Inburgering exam · A2, B1 and KNM
The inburgering exam, explained in plain English
The inburgeringsexamen is not one test. Here is which exam is yours, what the five parts ask, what they cost, how to book and when results arrive. We are independent of DUO.
- Which exam is yours: A2 or B1
- All five parts, each with a question to try
- Fees, booking and results, from the official sources
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Which exam do you take?
It depends on the law that applies to you, and that depends on when your duty to integrate began. Mijn Inburgering shows which law is yours. Check there first, or read A2 or B1: which exam is yours.
The 2021 law: B1 is the standard
If your duty to integrate began on or after 1 January 2022, the 2021 law applies. In the B1 route the language exams are at B1 or higher, plus KNM. Your gemeente writes your route and level in your personal plan (PIP).
The older law: A2
If your duty to integrate began before 1 January 2022, your language exams are at A2, plus KNM. Under the 2021 law you can take A2 only if your gemeente allows it, after at least 600 hours of lessons and real effort.
Other routes
The onderwijsroute is for people going on to study, with B1 or B2 language exams and KNM. The Z-route is for people who find the other routes too hard: you learn at A1. This course prepares you for the A2 and B1 language exams and for KNM.
The five exam parts
Reading, listening, writing and speaking, plus KNM, the exam on Dutch society. At A2, only writing is on paper; the rest are on a computer. Each part has its own page with the format and a sample question.
- Inburgering exam · KNMThe exam on life in the Netherlands: eight themes, up to 45 minutes, and practice that fits your day.
- Inburgering exam · ReadingReading at A2 and B1: the texts, the time and the questions. See what to expect and how to practise.
- Inburgering exam · ListeningListening at A2 and B1: audio, video and time. At B1 each clip plays once. See how to practise.
- Inburgering exam · WritingA2 on paper, B1 typed: what the writing exam contains, how it is marked and how to practise it.
- Inburgering exam · SpeakingOn a computer at A2 and B1: how speaking is marked and how to practise out loud with Bram, an AI tutor.
Booking, costs and results
Fees
In 2026, each A2 exam part and KNM costs €50, and so does each part of the B1 and B2 state exam. A failed A2 part is booked and paid again. Some people get free attempts or can borrow from DUO, depending on their situation. More in exam costs and the DUO loan.
Booking
Book A2 exams and KNM in Mijn Inburgering with DigiD, and allow more than six weeks. Book the B1 and B2 state exam in MijnDUO, about eight weeks ahead. You need a valid ID at every exam. How to book, step by step.
Results
A2 and KNM results come by letter and in Mijn Inburgering. DUO says up to eight weeks, but since 31 July 2026 A2 speaking and writing can take up to sixteen weeks. B1 and B2 results appear in MijnDUO.
Pass marks
No pass mark is published for the A2 exams or KNM: the Minister sets it and does not share it, so nobody can tell you the score you need. For B1 and B2 it is public: a scale score of 500 or more on each part.
Checked against the official sources on October 6, 2026. Rules change: your own letter from DUO or your gemeente decides.
- DUO — U gaat inburgeren(opens in a new tab)
- DUO — Inhoud taalexamens A2, B1 en B2(opens in a new tab)
- DUO — Inburgeren betalen(opens in a new tab)
- DUO — Aanmelden voor een examen(opens in a new tab)
- DUO — Uitslag(opens in a new tab)
- Staatsexamens NT2 — Vragen van kandidaten(opens in a new tab)
- Wet inburgering 2021(opens in a new tab)
Not exams: PVT, MAP and ONA
Besides the exams, you may have modules to complete. Which ones depends on your law and your route. The guide to PVT, MAP and ONA explains each one.
PVT: Dutch core values
A free module at your gemeente of at least 12 hours, ending with signing the participation statement (participatieverklaring). Required under the 2021 law, and under the older law if your duty began on or after 1 October 2017.
MAP: work and taking part
A free module at your gemeente on work and taking part in society, ending with a final conversation. Under the 2021 law it is part of the B1 route and the Z-route, not of the education route (onderwijsroute).
ONA: older law only
ONA, an orientation on the Dutch labour market, is not part of the 2021 law: the MAP replaced it. Under the older law it applies if your duty began between 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2022, unless an exemption applies. This course does not prepare for ONA.
Guides and articles
Longer articles on the exams, written from the same official sources.
- What the inburgering exam looks like, part by partThe A2 and B1 exams and KNM, part by part — how long each takes, what you answer on and how it is marked, from the official rules.
- A2 or B1 inburgering exam: which level and route are yours?Which inburgering exam do you take, A2 or B1? How the 2021 law, the older law and the three routes decide your level, and where to check your own.
- Inburgering exam costs and the DUO loan: what you pay and who paysWhat the inburgering exams cost in 2026, who pays under the 2021 law and the older law, and how the DUO loan of up to €10,000 works and is repaid.
- How to book the inburgering exam: Mijn Inburgering, DigiD and the state examHow to book your inburgering exams: A2 and KNM in Mijn Inburgering, the B1 state exam in MijnDUO, changing or cancelling, what to bring and when results come.
- Inburgering deadline extension and fines: what happens after three yearsYou have three years to finish inburgering. How to get extra time, what the fines are under the 2021 law and the older law, and who DUO may no longer fine.
- Inburgering exemption and dispensation: who does not have to take the examsWho can be exempt from the inburgering exams, who can get dispensation for illness or exceptional reasons, what medical dispensation costs, and who to ask.
- Dutch language requirement for naturalisation: is it A2 or B1?The Dutch level you need to naturalise today is A2. What counts as proof, why B1 is still only a plan, and what to look at if you cannot pass the exams.
- Staatsexamen NT2 explained — B1 and B2 parts, pass mark 500, fees, bookingThe staatsexamen NT2 explained, with Programma I (B1) and II (B2), the four computer parts, the score of 500 to pass, the €50 fee per part and how to book.
- PVT, MAP and ONA in inburgering explained — which one applies to youThe PVT and MAP are free gemeente modules under the 2021 law, not exams. The ONA is an older-law exam. What each is, who arranges it and the fines.
- Civic integration exam abroad (basisexamen inburgering) for an MVVWho must take the civic integration exam abroad before an MVV, its three A1 parts, the €50 fee per part, the grade 6 pass mark and how long the result lasts.
Questions about the inburgering exam
What is the difference between the A2 and B1 exams?
DUO runs the A2 language exams and KNM. The B1 and B2 language exams are the state exam Dutch as a second language (staatsexamen NT2), run by the College voor Toetsen en Examens. Booking, format and pass marks differ.
What happens if I fail a part?
You sit that part again. A failed A2 part is booked and paid again in Mijn Inburgering. For the state exam, you can register for a new sitting once you have received your result.
How long do I have to pass?
Under the 2021 law you have three years, starting the day after the date of your personal plan. You can ask for extra time for certain reasons, such as illness or the birth of a child. Under the older law the exam term is also three years, from the day you became obliged. More in deadlines, extensions and fines.
Do I need the exam to become a Dutch citizen?
Today, naturalisation needs the inburgering exam at A2 or higher, or an NT2 diploma at B1 or B2. A Z-route certificate alone is not enough. A move to B1 is planned, but it is not in force and has no official date. More in the language requirement for naturalisation.
Are there free official practice exams?
Yes. DUO publishes free practice exams (opens in a new tab) for the A2 parts and for KNM, and the state exam has free ones for B1. Do at least one of each so the screens and question types are familiar. Practice helps, but it never guarantees a pass.
inburgeringcoach is an independent course. It is not part of DUO, IND, CvTE or any gemeente, and preparing with it is not a guarantee of passing.
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