Civic integration exam (language level A1 and A2)

What is the civic integration exam?

The civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen) is the exam you need to pass to officially “integrate” in the Netherlands. Actually, the integration exam consists of two parts; the civic integration exam abroad (basisexamen inburgering eigen land) which has to be done in your own country. And the civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen), which has to be done in the Netherlands.

1. Civic integration exam abroad (language level A1):

The ‘civic integration exam abroad’ is the exam you have to pass before you come to the Netherlands (if you want to stay longer than 3 months). This exam is obligated for everyone from 18 to 65 years old, but there are exeptions for certain nationalities and situations. You can check out more information about this here.

The ‘civic integration exam abroad’ will be held in your country on the Dutch embassy or on the Consulate General. This means that you have to find out yourself what you exactly need to learn. Maybe there are Dutch classes in your neighbourhood, or perhaps you like to study by yourself. Of course you can also choose to take some online lessons from Leon with Skype . Leon knows exactly what you need to learn to pass your exam.

The exam consists of 3 parts;

1. Knowledge of Dutch society (kennis van de Nederlandse samenleving)
2. Speaking on A1 language level
3. Reading on A1 language level

www.naarnederland.nl is the official website of the Dutch government with information about the ‘civic integration exam abroad’.

2. Civic integration exam (language level A2)

The ‘civic integration exam’ (without the abroad in the title) will be held in the Netherlands. The purpose of this exam is to let you ‘integrate’ in to Dutch society. Having your “inburgeringsdiploma” will give you the right to stay, conditionally, in the Netherlands. The main goal of the exam is to let you know how to “survive” in the Netherlands. You will learn about Dutch culture and society, and you will learn the Dutch language on A2 language level. This level is high enough to let you talk daily life conversations on a basic level.

The civic integration exam consists, since 2015, of the following parts;

1. Reading (A2 language level)
2. Listening (A2 language level)
3. Speaking (A2 language level)
4. Writing (A2 language level)
5. Knowledge of Dutch soceity (Kennis Nederlandse Maatschappij, or KNM)
6. Orientation on the Dutch labour market (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt)