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The Reading exam part

By Redactie Inburgering — compiled based on inburgeren.nlLast checked: 2026-06-28
For the Reading exam part, you read short Dutch texts on a computer — such as a letter, message, or advertisement — and answer multiple-choice questions about them. At A2 level the exam takes 65 minutes; at a higher level this can differ.

What does the exam look like?

You take the exam on a computer at a DUO exam location. You're given several short texts to read — for example a personal letter, a notice on a bulletin board, an advertisement, a form, or a short news item. For each text you answer one or more multiple-choice questions about its content.

What do you need to be able to do?

You read everyday texts and extract the most important information from them: who, what, where, and when. Think of a doctor's appointment confirmation, a product advertisement, or a short instruction. You don't need to understand every word — it's about the main points.

How do you practice?

inburgeren.nl offers 4 free official practice exams for Reading, set up like the real exam — these work best on a desktop computer (a phone works too, ideally held in landscape mode). Also read short Dutch texts regularly: flyers, simple news articles, or messages from organizations. Sites like oefenen.nl and lezenenschrijven.nl offer extra free learning material, and many language schools also assign reading exercises.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Reading exam part take?

At A2 level, 65 minutes. At a different level this can differ — check your exam invitation for the exact time.

At what level is Reading tested?

Usually A2 or B1, depending on the learning route in your PIP.

What kind of texts will I read?

Everyday texts such as a letter, advertisement, notice, form, or short news item, with multiple-choice questions about them.

Sources

inburgeren.nl — Examen doen(official)(opens in new tab)inburgeren.nl — Taalexamens A2, B1 en B2(official)(opens in new tab)Cito — Inburgeringsexamen(official)(opens in new tab)
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