Dutch Reading Exam (Lezen): A1, A2, B1 and B2 Guide

The Dutch reading exam is called Lezen. It is not one single exam for everyone. A1 Lezen belongs to the basisexamen inburgering buitenland before MVV. A2 Lezen is a 65-minute DUO computer exam for many inburgering candidates. B1 and B2 Lezen are Staatsexamen NT2 exams: Programma I at B1 lasts 110 minutes, Programma II at B2 lasts 100 minutes, and you answer multiple-choice questions about Dutch texts.

• A1 Lezen tests simple Dutch reading for the basisexamen abroad. The official practice format has 19 questions and 35 minutes.
• A2 Lezen is a computer exam. You read everyday Dutch texts and answer questions in 65 minutes.
• B1 and B2 Lezen are Staatsexamen NT2 reading exams. You receive a booklet with texts and answer on the computer.
• NT2 Lezen has 35 or 36 multiple-choice questions. Programma I lasts 110 minutes; Programma II lasts 100 minutes.
• For NT2 Lezen, the official pages allow only the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2), and you must bring a clean paper copy yourself.
• Do not practise by memorising answer keys. Practise finding the sentence in the text that proves your answer.

The name Lezen stays the same, but the task becomes very different as the level rises. A1 is about simple words and short practical texts. A2 is still practical, but the texts are longer and the questions are less direct. B1 and B2 ask you to read longer texts about work, education and daily life, then choose the answer that is supported by the text.

For a deeper guide, use the A1 reading guide, A2 Lezen guide, B1 NT2 reading guide or B2 NT2 reading guide.

Most reading questions are not asking you to translate the whole text. They ask a smaller question: What is the purpose? Who is the message for? What must this person do? Which rule applies? What does this paragraph mean? Which sentence gives the conclusion? At B1 and B2, some questions require the whole paragraph, while others only require searching for one detail.

• Purpose questions: read the title, first lines and last lines. Ask: why was this text written?
• Detail questions: look for names, dates, times, prices, places, conditions and exceptions.
• Meaning questions: read the sentence before and after the difficult sentence. The answer is usually in the context.
• Search questions: use headings, table rows and repeated keywords before reading the whole text.
• Opinion questions: separate the writer's opinion from examples, quotes or other people's opinions.

A good reading strategy is calm and practical. You do not need to understand every word. You need to find enough proof to choose one answer. If two answers look possible, go back to the exact sentence in the Dutch text and choose the answer that matches the words, not the answer that sounds generally true.

• Read the question first, then decide whether you need the whole text or only one section.
• Underline or mentally mark proof words: dates, amounts, names, verbs like must, may, can, cannot, and signal words like but, because, therefore and unless.
• Do not spend too long on one unknown word. At NT2 level, use the dictionary only when the word blocks the answer.
• Answer every multiple-choice question. If you are unsure, choose the best supported answer and mark it for review if the computer allows it.
• In your practice, always write down the proof sentence. This trains exam thinking better than only checking A, B, C or D.

Use official practice first so you understand the real screen, timing and question style. Then use extra practice to build speed and confidence. Extra practice is useful, but it should never replace the official examples.

• For A2, start with the official DUO/Inburgeren practice exams, then practise with the free A2 reading summary and A2 reading practice workbook.
• For NT2 B1 or B2, use the official Staatsexamen NT2 practice environment, then choose the B1 reading summary, B1 practice workbook, B2 reading summary or B2 practice workbook.
• For A1 abroad, use the A1 reading summary and A1 reading practice workbook after checking the official Naar Nederland material.

• Practising at the wrong level. A2 practice is too short and simple for B1; B2 practice can be discouraging if you only need A2.
• Reading every text from start to finish before looking at the questions. This wastes time on search questions.
• Choosing an answer because it uses the same keyword as the text. Check the whole sentence, especially words like not, only, before, after and unless.
• Using the NT2 dictionary for every unknown word. Look up only the word that decides the answer.
• Only doing practice tests. Also read real Dutch: letters from school, gemeente pages, work notices, health websites, transport rules and simple news.

• First, confirm your required level. If you are unsure, read the exam decision guide or check Mijn Inburgering.
• Second, do one official practice exam without pausing. This gives you a real baseline.
• Third, study every wrong answer. Find the Dutch words that prove the correct answer.
• Fourth, practise the text types that caused trouble: schedules, rules, letters, long articles, opinion texts or tables.
• Finally, repeat a timed set. Your goal is not perfect Dutch. Your goal is steady proof-finding under time pressure.

Still unsure which exam path applies to you? Start with Which Dutch exam do you need? before choosing a reading practice plan.