There is no single "Dutch B1 exam". Two official exam systems matter most for newcomers: the Inburgeringsexamen (the civic integration exam, whose language parts many routes set at B1, with A2 applying in other situations) and the Staatsexamen NT2 (the state exam in Dutch as a second language, where Programme I corresponds to B1 and Programme II to B2). What they share is the part that decides most results: four separately tested, separately timed skills — lezen (reading), luisteren (listening), schrijven (writing) and spreken (speaking) — each scored on its own, with much of it taken on a computer rather than on paper, a format that surprises candidates who prepared only with regular lessons. Reading and listening are objectively scored; writing and speaking are assessed on whether you completed the task and how clearly and correctly you did it. Asagno's exam practice is built on the same content as the regular B1 lessons, but wrapped in exam conditions — a server-enforced clock per section, audio with a limited number of plays, and an AI examiner that scores writing and speaking against a clear rubric, with a corrected version and specific feedback, not just a pass/fail number.
What you'll learn
- Which exam is which: the Inburgeringsexamen vs Staatsexamen NT2 Programme I (B1) and Programme II (B2), and why the right one depends on your goal
- The four-skill structure — lezen, luisteren, schrijven, spreken — and how each section is timed
- Reading strategy: read the question before the text, and match by meaning, not by a single shared word
- Listening strategy: use the moment before each recording to read the question and predict the answer type (a time, a place, a reason)
- Working on a screen: typing written answers and recording spoken answers within a time limit, as in much of the real exams
- A full practice exam with a server-timed clock, resumable if you get interrupted, and a detailed results breakdown per skill
A real reading-section task type
You are shown a short ad ("Kamer te huur, €450 per maand incl. gas/water/licht, per direct beschikbaar" — "Room for rent, €450 a month including utilities, available immediately") and asked whether the rent includes energy costs — not to translate the ad, but to prove you found the one fact the question asks about (incl. gas/water/licht). This is one of the most common B1 reading item types, and speed matters as much as accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Inburgeringsexamen the same as the Staatsexamen NT2?
No — they are different exams with different purposes. The Inburgeringsexamen is part of meeting a civic integration obligation and also includes non-language parts, such as knowledge of Dutch society (KNM); the Staatsexamen NT2 is a language diploma often asked for by employers and, at Programme II (B2), by many Dutch-taught degree programmes. In some situations one can count toward the other, but rules differ by situation and can change — this is general guidance, not legal advice, so confirm with DUO before choosing.
Does Asagno reproduce official past exam papers?
No. Practice exam content is original, written to match the public structure and difficulty of these exam formats — it is not copied from any official paper, and Asagno is not affiliated with DUO or the College voor Toetsen en Examens. DUO publishes its own official practice exams, and it is worth doing those too.
Can I try a section before buying the exam pack?
Yes — every exam pack includes one free sample section so you can see the format and timing before deciding.