Start with your required exam and one official practice session
Check which inburgering (civic integration) exam and level your official letter or integration plan requires. Try the official practice for that exam before choosing study materials. Note what causes mistakes: unknown words, unclear instructions, timing or computer use. Build your weekly routine around those points. Ask for feedback on speaking and writing before booking another attempt.
Plan your preparation in five steps
Follow these steps to make your study plan:
- Confirm your required exam and level.
- Try an official practice session.
- Write down the tasks that caused mistakes or delays.
- Plan short daily practice and one exam-style session each week.
- Arrange feedback on your speaking and writing.
Check your route and required parts
Your study plan depends on where you are. It also depends on the law that applies to you and your official letter. If you are unsure, use our guide to which Dutch exam you need.
For integration in the Netherlands, Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO, Education Executive Agency) (External site, opens in a new tab) lists the requirements. Mijn Inburgering (My Integration portal) (External site, opens in a new tab) shows which law applies and which exams you need. It also holds your DUO letters. If you need help setting up DigiD (digital identity) to log in, follow our DigiD guide.
Choose the advice that matches your situation:
- A1 abroad: the basisexamen inburgering buitenland (basic civic integration exam abroad) has three parts: Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (KNS, knowledge of Dutch society), reading and speaking. Check whether you need it with the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND, Immigration and Naturalisation Service) (External site, opens in a new tab). Use the official Naar Nederland (To the Netherlands) study materials for this exam.
- A2 in the Netherlands: under the Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013), you need A2 or higher. Check your required parts in Mijn Inburgering. They can include language exams, Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM, knowledge of Dutch society), Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt (ONA, orientation to the Dutch labour market) and the Participatieverklaringstraject (PVT, participation declaration process). The parts depend on when your obligation began.
- Under the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021), your gemeente (municipality) makes a persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan) with you. It states your learning route and exams. Check it for participation requirements too. Follow your own plan, which may set a different route from the exams listed here.
- B1 or B2: the Staatsexamen Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2, Dutch as a second language state exam) has separate reading, listening, speaking and writing exams. Programma I (Programme I) is B1. Programma II (Programme II) is B2.
If you may qualify for an exemption, check the exemptions guide before booking. If illness or disability affects your exam, read the adapted exam rules (External site, opens in a new tab) first. For extra time during an NT2 exam, check the NT2 exam adjustment rules (External site, opens in a new tab). If you need more time to complete integration, check the deadline and extra time guide.
Try official practice on a computer
Official practice introduces the tasks and instructions. The table lists official materials and equipment requirements.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Exam | Official materials | Equipment and limits |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | DUO’s official practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) for writing, speaking, listening, reading and KNM | DUO recommends a desktop computer. Speaking practice does not work in Safari. |
| B1 or B2 | Official NT2 practice environment (External site, opens in a new tab) | A computer or laptop is required for it to work properly. |
| A1 abroad | Naar Nederland self-study package (External site, opens in a new tab) and official A1 practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) | Practice requires a desktop or laptop. The real exam looks different. |
After official practice, you can use Inburgering.org’s extra free mock exams for more practice.
Build a weekly routine
The table gives a suggested weekly routine. Fit the sessions around your work or family. Use tasks at your required level.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Session | Times per week | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 3 short sessions | Learn words from your practice mistakes. Add them to your word list. |
| Reading or listening | 2 sessions | Use Dutch texts or recordings about work, health, housing, school, government and daily life. |
| Speaking or writing | 2 sessions | Answer aloud or explain a daily situation. For writing, write a short message or email, or fill in a form. |
| Timed exam practice | 1 session | Use a timer and answer in the same way as in your exam. |
| Review | 1 session | Review wrong answers and choose one weak point for the next week. |
For example, read a notice and find the appointment time. Then write a short message asking to change an appointment. If you need A2 writing, practise with pen and paper, as in the real exam. Use grammar practice to correct repeated errors in your answers.
