Checked by Daniel, inburgering trainer
Short answer
Most people who became obliged to integrate from 1 January 2022 fall under the Civic Integration Act 2021 (Wet inburgering 2021). In the standard B1 route, the language exams are at level B1. People who started earlier fall under the 2013 act, where the language exams are at level A2.
Your letter from DUO or your municipality states which law and route apply to you. When in doubt, check this in Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl before you start studying.
What A2 and B1 mean
A2 and B1 are levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). They describe what you can do with a language, not how many words you know.
- A2: you understand short, simple texts about daily life and can make yourself understood in routine situations, such as shopping or making an appointment.
- B1: you understand the main points of clear texts about work, school and daily life, and you can give a short opinion or explanation with reasons.
| A2 | B1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Wet inburgering 2013 | Wet inburgering 2021 (B1 route) |
| Texts and audio | Short and simple | Longer, about work and society |
| Questions ask about | Facts you can find | Main point and intention |
| Speaking and Writing | Short answers | Explain and give reasons |
| Word order | Simple sentences | Also after 'omdat', 'dat', 'als' |
What changes in the exam
At B1, texts and audio fragments are longer, questions ask more often about the main point or intention, and in Speaking and Writing you are expected to explain and give reasons, not only answer. Word order after words like 'omdat', 'dat' and 'als' becomes much more important.
The KNM exam (Knowledge of Dutch Society) is part of both laws. It is not a language-level exam, but the questions are in Dutch, so your reading level helps.
Test yourself now
Three free exam-style questions with clear explanations. No account needed.
Other routes
Under the 2021 act there are also the education route (onderwijsroute) and the Z-route for people for whom B1 is not realistic. The municipality decides your route, often after a learnability test. These routes have different requirements, so this article focuses on the B1 route.
Naturalisation is a separate question
Passing the inburgering exam and becoming a Dutch citizen are two different procedures with their own rules. If you plan to apply for naturalisation, always check the current language requirement on the IND website, because policy can change.
How to start preparing
Find your law and route first, then test yourself with real exam-style questions. Reading and Writing usually show the gap between A2 and B1 most clearly, so they are a good place to start.
Practice this part
Official sources
Rules, fees and waiting times can change. Always check the official source for your situation.