Inburgering Exam Day Checklist: What to Do Before You Leave

Exam day mistakes are almost always about logistics, not knowledge. If you are still in the preparation phase, our guide on how to prepare for the inburgering exam covers everything you need to study before exam day. Use this checklist to make sure nothing preventable goes wrong.

What to Bring

• Valid ID: your passport or national ID card. A driver’s license is NOT accepted as valid identification at DUO exam locations.
• Exam confirmation: the confirmation letter or email from DUO showing your exam date, time, and location. Print it or have it accessible on your phone before you leave home.

What Is NOT Allowed

You cannot bring a phone, dictionary, notes, or any electronic device into the exam room. These must be stored in a locker or left outside the testing area. If you are caught with a phone during the exam, your result may be invalidated.

Exam Location and Arrival

The exam takes place at an official DUO exam location. The exact address is on your confirmation. Check the address and plan your route the day before. Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to enter and you lose your exam fee for that sitting.

Exam Structure Reminder

Not all components are taken on the same day. Each has its own time slot:

• Lezen (Reading): approximately 40 minutes
• Luisteren (Listening): approximately 30 minutes
• Schrijven (Writing): approximately 35 minutes
• Spreken (Speaking): approximately 15 minutes
• KNM: approximately 45 minutes

Check your confirmation to see which component(s) you are taking that day.

The Night Before

• Prepare your bag: ID, printed confirmation, water bottle (if allowed at your location)
• Check your route to the exam location, including parking or OV (public transport) options
• Look up travel time and add a buffer for delays
• Set two alarms with enough time to get ready and travel without rushing
• Go to sleep at a reasonable hour

The Morning Of

• Eat a proper breakfast and drink water
• Do a light review only: glance at your vocabulary list or read through a few KNM summaries. Do not try to learn new material.
• Leave home early enough to absorb traffic, train delays, or wrong turns
• Arrive calm, not out of breath

During the Exam

• Read each question carefully before answering. Many mistakes come from misreading what is asked.
• Manage your time. If a question is taking too long, skip it and come back later.
• For schrijven: answer exactly what is asked. If the prompt says “write an email to your neighbor about noise,” write about noise, not about something else.
• For spreken: speak clearly and at a normal pace. You do not need perfect grammar, but your answer must be understandable and relevant.
• Write clearly and legibly where applicable.

After the Exam

Results are published on Mijn DUO, usually within 8 weeks. Log in with your DigiD to check. If you fail one component, you only need to retake that specific part, not the entire exam. You can register for a retake immediately through the same Mijn DUO portal.