Is the inburgering exam difficult? It depends on your level and your law
Last checked: 29 October 2026
The inburgering exam is manageable for most people who prepare, but it is not a formality. At A2 it tests everyday Dutch. At B1, the level for most people under the 2021 law, it is a big step up. Reading and Writing are where most points are lost, and KNM is usually the easiest part.
| A2 (2013 law, some 2021 routes) | B1 (most people under the 2021 law) | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Basic everyday Dutch | Independent Dutch for work and study |
| Exams | DUO integration exams | Nt2 state exam, Programme I |
| Reading | 65 min | 110 min |
| Listening | 45 min | 90 min |
| Writing | 40 min, on paper | 100 min |
| Speaking | 35 min | 25 to 30 min |
| Fee | €50 per exam | €50 per part |
Sources: exam times, levels per law, fees, Nt2 fees. More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO.
The level decides most of the difficulty
The first thing to check is your level, and that depends on your law. Under the 2013 law you take the language exams at A2. Under the 2021 law (from 1 January 2022) the B1 route and the education route lead to B1, and the Z route works at A1 with optional A2 exams (inburgeren.nl). Mijn Inburgering shows your exams. Our page on A2 or B1 explains who takes which.
A2 is everyday Dutch. Read a short letter and find the date. Understand a simple phone message. Fill in a form. Answer simple questions about yourself. You do not need perfect grammar. See the inburgering exam at A2.
B1 is a different exam. You read longer texts, follow Dutch at normal speed, and write texts in which you give your opinion. The exams are also much longer: Reading alone is almost two hours. See the Dutch B1 exam.
So "is it hard?" really has two answers. A2: doable with regular practice. B1: a serious goal that takes many months for most people.
Which parts are the hardest?
DUO does not publish current pass rates per exam part on inburgeren.nl. The last official breakdown we found is from 2015, in an answer to questions from parliament, for the A2 exams of that time (Aanhangsel Handelingen II 2015/16, 409):
| Exam part | Pass rate on 1 Sept 2015 |
|---|---|
| KNM | 85% |
| Listening | 73% |
| Speaking | 67% |
| Writing | 65% |
| Reading | 52% |
The exams have changed since then, so treat these as a rough picture. It is the same picture we hear from learners: Reading and Writing cause the most trouble, and KNM the least. If KNM worries you, read is the KNM exam difficult.
Why people fail
In our experience it is rarely because they know nothing. It is usually one of these:
- Running out of time in Reading. People try to understand every word. Read the question first, then look for that one piece of information.
- Writing on paper. At A2, Writing is pen and paper: 4 tasks in 40 minutes (inburgeren.nl). People who only type have trouble with spelling and speed by hand.
- Word order. The verb in second place, and at the end after omdat or dat. One rule, many lost points. The word order cheat sheet fits on one page.
- Not knowing the format. Speaking at A2 is to a computer, not a person. It feels strange the first time.
- Studying for the wrong level or law. Advice written for B1 does not help you at A2, and the other way round.
- Booking late. Dates can take more than 6 weeks (inburgeren.nl), and with a 3-year deadline a few months of waiting adds pressure.
If a part goes wrong
You only retake the part you failed. Your other results stay. Each retake costs the normal fee again. Under the 2021 law, asylum status holders get their first 2 attempts at each exam free (inburgeren.nl). KNM and A2 results take up to 8 weeks, and Nt2 results about 5 weeks (inburgeren.nl, duo.nl).
If it is really too hard for you
There are official ways forward. They have strict conditions, so check them with DUO or your municipality.
- 2021 law, B1 route: if you followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and still cannot pass at B1, you can talk to your municipality about scaling down to A2 (inburgeren.nl).
- 2021 law, Z route: for people for whom B1 is not realistic. You learn Dutch at A1 level and the A2 exams are optional (same source).
- Advice on demonstrable effort: for naturalisation or a stronger residence permit, DUO can give an advies aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen. One condition is at least 600 hours of a course at a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl, plus at least 3 attempts at all exams (inburgeren.nl).
- Illness or disability: you can ask for an adjusted exam, or in some cases fewer exams or none (inburgeren.nl).
How to make it easier
- Do one DUO practice exam per part with a timer before you study (inburgeren.nl). Your weakest part gets the most time.
- Learn the 594 most common Dutch words. Most exam texts are built from them.
- Fix word order and verb forms with the cheat sheets.
- Practise writing by hand if you take A2.
- Take KNM early. Most people find it the easiest part, and one pass makes the rest feel possible.
The step-by-step version is in how to pass the inburgering exam, and every part is explained in the inburgering exam guide.
Start with a free 15-question KNM drill. It takes about 15 minutes and shows you what the knowledge part feels like. For a small push every week, sign up for one KNM question a week.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inburgering exam hard?
At A2 most people can pass with regular practice. At B1 it is much harder and takes most people many months. Your law decides which level you take.
Which part of the inburgering exam is the hardest?
Reading and Writing, for most people. In the last official per-part figures (2015), Reading had the lowest pass rate and KNM the highest.
Is B1 much harder than A2?
Yes. B1 texts are longer, audio is at normal speed, and the exams last much longer. Reading at B1 is 110 minutes against 65 at A2.
Can I pass the inburgering exam by studying on my own?
Under the 2013 law many people do, with practice exams and free tools. Under the 2021 law your municipality arranges your course through your personal plan.
What happens if I fail a part?
You register again for that part only and pay the fee again. Your other results stay valid.
What if I cannot pass, however hard I try?
Under the 2021 law, talk to your municipality about scaling down to A2 after 600 hours of lessons. For naturalisation or a stronger residence permit, DUO can give advice on demonstrable effort.