Dutch integration exam tips from Reddit, checked against DUO
Last checked: 29 October 2026
On Reddit, people who passed the Dutch integration exam mostly give the same advice: do every official practice exam, book early, start with KNM, practise Speaking out loud with a timer, and expect the B1 state exam to be a big step up from A2. Most of that matches DUO's own information. A few popular tips are only personal opinion.
We read public discussions on Reddit and expat forums and summed up the tips in our own words. We did not copy posts or name anyone. Below, each tip is checked against the official sources.
| Tip you will see often | What the official sources say | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Do all the official practice exams | DUO has free A2 practice for every part, including 2 KNM exams (inburgeren.nl) | Matches |
| Book your exam dates early | Getting a date can take more than 6 weeks (inburgeren.nl) | Matches |
| The results take forever | KNM, Reading and Listening within 8 weeks. Speaking and Writing A2 up to 16 weeks for now (DUO news) | Matches, for now |
| KNM is the easiest part | In 2015 it had the highest pass rate, 85% (Kamervragen). No newer figures are published | Partly true, old data |
| You only retake what you failed | You register again for the failed part only (inburgeren.nl) | Matches |
| Buy the "real exam questions" | Real questions are confidential and candidates sign a form not to share them (inburgeren.nl) | Avoid |
| Self-study is enough, skip the course | Allowed under the 2013 law. Under the 2021 law your municipality sets your route in the PIP | Depends on your law |
| Do one exam at a time, easiest first | No official advice either way | Opinion |
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. Reddit threads are a useful way to hear how the day goes, but rules change. Check anything important on inburgeren.nl or duo.nl.
Tips about KNM
"Use the official practice exams and Net in Nederland." This one is solid. DUO links to two KNM practice exams and to netinnederland.nl for videos on exam subjects (inburgeren.nl).
"KNM is just common sense." Partly. Many questions are about practical situations. But the answer depends on how things work here, not on what is normal in your home country, and the options are often close. People who say it was easy usually studied the themes.
"Old study material is fine." Be careful here. DUO renewed KNM on 1 July 2025, with more attention to women's right to make their own choices and to the Holocaust (rijksoverheid.nl). Threads from before mid-2025 may miss these topics.
For a plan, see how to study for the KNM exam and is the KNM exam difficult.
Tips about the A2 language exams
"In Speaking, keep talking until the time is up." Opinion, but sensible. Speaking A2 is a 35-minute computer exam where you answer questions about short films. An unanswered question earns nothing. A short but complete answer is better than silence. The official practice exams show how much time you get.
"Write neatly in the Writing exam." This one is practical. A2 Writing is on pen and paper, 40 minutes (inburgeren.nl). The examiner has to be able to read your answer, and DUO's three A2 Writing practice exams are PDFs you can print and fill in by hand.
"Reading is harder than you think." The 2015 figures back this up. Reading had the lowest pass rate of all parts, 52% (Kamervragen). A big reason is time: you read texts and questions in Dutch under a clock.
More in inburgering exam A2 and inburgering A2 speaking exam.
Tips about the B1 state exam
"B1 is a different league from A2." True. The B1 exam is the Staatsexamen NT2 Programme I, with longer texts, real audio and more writing (staatsexamensnt2.nl).
"In Listening you only hear it once." Correct. You get 25 seconds to read the question and three answers, the audio starts by itself and plays once. The recordings are real, with accents and background noise (same source).
"Bring a dictionary." Only partly right. In Reading and Writing you may use one specific dictionary, the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal, and you must bring it yourself. No dictionary is allowed in Listening and Speaking (same source).
"Leave your phone and smartwatch outside." Correct. The state exam bans all digital devices during the exam (staatsexamensnt2.nl).
"Practise in the official environment." Good advice. Single practice tasks can show up in the real Speaking and Writing exams (staatsexamensnt2.nl). See B1 Dutch exam questions PDF for where to find it.
Claims to ignore
- "You need B1 for Dutch citizenship." On the date we checked, the IND asked for A2 or higher (ind.nl). Plans to change this have been discussed, but no law has changed it.
- Old prices and old waiting times. Fees and result times change. Check inburgering exam cost and inburgering exam results, which we keep up to date.
- Rules from the wrong law. Someone who integrated under the 2013 law took different exams than someone under the 2021 law. Ask which law a tip comes from.
Where to practise
Mix official practice with daily short sessions. Try a free 15-question KNM drill, or sign up for one KNM question a week. For grammar at A2 and B1, the free cheat sheets cover word order, verbs and the other topics that come up in Writing and Speaking.
For the full picture, read the inburgering exam guide and how to pass the inburgering exam.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reddit a good source for the Dutch integration exam?
It is good for experiences and study ideas. For rules, fees and dates, use DUO and inburgeren.nl, because threads get old quickly.
What is the most common advice on Reddit?
Do all of DUO's free practice exams, book early and practise Speaking out loud. All three match the official information.
Are the "real exam questions" shared online genuine?
You cannot rely on them. Real questions are confidential and candidates sign a form not to share them.
Is KNM really the easiest part?
In 2015 it had the highest pass rate, 85%. No newer official figures are published, and the exam was renewed in July 2025.
Is the B1 exam much harder than A2?
Yes, most people find it a big step. The texts are longer, the audio is real speech heard once, and everything is on a computer.
Can I bring a dictionary to the exam?
For the B1 state exam, only the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2, and only in Reading and Writing.