Inburgeringsexamen
The Dutch civic integration exam, explained in plain English
Five exam parts, two different rulebooks depending on when your integration term started, and a lot of confusing Dutch abbreviations. Here is what each part actually tests, in plain English, with real practice and a clear next step.
Which exam do you actually need?
This is the single most confusing part, and most guides skip it. The exam you need depends on when your integration term (inburgeringstermijn) started, not on your personal preference. Your official letter from DUO, or your account on Mijn Inburgering, states your exact required level. Here is the short version.
Most people today · Wet Inburgering 2021
Started your term in 2022 or later
Under the current law, most people take the language exams at B1 level (some routes ask for B2). You will also need KNM, a Participatieverklaringstraject (PVT), and a labour-market module (MAP). B1 is higher than our current A1 and A2 courses take you.
Older term · Wet Inburgering 2013
Started your term before 2022
Under the older law, the four language exams are at A2 level, plus KNM (and ONA or PVT depending on your start date). This is the group our A2 course lines up with directly today.
Not sure which applies to you? Log in to Mijn Inburgering or check the letter from your gemeente or DUO — it states your required level in black and white.
The five exam parts
Lezen
Reading
Understanding written Dutch: forms, letters, short articles, and instructions.
Schrijven
Writing
Writing short, correct texts: forms, messages, and simple everyday letters.
Luisteren
Listening
Understanding spoken Dutch: announcements, conversations, and phone messages.
Spreken
Speaking
Speaking Dutch in everyday situations: describing, asking, and responding.
KNM
Knowledge of Dutch society
Facts about how the Netherlands works: history, government, healthcare, work, and daily life.
Where DutchLessonsOnline fits in, honestly
Our Dutch A1 and A2 courses take you from zero to A2 level: the grammar and vocabulary foundation almost every route needs, and the exact level the exam asks for if your integration term started before 2022.
If your exam is at B1 level, A2 is not the finish line, it is the running start: you will need further study beyond A2 to close the gap. We do not have a dedicated B1 course yet, and we would rather tell you that plainly than let you assume A2 is enough. We have practice packs for Lezen, Schrijven, Spreken and KNM, each explained in plain English. Our Luisteren exercises are free on this site, with fifteen fragments you can practise right now.
Common questions
Does DutchLessonsOnline prepare me for the whole inburgeringsexamen?
Our A1 and A2 courses build the language foundation the exam's Lezen, Schrijven, Luisteren, and Spreken parts test, up to A2 level. We do not teach B1-level material yet, and we say so rather than overselling what the courses cover. KNM is knowledge rather than language, so we cover it in a separate practice pack instead of inside the courses.
What is KNM and do I need it?
KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij) tests your knowledge of Dutch society, not your Dutch language skills. Almost everyone doing inburgering needs it, regardless of A2 or B1 route. See our KNM page for what it actually covers.
How do I know if I need A2 or B1?
Check your official letter from DUO or your gemeente, or log in to Mijn Inburgering. It states your personal required level. It depends on when your integration term started, not on your own preference.
Is this the same as the Staatsexamen NT2?
No. Staatsexamen NT2 is a separate, generally higher-level Dutch qualification (used for things like higher education), run by a different route than the inburgeringsexamen. This section covers the civic integration exam specifically.
Practice packs, explained in English
The exam is in Dutch, so the texts, questions and model answers are too. Everything around them — the strategy, the explanations, the reason each answer is right — is in plain English. Self-paced PDFs, one payment, lifetime access.
- Lezen — € 4,99 · 16 texts, 60 explained answers
- Schrijven — € 4,99 · 42 tasks, model answers, the je/u rules
- Spreken — € 4,99 · 26 prompts, model answers, pronunciation
- KNM — € 4,99 · all eight topics, 40 explained questions
Luisteren is free on this site — fifteen fragments with audio, answers and transcripts.
Build the language foundation first
Whatever level your exam needs, A2 is the foundation everything else builds on. Start from zero with A1, or go straight to the complete course with A2.