State Exam NT2 in 2026: everything you need to know

The State Exam Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) is the official exam that shows your Dutch is good enough for work or education. It is developed by the Board of Tests and Examinations (CvTE) and administered by DUO. This guide explains how it works, what it costs and how to register.

Program I or Program II?

There are two programs:

• Program I is roughly level B1. It suits work or an MBO programme at level 3 or 4.
• Program II is roughly level B2. It suits higher professional education (HBO), university or high-level work. With a foreign diploma, universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) and universities usually require NT2 II.

You do not have to take Program I first: if your level is high enough, you can take Program II straight away. The exam is open to everyone aged 17 or over whose native language is not Dutch.

Integrating under the 2021 act (the B1 route)? Then the language exams of your civic integration are the State Exam NT2. Which program you take is stated in your personal plan (PIP) from the municipality.

The four parts

The exam consists of four separate parts. You can take them on different days:

Part	What you do	Duration
Reading	Read texts and answer multiple-choice questions on a computer	110 min (I) or 100 min (II)
Listening	Listen to fragments and answer questions	90 min
Writing	Type texts, such as an email or a report	100 min
Speaking	Answer questions via headphones and a microphone	± 25 min

You take all parts on a computer, at an exam location in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Utrecht or Zwolle. For Reading and Writing you may only use the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2; all digital devices are prohibited.

You receive the diploma once you have passed all four parts. The diploma remains valid indefinitely.

What does it cost?

The exam fee is €50 per part, so €200 for the whole exam (Program I and II cost the same). You pay with iDEAL when registering or by invoice. Someone else, such as your employer, may pay for you.

Asylum status holder under the 2021 act? Then your first 2 attempts per part are free. Other people obliged to integrate can pay the exam fee with a DUO loan. Mijn DUO automatically shows what you are entitled to.

How to register

1. Register via Mijn DUO with your DigiD. Without DigiD you can use a DUO form.
2. Registration opens about 8 weeks before the exam, at 9:00 or 10:00.
3. The registration deadline is 3 weeks before the exam. Do not wait too long: places often fill up sooner, especially for Program II.
4. You choose the city, date and time yourself.
5. You can cancel free of charge until 4 weeks before the exam.
6. About 12 days in advance you receive an invitation letter. Bring valid ID and arrive 30 minutes early.

All upcoming dates are on our Exam dates page.

Results and resits

Your result is published online about 3 to 7 weeks after the exam. Did not pass? You can retake that part, but only after you have received your result. You then pay €50 again for that part. The parts you have already passed remain valid.

Well prepared for the exam

• Know your level. Take the free level test first. Still at A2? Then do not start with Program II right away.
• Practise under exam conditions. The tasks and the time pressure differ from class. Practise with mock exams on a computer.
• Speaking is the hardest part for many people. You talk to a computer, not to a person. Practise out loud and record yourself.
• Plan backwards from your goal. Need a diploma by a certain date for a programme? Choose an exam date that leaves time for a possible resit.

In TaalPro’s B1 course and B2 course you practise all four parts, with explanations in Farsi, Dari or English when needed.