Luisteren (listening): practise for A2, B1 or B2

Mijn Inburgering shows your required exams and level, according to DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab). If you have a persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan), check that plan too. Your gemeente (municipality) records your route and exams in it.

The listening exam tests whether you understand spoken Dutch. Choose the answer that matches the message. If you miss a word, keep listening for the information the question asks for: who, what, where, when, why, a condition, an opinion or a final decision.

Use these situations to choose what to practise:

• A speaker changes a plan after maar (but), toch (after all), helaas (unfortunately), dus (so) or eigenlijk (actually).
• Answer options repeat words from the audio. You need to match the meaning of the whole sentence.
• A speaker corrects a time, place or person later in the recording.
• A question asks for a reason or result. You need to follow the explanation after the first detail.
• A speaker sounds happy, worried, doubtful, annoyed or careful. You need to connect that attitude to what they say.

Practice example: a caller says, “De afspraak is om tien uur. Nee, om half elf.” (The appointment is at ten. No, at half past ten.) If the question asks when the appointment starts, choose 10:30. The correction changes the answer. This is a made-up example, not an official exam question.

At A2, you answer questions about short films and spoken texts on a computer. The DUO language-exam overview (External site, opens in a new tab) gives a duration of 45 minutes.

At B1 and B2, the official NT2 listening format (External site, opens in a new tab) is the same. Both exams take 90 minutes. They have about 40 multiple-choice tasks with five or more listening texts and one to three video clips.

These rules apply to NT2 listening:

• You hear work, study and daily-life situations through headphones.
• You get 25 seconds to read each question and its answer options before the recording starts automatically.
• You hear each recording once. You cannot pause it or play it again.
• You may return to a question and change your answer, but the recording stays unavailable.
• You may not use a dictionary.

B1 and B2 listening each take 90 minutes, twice the 45-minute A2 duration. This table uses the official programme descriptions (External site, opens in a new tab) and durations.

For the format and strategy at your level, read the A2 listening guide or the Staatsexamen NT2 listening guide. At every level, read the question first and listen for the information that answers it.

NT2 listening is computer-scored. Each correct answer earns one point, which is converted to a score. A score of 500 or higher passes, according to the official NT2 scoring rules (External site, opens in a new tab).

For A2, DUO publishes the result (External site, opens in a new tab) in Mijn Inburgering and sends a letter. For when to check and what to do after a failed attempt, see the exam results timeline.

The standard fee in 2026 is €50 for A2 listening (External site, opens in a new tab) and €50 for B1 or B2 listening (External site, opens in a new tab). Check whether you qualify for free attempts before paying. The exam costs, loans and fees guide explains the conditions.

Book A2 in Mijn Inburgering with DigiD (Dutch digital identity). If you cannot log in, DUO provides a paper registration form. Follow the A2 exam registration guide for the booking and payment steps. DUO says the wait for an exam place can be more than six weeks.

Book B1 or B2 through Mijn DUO (My DUO, the online education-service portal) with your own DigiD. If you cannot apply for DigiD, DUO’s NT2 registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) offers registration without it. Follow the Staatsexamen NT2 registration guide for the booking steps.

Start with official practice for your level. Use DUO’s A2 listening practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) for A2. For B1 or B2, use the official NT2 practice environment (External site, opens in a new tab) on a computer or laptop. The NT2 site says the practice environment works properly only on those devices.

We suggest this order for each practice set:

1. Read the question before listening.
2. Play the recording once to practise following it without a pause.
3. Choose the answer that matches what you heard.
4. Check the answer and, if available, the transcript or explanation.
5. Record what you missed: a time, person, place, reason, condition, opinion or final decision.
6. Practise that mistake type in the next set.

Complete a timed set to practise the full exam session. Save pauses and translations for your review afterwards. The one-play rule is an NT2 exam rule; here we also suggest it as a practice method for A2.

When reviewing a mistake, check whether you guessed too early, missed a correction, lost a number or misunderstood the question. Choose one pattern to work on in the next set.

Outside exam practice, listen to short Dutch news, public-service videos, work conversations, school messages and appointment calls. You can also practise travel announcements, shop conversations and health information. Listen for the same details you record when reviewing mistakes.

After official practice, use our free A2 listening summary for a printable overview or our free A2 listening workbook with audio for more questions. For timed practice, choose the free A2 listening mock exam, free B1 listening mock exam or free B2 listening mock exam. These are extra practice from Inburgering.org.

If you are also practising other language skills, compare the reading exam guide, speaking exam guide and writing exam guide.

If your required level is A2, use the A2 guide and official practice. If it is B1 or B2, use the matching NT2 programme and practise one-time listening. If your level is unclear, check Mijn Inburgering and your PIP before booking.

We suggest using official practice again two weeks before your exam to rehearse the screens and instructions.

Before exam week, read the exam-day rules to check your identity document, exam call letter, locker and timing.

The exam results timeline explains when to check your result and what to do after a failed attempt.

For more exercises, these Inburgering.org listening practice pages need a login and paid course access:

• A2 listening practice
• B1 listening practice
• B2 listening practice