Master the Dutch reading exam with our complete preparation guide.
The lezen (reading) exam is one of the language components of the Dutch inburgering exam. It tests your A2-level reading comprehension — your ability to understand short, everyday Dutch texts.
The exam consists of approximately 25 multiple-choice questions and lasts around 65 minutes. You read short Dutch texts and answer questions about them. The texts are based on everyday situations you encounter in the Netherlands — things like letters from the gemeente, advertisements, signs, and emails.
The lezen exam is taken on a computer at an official DUO exam location. All questions are multiple-choice. Each question shows you a short text with a question about it.
There are four main types of questions you'll encounter:
| Question Type | What You Do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Identify what the text is about | "What is this advertisement for?" |
| Specific info | Find a detail in the text | "What time does the store close?" |
| Purpose | Understand why the text was written | "Why did the gemeente send this letter?" |
| Meaning | Understand a word or phrase in context | "What does 'eigen risico' mean here?" |
The lezen exam is multiple-choice and computer-graded, so you get your results quickly.
These strategies will help you answer more questions correctly and manage your time during the exam:
The lezen exam uses texts from real-life situations in the Netherlands. Here are the most common types you'll encounter:
Job postings, product advertisements, and rental listings are common on the exam. These are usually short and contain specific details.
You may see letters or emails from the gemeente, a school, an employer, or a landlord. These often ask you to do something or inform you about a change.
Public signs, store notices, and event posters appear frequently. These texts are usually short and direct.
Medicine labels, cooking instructions, and application forms test your ability to follow step-by-step text.
Knowing these common Dutch words will help you understand texts on the exam faster and more accurately.
The lezen (reading) exam takes approximately 65 minutes. You answer around 25 multiple-choice questions about short Dutch texts. You can manage your own time within the exam — spend more time on difficult questions and less on easy ones.
You'll read everyday Dutch texts: advertisements, letters from the gemeente, emails, signs, notices, medicine labels, and short articles. All texts are at A2 level — short, practical, and about situations you encounter in daily life in the Netherlands.
No, dictionaries and other aids are not allowed during the lezen exam. You need to understand the texts using the vocabulary you've learned. Focus on learning common everyday Dutch words during your preparation.
You need approximately 70% correct answers to pass the lezen exam. Since there are around 25 questions, you need roughly 18 correct. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so always make your best guess.
Read Dutch texts every day — even simple things like supermarket flyers, NOS Jeugdjournaal articles, or gemeente letters help. Practice with the Inburgering Coach app to build your vocabulary. The more common Dutch words you know, the easier the reading exam will be.