Check your practice score against the pass mark
These approximate pass marks for October 2026 use different scoring scales: correct answers, points or a percentage of points. Compare your practice score with the row for your exam. For speaking and writing, ask someone to assess your answers as well.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Level | Subject | You need about this much to pass |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Lezen (reading) | 14 of 19 correct; a grade of 6 or higher |
| A1 | Spreken (speaking) | 34 of 44 points |
| A1 | KNS | 21 of 30 correct |
| A2 | Lezen and Luisteren (listening) | 18 of 25 correct in each exam |
| A2 | KNM | 28 of 40 correct |
| A2 | Schrijven (writing) | 65% of the points |
| B2 | NT2 Lezen | 25 correct answers |
NT2 converts your points into a score. You need a score of at least 500 in each part to pass. See NT2’s scoring explanation (External site, opens in a new tab) for how to read your result.
For a shorter practice set, use the same proportion. For example, on 10 A2 reading or listening questions, you need about 7 correct. Review the mistakes even when your score is above the pass mark.
Ask for feedback before another attempt
Ask for feedback if you find speaking or writing hard to assess alone. The NT2 authority suggests having a teacher mark and discuss a practice exam. You can use self-study for vocabulary, reading, KNM themes and repeated practice.
If you keep failing speaking or writing tasks, ask a teacher, language buddy or school to review your answers before booking another exam. Ask which part of the answer was missing or unclear. Get corrections before paying for another attempt. If you cannot study regularly, arrange help with your routine before booking another exam. If your gemeente has set a school route, ask your school for help before booking another exam. Follow that plan.
To compare studying alone with taking lessons, use our self-study or language school guide.
Avoid these preparation mistakes
Check your plan for these mistakes:
- Studying a higher level than you need while giving too little time to your required exam tasks.
- Answering more practice questions before reviewing why earlier answers were wrong.
- Delaying speaking practice because you feel embarrassed. Start by recording one short answer alone.
- Using only a phone when your official practice needs a computer or laptop.
- Booking before checking identification, location, adapted exam rules or your integration deadline.
Before booking, check the rules for your exam. DUO’s A2 and knowledge exam rules (External site, opens in a new tab) include identification requirements and link to separate B1 and B2 rules. For A2 or knowledge exams, wait for approval before booking an adapted exam.
Choose what to do before you book
If your route is unclear, confirm it before buying study materials. If you know your required exam, try its official practice and work on the mistakes. If speaking or writing is still causing problems, get corrections before paying for another attempt. For integration in the Netherlands, check the start date in your DUO letter and your deadline before choosing an exam date.
Use these guides for your next task:
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- DUO Inburgeren - Welke examens (External site, opens in a new tab) - Required exams under the 2013 and 2021 civic integration acts; the PIP and Mijn Inburgering.
- DUO Inburgeren - Oefenen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official A2 practice for five subjects, B1 and B2 practice links, and computer and browser advice.
- Naar Nederland - Learning for the exam (External site, opens in a new tab) - The three A1 exam parts and the official Naar Nederland self-study package.
- Naar Nederland - Taking practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - A1 practice equipment, differences from the real exam, and limits of practice feedback.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Voorbereiden (External site, opens in a new tab) - The four NT2 exam parts, computer exams, and preparation materials.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Examens oefenen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official NT2 practice tasks and the requirement to practise on a computer or laptop.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Wat is het staatsexamen Nt2? (External site, opens in a new tab) - Programma I at B1, Programma II at B2, and four computer-based language exams.
- DUO Inburgeren - Inloggen op Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) - Required exams, DUO letters, and login with DigiD.
- IND - Basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (External site, opens in a new tab) - Who needs the exam abroad for a residence application, exemptions and waivers.
- DUO Inburgeren - Aangepast examen bij ziekte of beperking (External site, opens in a new tab) - Apply for an adapted A2 or knowledge exam before booking; separate rules for B1 and B2.
- DUO Inburgeren - Regels voor het examen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Identification rules for A2 and knowledge exams, with links to B1 and B2 rules.
- DUO Inburgeren - In het kort (External site, opens in a new tab) - Integration routes, the start date in DUO letters, and self-study under the 2013 act.
- DUO Inburgeren - Taalexamens (External site, opens in a new tab) - A2 reading, listening and speaking tasks; writing with pen and paper.
- DUO Inburgeren - Kennisexamens (External site, opens in a new tab) - KNM, ONA and participation requirements, including what to check in your PIP.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Vragen van kandidaten (External site, opens in a new tab) - The pass score of 500 for each NT2 part and advice to have a teacher mark and discuss practice.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Extra tijd bij aangepast examen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Extra time during adapted NT2 exams and where to request exam adjustments.