Basisexamen inburgering buitenland (A1 (unverified), DUO · IND) has 3 parts: Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving, Lezen, Spreken. Pass mark: Each part is marked 1–10; you need at least 6 for each part. Cost: €150 in total: Knowledge of Dutch Society €50, Reading €50, Speaking €50. Result: Within 8 weeks by e-mail from DUO. Checked 2026-09-25.
Dates, places and waiting times
No public dates. Register and pay at naarnederland.nl (DUO confirms payment within 5 working days), then e-mail the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country for an appointment. source
- 1Register & paynaarnederland.nl · confirmed in 5 working days
- 2Appointmente-mail the embassy or consulate
- 3Examall parts on one day
- 4Resultwithin 8 weeks · valid 1 year
Where
Taken abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate, never in the Netherlands. Examples shown for China and Türkiye; see the country page for yours. source
At a glance
Exam parts95 min in total
Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (KNS)Knowledge · 30 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)30 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Format
- On a computer. You look at photos and listen to recordings.
- Questions / tasks
- 30 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Task types
- Photo + audio questions, each with 2 answer options
- Scoring
- Mark 1–10; at least 6 to pass this part
- Allowed aids
- —[5]
LezenReading · 19 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)35 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Format
- On a computer
- Questions / tasks
- 19 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Task types
- Question types are not described on the official pages checked
- Scoring
- Mark 1–10; at least 6 to pass this part
- Allowed aids
- —[5]
SprekenSpeaking · 22 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)30 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Format
- On a computer
- Questions / tasks
- 22 questions (practice exam; the real exam looks different)
- Task types
- 10 questions to answer + 12 sentences to complete
- Scoring
- Mark 1–10; at least 6 to pass this part
- Allowed aids
- —[5]
Scoring, results and retakes
Mark per part
Each of the 3 parts (KNS, Lezen, Spreken) gets a mark from 1 to 10. You pass a part with at least a 6.[3]
Results within 8 weeks
DUO sends your result by email within 8 weeks.[3]
Valid for 1 year
Your result is valid for 1 year. You must apply for your MVV within that year.[4]
Practice exam ≠ real exam
The numbers of questions and minutes per part come from the official practice exam page. That page says: "Het echte examen ziet er anders uit dan het oefenexamen" (the real exam looks different from the practice exam).[5]
What is really tested
Derived from the official task descriptions and level descriptions — not from leaked questions.
KNS: knowledge of Dutch society
- Tests what you know about Dutch society, not only language.
- Each question combines a photo with a recording: you must link what you see to what you hear.
- There are 2 answer options per question, so you choose between two possibilities.
- In the practice exam: 30 questions in 30 minutes, so about 1 minute per question.
Lezen: reading on screen
- Tests whether you understand written Dutch; you read and answer on a computer.
- In the practice exam: 19 questions in 35 minutes, a little under 2 minutes per question.
- The official pages checked do not describe the reading question types; use the official practice exam to see examples.
Spreken: answering and completing
- Tests whether you can say something in Dutch yourself; the exam is on a computer.
- Answering questions (10 in the practice exam): understand the question and give a fitting answer.
- Completing sentences (12 in the practice exam): finish a started sentence so it makes sense.
- In the practice exam: 22 questions in 30 minutes.
Rules you need to know
Registration2
Costs & payment1
The full exam costs €150. Each part (KNS, Lezen, Spreken) costs €50.[2]
Deadlines & fines1
Your exam result is valid for 1 year. You must apply for your MVV within 1 year.[4]
Good to know1
The knowledge part abroad is called Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (KNS). It is a different exam from KNM, which is taken in the Netherlands.[1]
On the exam day
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (KNS) (30 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)) · Lezen (35 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)) · Spreken (30 min (practice exam; the real exam looks different)).
What is the pass mark for Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Each part is marked 1–10; you need at least 6 for each part source
How much does Basisexamen inburgering buitenland cost?
€150 in total: Knowledge of Dutch Society €50, Reading €50, Speaking €50. source
How do you register for Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
No public dates. Register and pay at naarnederland.nl (DUO confirms payment within 5 working days), then e-mail the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country for an appointment. source
How long do you have to wait for Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Payment confirmation within 5 working days; appointment availability depends on the embassy and is not published. source
When do you get the result of Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Within 8 weeks by e-mail from DUO. source
What happens if you fail Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Register and pay again only for the parts you failed. source
Where can you take Basisexamen inburgering buitenland?
Taken abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate, never in the Netherlands. Examples shown for China and Türkiye; see the country page for yours. Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Ankara. source
Official sources
Checked on 2026-09-25. Rules change — the official page always wins.
- [1]Naar Nederland — Basisexamen inburgering buitenland Naar Nederland
- [2]Aanmelden voor het examen Naar Nederland
- [3]Examen doen Naar Nederland
- [4]Civic integration exam abroad IND · page date 2026-05-07
- [5]Oefenexamens maken Naar Nederland