How to pass the B1 Dutch exam (Nt2 state exam, Programma I)
Last checked: 29 October 2026
To pass the B1 Dutch exam, the Staatsexamen Nt2 Programma I, practise each of its four computer exams in its real format. Reading has 36 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes. In Listening you hear each fragment only once. Speaking gives you 20 or 30 seconds per answer. Start with the official Nt2 practice environment.
| Part | Format | Time | Dictionary allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 6 texts in a booklet, 36 multiple-choice questions on screen | 110 min | Yes, Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2 |
| Listening | About 40 tasks, short recordings and 1 to 3 videos, heard once | 90 min | No |
| Writing | Sentence tasks, short messages or forms, short texts, typed | 100 min | Yes, Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2 |
| Speaking | 8 short tasks (20 sec each) and 8 medium tasks (30 sec each), into a microphone | 25 to 30 min | No |
| Cost | €50 per part, €200 for all four | ||
| Results | In Mijn DUO after about 5 weeks |
Sources: staatsexamensnt2.nl, exam format, duo.nl, fees, duo.nl, results.
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO or the College voor Toetsen en Examens. We do not have real exam questions and do not claim to. For what the B1 exam is and who needs it, read the Dutch B1 exam.
Who takes the B1 exam
Under the 2021 law, in force since 1 January 2022, most people follow the B1 route. They take the Nt2 state exam at B1 plus KNM (inburgeren.nl). Others take it to naturalise, because the Nt2 state exam at B1 or B2 counts for that (inburgeren.nl), or for study and work.
Under the 2013 law your exams are at A2, so you do not need B1 for the integration diploma. If that is you, read the inburgering exam at A2 instead.
How to prepare for each part
Reading
You get a booklet with 6 texts about work, study and daily life, and answer 36 questions on screen (staatsexamensnt2.nl). Some questions ask what a text is about or who it is for. Others ask you to find one fact.
Read the question before the text. For a "find the fact" question you only need one paragraph. Save your time for the questions about meaning and conclusions. You may underline in the booklet, so do it.
Bring the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2 if you have one, but do not lean on it. Looking up every word eats your 110 minutes. Practise with it at home so you know how fast you are.
Listening
About 40 tasks with recordings from work, study and daily life. The speakers sound real: accents, slips, background noise. You get 25 seconds to read each question and its answers, then the fragment plays once (same source).
Those 25 seconds matter most. Use them to decide what you are listening for: a time, a reason, an opinion. Train with Dutch radio or podcasts at normal speed, not slow learner audio. In the last weeks, practise listening to a clip only once and answering straight away.
Writing
You type your answers. At B1 there are 8 sentence tasks (write or finish one sentence), 2 partial tasks (a short message, completing a text or filling in a form) and 1 or 2 short writing tasks such as a note or short letter. Most tasks are about work or study (same source).
Examiners want the task done. Check that you answered every point in the instructions. Then check verb position. Dutch sends the verb to the end after omdat, dat and als, and B1 writing uses those words all the time. Our word order and conjunctions cheat sheets cover this on two pages. For letters, a modal verbs refresher helps with polite requests.
Speaking
You talk to a computer, not a person, through a headset. A beep tells you when to start and when to stop. At B1 you get 8 short tasks with 20 seconds each and 8 medium tasks with 30 seconds each. You cannot go back (same source).
Thirty seconds is short. Train a simple pattern: answer, give one reason, give one example. Record yourself on your phone with a timer and listen back. Most people talk too slowly at first and get cut off by the beep.
A 10-week study plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | One official practice set for each part, timed. Note your weak parts. |
| 2 to 4 | Vocabulary for work and study. Grammar: word order, subordinate clauses, past tense. |
| 5 to 7 | Daily listening at normal speed. Two writing tasks a week. Speaking drills with a timer. |
| 8 to 9 | Timed practice on your weakest part. Book or confirm your date. |
| 10 | Full practice under exam conditions. Rest the day before. |
This is our suggestion, not an official plan. Adjust it to where you start.
For vocabulary, the 594 most common Dutch words are the base. The B1 texts go further, so add words from your own field of work. Review them with flashcards. For grammar, use the verb explorer to drill irregular past tenses, which turn up in every part.
Official practice and booking
The official practice environment has tasks for every part (Nt2 practice environment). The exam board says the real exam can include some of these practice tasks next to other tasks (staatsexamensnt2.nl). So do them all, and more than once.
You register in Mijn DUO, about 8 weeks before the exam date. You can register for several parts at once. Cancel at least 4 weeks before for a refund. Your invitation letter comes 10 days before the exam. Arrive 30 minutes early, because if you are late you cannot take part (duo.nl).
If you fail a part
You only redo the parts you failed, and you register the same way as the first time (duo.nl). Once you pass all four, with the last one after 1 January 2021, the diploma comes by registered post within 4 weeks (same source).
Under the 2021 law, if you have had at least 600 hours of lessons and still did not pass B1, talk to your municipality about doing A2 instead (inburgeren.nl).
Do not forget KNM. Work through our KNM practice exam, and sign up for one KNM question a week to keep it fresh while you focus on B1. The full exam overview is in the inburgering exam guide.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the B1 Dutch exam?
Clearly harder than A2. The texts are longer, the Listening fragments play once at normal speed, and most tasks are about work or study. With regular practice in the real format, many learners pass.
How long does it take to prepare for B1?
It depends on your level. Do one timed practice set per part first. If you score close to passing, a few months of focused practice can be enough. From A2 it often takes longer.
Can I use a dictionary in the B1 exam?
Only the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2), only in Reading and Writing, and you must bring your own. No digital tools.
What is the difference between Programma I and Programma II?
Programma I is B1. Programma II is B2, with harder tasks and, for example, 100 minutes for Reading instead of 110.
How much does the B1 exam cost?
€50 per part, so €200 for all four, according to DUO. Under the 2021 law some people can pay from a DUO loan or get free attempts. Mijn DUO shows this for you.
When do I get my B1 results?
After about 5 weeks in Mijn DUO, and also by email and post.
Do I have to pass all four parts at once?
No. Each part is passed on its own, and you only retake the ones you failed.