How to pass the KNM exam: what it tests and a plan that works
Last checked: 29 October 2026
To pass the KNM exam, learn how daily life in the Netherlands works across its themes (housing, work, health, education, history and politics), then practise under time pressure. The real exam has 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes on a computer. Do DUO's two free practice exams, fill the gaps topic by topic, and book your date early.
| Fact | KNM exam |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (Knowledge of Dutch Society) |
| Questions | 40 (DUO practice exam) |
| Time | 45 minutes (inburgeren.nl) |
| Format | On a computer, questions grouped by theme |
| Fee | €50 (inburgeren.nl) |
| Result | By letter within 8 weeks (inburgeren.nl) |
| Who takes it | Everyone, under the 2013 law and the 2021 law |
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. Our practice questions are written by us. They are not real or leaked exam questions, and the real ones are confidential.
What the KNM exam actually tests
KNM is not a history quiz. Most questions describe a small situation and ask what you should do, who you should contact, or what the rule is. Your neighbour makes noise every night. Your child turns five. You get a letter from the Belastingdienst. You need to know the facts and also how things are normally done here.
The exam is on a computer and the questions are grouped by theme, such as housing, work and income, and history and geography (inburgeren.nl). In DUO's practice exam, each theme starts with a short intro screen, and the questions use pictures, short audio clips and video, with a choice of answers (exam rules).
DUO renewed the exam on 1 July 2025. It added more attention to women's right to make their own choices and to knowledge of the Holocaust (rijksoverheid.nl, inburgeren.nl). If you studied from older material, check those two subjects again.
Know your law first
Everyone takes KNM, but the rest of your exams depend on your law (inburgeren.nl):
- 2021 law (Wet inburgering 2021, in force since 1 January 2022): your personal plan (PIP) with the municipality sets your route. On the B1 route you take KNM next to the language exams and MAP.
- 2013 law: you take KNM next to the four A2 language exams, plus ONA if your duty started from 1 January 2015.
The KNM exam itself is the same 45-minute computer exam. Log in to Mijn Inburgering with DigiD if you are not sure which law applies to you. The inburgering exam guide explains both laws side by side.
A 4-week plan to pass KNM
Four weeks of 30 to 45 minutes a day is enough for most people who already read some Dutch. Start earlier if your Dutch is still basic, because the questions are in Dutch.
Week 1: take a practice exam cold
Do one of DUO's two free KNM practice exams before you study anything (inburgeren.nl). Set a timer for 45 minutes. Write down every question you got wrong or guessed, and which theme it was in. This list is your study plan.
Week 2: work through the themes
Read one theme a day. Our KNM chapter guides follow the same subjects as the exam. Start with the ones that come up in daily life, because those questions are the most practical:
- Housing: renting, the huurcommissie, rent benefit, neighbours
- Work and income: contracts, calling in sick, payslips, benefits
- Health and healthcare: the huisarts, insurance, emergencies
- Government services and money: DigiD, the Belastingdienst, the gemeente
Then do education and upbringing, norms and values, Dutch history and politics and the state.
Week 3: drill your weak themes
Go back to your list from week 1. Do short drills on the themes you missed. The KNM practice exam on More Dutch has free 15-question drills, so you can do one on the train. For every wrong answer, ask yourself why the right answer is right. Guessing the same question twice teaches you nothing.
Week 4: full runs under time
Take DUO's second practice exam with the timer on. Then do one or two full runs a few days apart. If you finish with lots of time left, slow down and read every option. If you run out of time, practise reading Dutch faster with the 594 most common words.
Common reasons people fail
- Reading the question too fast. Many options look almost right. The difference is often one word, like altijd (always) or eerst (first).
- Answering from your home country's rules. The question is about what happens in the Netherlands, not what you would do back home.
- Weak Dutch. KNM is a knowledge exam, but you read it in Dutch. If you keep stumbling on words, spend a week on vocabulary first.
- Skipping history and politics. They feel less useful, but they are themes on the exam.
Booking and the exam day
Register in Mijn Inburgering, where you pick a date and location. It can take more than 6 weeks to get a date. You can change or cancel until 1 week before and get your money back (inburgeren.nl).
On the day, come alone and bring a valid ID, such as your passport or residence permit. Without it you cannot take the exam. You also sign a form promising not to share the exam content (inburgeren.nl).
Start practising
The quickest first step is a short test: try a free 15-question KNM drill. If you want the full 450-question bank and mock exams, More Dutch Plus is a one-time €14.99 (pricing). To keep going in small steps, sign up for one KNM question a week.
Next, read what KNM exam questions look like and how many questions the KNM exam has.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the KNM exam?
Most people need about 4 weeks of short daily study if they already read basic Dutch. Plan longer if your Dutch is still weak.
Is the KNM exam hard?
The facts are not hard, but the questions are in Dutch and many options look similar. People who do the official practice exams and study every theme usually do fine.
What is the pass mark for KNM?
DUO does not publish a pass mark on the pages we checked. Aim to score well above half on practice exams so you have room for a bad day.
Can I take the KNM exam in English?
No. The KNM exam is in Dutch. That is why reading practice matters as much as the facts.
What happens if I fail KNM?
You register again for the KNM exam only and pay the fee again. Your other exam results stay valid.
Are the More Dutch questions the real exam questions?
No. More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. We write our own questions based on the official KNM themes.