarbrief lezen of een planning verbeteren vraagt om mentale continuïteit. Als iemand na elke melding opnieuw moet beginnen, lijkt het werk misschien af, maar is de kwaliteit vaak lager.
De Vries waarschuwt wel voor een simpele oplossing. Een stilteblok werkt alleen als het team daarnaast een duidelijk moment heeft waarop vragen juist wel gesteld worden. Anders schuiven kleine problemen door naar de volgende dag, of gaan collega's buiten de officiële kanalen om toch weer berichten sturen. Het doel is dus niet om communicatie te verminderen, maar om communicatie beter te timen. Teams die het stille uur combineren met een kort vragenuur, melden volgens De Vries minder haastfouten en minder frustratie over 'steeds even storen'.
Question 1: Wat is volgens De Vries het belangrijkste probleem van onderbrekingen?
- A. Ze maken medewerkers minder sociaal.
- B. Ze verstoren het denkproces achter complex werk.
- C. Ze zorgen ervoor dat vergaderingen langer duren.
Question 2: Waarom is alleen een stilteblok volgens de tekst niet genoeg?
- A. Dan kunnen dringende vragen helemaal niet meer worden gesteld.
- B. Dan gaan medewerkers mogelijk op andere manieren toch storen.
- C. Dan wordt communicatie binnen het team minder belangrijk gevonden.
Question 3: Wat is het belangrijkste doel van deze tekst?
- A. werknemers overtuigen dat chatberichten slecht zijn voor samenwerking
- B. uitleggen onder welke voorwaarden een stilteblok nuttig kan zijn
- C. aantonen dat organisaties te veel vergaderingen plannen
For this three-question exercise, about 2 correct matches the full-set benchmark. Use a full practice set to check your exam readiness. The answers are 1 B, 2 B and 3 B. Check each answer against the text:
- Question 1: “ze verliezen vooral de draad van hun eigen redenering” shows that interruptions break the thinking process.
- Question 2: “buiten de officiële kanalen om toch weer berichten sturen” shows that colleagues may find other ways to interrupt.
- Question 3: the second paragraph explains the condition for a useful quiet hour: the team also needs a set time for questions.
Four-week reading plan
Use this suggested plan if you have four weeks to practise:
- Week 1: watch the official Lezen instruction video, then use official practice tasks to learn the interface.
- Week 2: practise identifying each paragraph’s role: introducing a topic, explaining, contrasting, giving an example, limiting a claim or concluding.
- Week 3: do one full 100-minute practice set. Review every wrong answer by writing down the Dutch sentence that supports the correct answer.
- Week 4: repeat timed practice. Look up only words that you need to answer a question. Keep reading the Dutch text instead of translating whole paragraphs.
Your next practice session
If the exam interface is new to you, start with official practice. If you score below about 25 correct in a full set, review the question types you missed before doing another timed set. If dictionary searches take too much time, practise finding answers from the surrounding sentences.
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website): language exams A2, B1 and B2 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Confirms that the B2 reading exam lasts 100 minutes.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: what the exam looks like (External site, opens in a new tab) - Reading format, question types, 100-minute duration, 35 or 36 questions in the instruction transcript, and dictionary rules.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: assessment and score 500 (External site, opens in a new tab) - One point per correct reading answer, conversion to a score, and the pass score of 500.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: what to bring (External site, opens in a new tab) - The permitted reading dictionary and what candidates need to bring.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: using the diploma (External site, opens in a new tab) - Programma II is B2 and is intended for work or study at higher professional or university level; institutions set their own admission requirements.
- DUO: exam fees (External site, opens in a new tab) - The €50 fee per component and checking free-exam or loan eligibility in Mijn DUO.
- DUO: registration (External site, opens in a new tab) - Booking with your own DigiD or without it if you cannot apply; adapted exams; booking restrictions and the exception after a missed exam.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: official practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official instruction videos and the practice environment, which works properly on a computer or laptop.
- Overheid.nl (Dutch government information portal): Staatsexamen Nt2 exam rules for 2026 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 4 gives the standard 100-minute B2 reading duration. Article 13 requires a failed result before retaking the same component and programme.
- Staatsexamens Nt2: official practice portal (External site, opens in a new tab) - The official practice environment linked from the exam authority’s preparation page.