Failed the Inburgeringsexamen (Civic Integration Exam) More Than Once: Your Options

If you failed the inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) more than once, first check which law applies to you, how much time is left, and why you are failing. Your options can include a new resit plan, extra time, a change in your personal integration and participation plan (PIP) through the gemeente, A2 downscaling within the Wet inburgering 2021 (Wi2021) B1-route after you meet the legal conditions, an adapted exam, or an effort-based waiver under Wet inburgering 2013 (Wi2013).

• Failing an exam does not automatically mean a fine. For people whom DUO may fine, the risk starts when they miss the integration deadline without a valid extension or other decision. DUO currently says asylum status holders do not receive this late-completion fine.
• For Staatsexamen NT2 B1 or B2, you can register for a resit only after you have received the result showing that you did not pass that component.
• Under Wi2021, the gemeente owns your PIP. A2 downscaling applies only within the B1-route. It requires at least 600 followed course hours of Dutch as a second language at a qualifying provider, plus facts that show sufficient effort during the lessons.
• Under Wi2013, AGI is the main effort-based waiver. It is not for Wi2021 candidates.
• Check extra time before a waiver. DUO lists several reasons, including illness, literacy courses, childbirth, homelessness, school or gemeente delay, and enough course hours plus exam attempts.
• If the exam format itself is the barrier, check an adapted exam before applying for a full medical exemption.

The same failure history can lead to different next steps. A person under the old 2013 law usually deals more directly with DUO rules. A person under the 2021 law must also involve the gemeente because the PIP decides the learning route and required level.

Check each option against the reason you failed. A full waiver has narrower conditions than a resit, extra time or an adapted exam.

For Wi2021, your gemeente sets your PIP. The PIP says which route you follow, which exams you need, and at what level. If you keep failing, ask for a meeting before the deadline becomes urgent. Bring your results, attendance record and teacher's advice.

• Ask whether your current school or route still fits your situation.
• If you are in the B1-route and B1 is too hard, ask whether one or more language parts can be taken at A2. The law requires at least 600 followed course hours of Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2, Dutch as a second language) at a qualifying provider. The relevant facts must also show that you made sufficient effort during those lessons. The gemeente records any downscaling in your PIP.
• A2 downscaling does not apply inside the education route. Ask the gemeente about support or a route change if that route no longer fits.
• If you already passed some parts, ask how those passed parts count in your PIP and deadline plan.
• DUO automatically adds 6 months only when every condition on its Wi2021 effort-extension page is met. In both listed B1-route cases, the term must have started at least 2.5 years ago, at least 2 of 4 language exams must be passed at the PIP level or higher, KNM must be passed, and PVT and MAP must be complete.
• The remaining extension conditions depend on status. Asylum status holders must have followed all language and KNM course hours in the PIP. Family migrants must have followed 450 hours of language and KNM courses at a school with the Blik op Werk quality mark.

For Wi2013, DUO has a specific effort-based waiver called ontheffing wegens aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen (AGI). AGI applies after you meet DUO's course-hour and exam-attempt thresholds but still have not passed all exams.

• For the A2 course path, DUO lists key conditions such as a term that started at least 2.5 years ago, at least 600 classroom course hours, a school that was listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl when you started, and at least 3 attempts to pass all required exams.
• Only classroom hours count for this AGI route. DUO says hours from online courses do not count.
• For a literacy-course path, DUO also uses 600 hours, with at least 300 hours of literacy course. DUO may ask you to take a learnability test, which costs €150.
• If you do not yet have enough hours or attempts for AGI, check extra time instead. Under Wi2013, the effort-extension route can involve 300 course hours and repeated attempts for unfinished exams.

Illness, disability, dyslexia, a psychological condition or another personal circumstance can cause repeated failure. The standard exam format may not fit your needs. In that case, look at the medical and adapted-exam routes before paying for more attempts.

• For A2 language exams and knowledge exams, you can request advice for an adapted exam through Mijn Inburgering or with a paper form.
• For Staatsexamen NT2 B1 or B2, use the adapted-exam route from Staatsexamen NT2/DUO.
• You pay €225 to apply for a medical ontheffing as of May 2026. Argonaut gives medical advice, and DUO decides. DUO refunds the fee only if the exemption is granted.
• BIO ontheffing is for exceptional lasting personal situations. DUO considers it only after ruling out every other exemption and extra-time option.

Documents show the facts behind your request. Keep copies of everything, even if you also see some information in Mijn Inburgering.

• Exam results and dates for every failed and passed component.
• Your current deadline and the law that applies to you: Wi2013 or Wi2021.
• Course attendance hours, school contract, invoices or a school statement.
• A short note from your teacher explaining what is still difficult and what has already improved.
• Medical or specialist evidence if you are asking for an adapted exam, medical route or extra time because of illness.
• Letters from DUO, the gemeente, IND or Staatsexamen NT2 that mention your obligation, PIP, results or deadline.

• Log in to Mijn Inburgering and write down the parts you still need, your deadline and your law.
• If you are Wi2021, ask the gemeente for a PIP or route conversation. If you are Wi2013, check DUO's AGI and extra-time pages.
• Identify why the previous attempt failed: vocabulary, speed, writing structure, stress, computer use, hearing, reading, or the wrong level.
• Choose one concrete change for the next attempt: a different course, targeted practice, adapted exam request, extra-time request, or gemeente meeting.
• Read the related guides on the three-year deadline, fines, medical ontheffing, exam results and registration before you send forms.

Related guides: extra time and the three-year clock, inburgering fines, medical ontheffing and adapted exams, and waiting for results.