Exam tip: het KNM-examen

Read the last line first. The real question is at the end: "Wat is waar?", "Wat doet Sara het beste?", "Mag dat?". Read it first, then read the situation.

Look for the one fact that matters. Names and cities are just decoration. Look for an age, a day ("zaterdagavond"), or words like "vast contract" or "geen Nederlands paspoort".

Cross out the extreme answer. One option is often too strong ("altijd", "nooit", "meteen 112"). In Nederland the first step is usually simple: talk, ask, call the right place.

Think: what is normal here? The right answer is what Dutch law says or what is normal in the Netherlands. Adults decide for themselves; violence and discrimination are never allowed.

Keep moving. If you don't know, choose your best guess and go on. A blank answer always scores zero.

Component · KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij), all themes.

• Task type · A short situation in simple Dutch with a photo, then a question such as "Wat is waar?", "Wat doet X het beste?" or "Wat is in Nederland normaal?", with three options (A, B, C).
• The real task · On the computer, 45 minutes. The language is about A2. DUO publishes no fixed number of questions; prep providers work with about 40.

Most common mistakes

1. Spending too long on one question. You have about a minute per question.
2. Choosing what your family or your home country would do, instead of what is normal and allowed in the Netherlands.
3. Missing one small word in the question: niet, altijd, alleen, eerst.
4. Choosing the most extreme option (112, the police, the judge) when a simple first step is better: talk to the person, call the huisarts, ask the gemeente.

Ready to book? (40 questions)

Score · % · What to do

• 32–40 · 80–100% · Ready to book. Book the real exam and keep your decks fresh.
• 24–31 · 60–79% · Not yet safe. Revisit the K lessons of the questions you got wrong, then take the mock again.
• Under 24 · under 60% · Go back to the K lessons first, then take the mock again.

The real exam only tells you pass or fail, so aim for 32 or more here.

Per theme (4 questions each). A theme with 3 or 4 correct is fine. A theme with 2 or fewer is a weak theme:

Questions · Revisit lesson

• 4, 11, 21, 31 · K.1 Wonen in Nederland
• 2, 12, 22, 32 · K.2 Werk & inkomen (+ the ONA lesson if you take ONA)
• 3, 13, 23, 33 · K.3 Gezondheid & zorg
• 5, 15, 25, 35 · K.4 Onderwijs & opvoeding
• 1, 14, 24, 34 · K.5 Instanties & DigiD
• 10, 19, 29, 39 · K.6 Geld, verzekeringen & schulden
• 6, 16, 26, 36 · K.7 Omgangsvormen, normen & waarden
• 7, 17, 27, 37 · K.8 Geschiedenis & geografie
• 8, 20, 30, 40 · K.9 Staatsinrichting & democratie
• 9, 18, 28, 38 · K.10 Rechten, plichten & burgerschap

Retake. Wait at least a few days, practise your weak themes, then retake. The warm-up changes every time, but the 40 mock questions stay the same, so a second score is a little flattering.