Inburgering exam B1: the level, the format and the changes

The inburgering exam B1 is not a separate DUO test: under the Wet inburgering 2021, people in the B1-route prove their Dutch by passing the four language parts of the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I, the national exam for Dutch as a second language at B1. On top of that they complete KNM (knowledge of Dutch society), MAP (a labour-market module) and PVT (the participation statement).

B1 means you are an "independent user". You can follow the main points of a work meeting or a radio item, explain a problem to your landlord, write a clear complaint email and give an opinion with reasons. That is a real step up from A2, where short, familiar exchanges are enough.

Which Dutch civic integration exam level you need depends on the date your obligation started and on your personal plan.

Your situation	Level
Obliged before 1 January 2022 (Wet inburgering 2013)	A2
Obliged on or after 1 January 2022, B1-route	B1
B1-route, but the municipality decides B1 is not achievable	A2 (downscaling)
Onderwijsroute (preparing for further education)	B1 or B2
Z-route (zelfredzaamheidsroute)	No B1 exams; A2 optional

Your municipality sets the route during the brede intake and records it in your PIP. Downscaling to A2 is only possible after you have made enough effort at B1, so do not assume it in advance. If you are not obliged at all and are taking exams voluntarily, choose the level based on your goal: for naturalisation, A2 currently suffices; for many jobs and studies, B1 or B2 is expected. See Which level do I need? and the A2 page.

Based on Staatsexamen NT2 information and the examination rules as of 2026. Check staatsexamensnt2.nl before your exam, as details are revised from time to time.

Part	Duration	Questions / tasks	How
Lezen	110 min	About 35 multiple-choice on 6 longer texts	Texts in a paper booklet, answers on computer
Luisteren	90 min	About 39 multiple-choice; audio and video played once	Computer
Schrijven	100 min	About 12 tasks, from completing sentences to longer practical texts	Computer, no spellcheck
Spreken	About 25 min	8 short answers (about 20 s) + 8 longer answers (15 s preparation, 30 s speaking)	Computer, recorded
KNM	45 min	40 multiple-choice (same exam as at A2)	Computer

Scores are reported on a scale; 500 or higher is a pass. Because the scale is set per exam version, there is no fixed "X out of 35". A paper Van Dale NT2 dictionary is allowed for Lezen and Schrijven, not for Luisteren or Spreken.

The biggest change of recent years is the switch from A2 to B1. Under the 2013 law, everyone took DUO's A2 exams. Since the 2021 law took effect on 1 January 2022, the default for new learners is B1, with a municipal personal plan and three routes. If you searched for the Dutch integration exam level 2025 or 2026, this is still the situation: B1 for most people obliged since 2022, A2 for the 2013 group.

Other points to know:

• Speaking format. At B1 there is no live examiner. You record 16 answers on a computer: eight short reactions and eight longer ones with brief preparation time. People used to A2 practice often find the 30-second answers and the strict timing the hardest part, so practise with a timer.
• Writing on computer. B1 writing is typed without spellcheck, unlike the A2 paper exam.
• Yearly exam rules. The Staatsexamen NT2 publishes an updated examenreglement each year (the 2027 version appeared in the Staatscourant in 2026). Check it, or the official site, for small changes to timing or rules.
• Naturalisation. Raising the language requirement for Dutch citizenship from A2 to B1 has been planned and debated, but it is not in force as of November 2026. Check the IND.

We review this page regularly, but official sources always take precedence.

Spreken

1. Answer the actual question in the first sentence, then add a reason or example.
2. Use the preparation time for the longer answers to choose two points, not to write full sentences.
3. Fill the time. A 30-second answer of only two short sentences is usually too thin for B1. Practise linking words such as omdat, daarom, bijvoorbeeld, aan de andere kant.
4. Keep talking if you make a mistake; fluency and comprehensibility count.

Schrijven

1. Cover every point the task asks for; missing content costs more than small errors.
2. Match the register: formal for a letter to an organisation, informal for a friend.
3. Check spelling yourself, as there is no spellcheck. Leave a few minutes at the end.

You can practise Spreken and practise Schrijven with AI correction against the official criteria, and take a timed speaking mock exam. AI feedback is a guide, not an official score.

There is no single answer to how long to study for the Dutch integration exam at B1. It depends on your starting level, whether you know related languages such as German or English, how much Dutch you use day to day, and how many hours a week you can study.

As a rough orientation only: going from A2 to B1 often takes many months of regular study, and complete beginners usually need well over a year to reach B1. Within the three-year term, most people under the 2021 law follow a course arranged by the municipality.

What shortens the path:

• Exam-specific practice in the last two to three months, with full timed mock exams.
• Daily listening to slow Dutch news or podcasts, then normal-speed content.
• Systematic mistake review: track errors and revisit them until they disappear. The mistakes review on this site does this automatically.
• Speaking out loud every day, even alone, to build fluency.

Our 12-week study plan can be used for the final exam-preparation phase.