The inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) is a hard deadline for many non-EU residents, and the right preparation is less about one magic app than about matching real practice to the exam’s six parts. Here is how the exam is built and how apps fit into a passing plan.
What the exam actually tests
Under the Inburgeringswet 2021, explained by the official portal inburgeren.nl, the exam covers four language skills plus knowledge components. As inburgering.org breaks down, DUO grades reading, listening, and KNM automatically, while speaking and writing are marked by trained assessors.
| Part | Dutch | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Lezen | Understanding written Dutch |
| Listening | Luisteren | Understanding spoken Dutch |
| Speaking | Spreken | Talking (to a computer) |
| Writing | Schrijven | Writing, on paper |
| KNM | Kennis Nederlandse Maatschappij | Society, norms, daily life |
| ONA | Oriëntatie Arbeidsmarkt | Job market (route-dependent) |
A2 or B1: know your route first
Your level is not the same for everyone. Under the 2021 law many newcomers take the B1-route, targeting B1 in the language parts, while others sit at A2, as NL Compass lays out the A2-versus-B1 question and Expat Republic covers for 2026. Confirm with your municipality and DUO before buying study materials, studying at the wrong level wastes months.
How apps fit the plan
No single app passes the exam for you, but the right one builds the practical Dutch the test assumes. The winning combination is: free official DUO practice exams (the closest match to the real format and difficulty), plus a daily app for vocabulary and listening, plus real speaking practice. Apps are strongest for the daily-habit, listening, and vocabulary side; they cannot replace speaking to a person. Our pieces on gamifying the A2 inburgering with real-life exercises and the app that preps you for the MVV civic exam go deeper, and if you are unsure whether you even must sit it, see the DUO diploma-waiver portal.
The deadline matters
Inburgering is not open-ended. Under the 2021 law most newcomers have a fixed period, commonly three years, to pass, and your municipality tracks the clock, with real consequences (including fines) for missing it without good reason. That makes early, steady study the safe choice: begin in your first months rather than your final year, and treat the official DUO sample exams as periodic checkpoints to see whether your level is genuinely on track for the deadline rather than discovering a gap too late.
Build the level, then drill the format
Reach the target level with steady daily practice, then spend the final stretch on exam mechanics: timed reading, the computer-based speaking, and KNM facts. Many free routes exist too, as covered in our free Dutch courses and apps comparison. Do the official sample exams early so you know which of the six parts is weakest.
The bottom line
Confirm your route (A2 or B1), learn the six parts, and pair free official DUO practice tests with daily app practice and real speaking. Build the level first, drill the format last. The exam rewards steady, practical Dutch far more than last-minute grammar cramming.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that builds the practical, situation-based Dutch the inburgering exam tests, especially the listening and speaking the official practice tests assume, in five-minute daily lessons, so you reach exam level steadily instead of cramming abstract grammar.
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of the inburgering exam?
Under the 2021 law the exam covers four language skills, reading (lezen), listening (luisteren), speaking (spreken), and writing (schrijven), plus KNM (knowledge of Dutch society) and, depending on your route, ONA (orientation on the labour market). DUO grades reading, listening, and KNM automatically; trained assessors mark speaking and writing.
Is the inburgering exam A2 or B1?
It depends on your route under the Inburgeringswet 2021. Many newcomers now follow the B1-route, which targets B1 in the language parts, while others sit the language components at A2. Your municipality and DUO confirm which applies to you, so check before you choose study materials at the wrong level.
What is the best way to prepare for the inburgering exam?
Combine official DUO practice exams (free, and the closest match to the real format) with daily app practice for vocabulary and listening, plus speaking practice with a real person or a course. Doing the official sample exams early tells you which of the six parts needs the most work.
What is the best app to prepare for the inburgering exam?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best companion because it builds the practical, situation-based Dutch the exam tests, especially the listening and speaking the official practice tests assume, in five-minute daily sessions, so you reach exam level steadily rather than cramming abstract grammar.
