How the Dutch inburgeringsexamen works: A2, B1, B2

1. Answering from your own knowledge or common sense instead of looking at the exercise.
2. Spending too long on one hard question, so there is no time left for the easy ones at the end.
3. Reading or watching first and only then reading the question. Read the question first, so you know what to look for.
4. In Spreken: answering with one word, or answering only half of a question with two parts. Say a full sentence: not pizza but Ik eet graag pizza.
5. In Schrijven: forgetting one of the points the task asks for, or forgetting a greeting and your name.
6. In Spreken and Schrijven: making your sentences too complicated. Short, easy sentences will do, as long as you finish the whole task.

Read carefully: an example

De winkel sluit gewoonlijk om 17:00. Het personeel maakt vervolgens de winkel schoon en gaat om 17:45 naar huis. Op zaterdagen sluiten we een uurtje eerder dan op de andere dagen.

The question: Hoe laat sluit de winkel op zaterdag? A) 16:00, B) 17:00 or C) 17:45. Read too quickly and you pick B or C, but the answer is A: on Saturdays the shop closes an hour earlier.

How the writing exam is marked

You earn points when you:

• cover everything the task asks for;
• write a text that is easy to understand;
• make few grammar mistakes (verb forms, word order, pronouns);
• spell words well (a few small mistakes are fine);
• link your sentences with words like maar, en, of, want and dus.

Less important: de/het mistakes, using many different or difficult words, and very small spelling mistakes. Keep it simple and don't do more than the task asks.

Do exactly what the task asks: an example

If the task is to write to a friend, ask how they are and invite them to the cinema next week, write exactly that. Asking how their birthday party was or how their dog is doing earns no extra points, only more chances to make mistakes.

Reading and listening: train with real Dutch

• Many people find the reading exam a race against the clock. Learn the vocabulary and read texts at your level, so this kind of text feels familiar on the day.
• For listening you need roughly the same words as for reading.
• Listen to a lot of Dutch: radio, YouTube videos and television get you used to the sounds, so you can tell the words apart.

1. Answering from your own knowledge instead of the text or recording, which makes your answers far too complex.
2. Spending too long on difficult questions and running out of time.
3. Reading without checking the question first, so the relevant information is harder to find.
4. In Luisteren: losing concentration when each recording plays only once.
5. In Spreken: giving answers that are too short or that miss part of the question.
6. In Schrijven: forgetting important information or using the wrong style for the task.
7. At B2: relying on basic sentences when a more detailed explanation or argument is needed.
8. Using complicated words you cannot use correctly. Clear, accurate Dutch is better.
9. Practising only without time limits instead of simulating the computer-based exam.
10. Assuming that passing the four language exams automatically completes your inburgering.