Level B1

What are the levels?

A1, A2 and B1 are language levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR, in Dutch ERK). It was made by the Council of Europe. There are 6 levels, from A1 to C2. A1 is the lowest level.

The levels are about reading, listening, writing, speaking and having conversations.

What can you do at B1?

• Understand the main points of clear texts about familiar topics.
• Manage in most situations while travelling.
• Write a simple text about topics you know.
• Tell about what you have experienced, and about your dreams, hopes and plans.
• Explain briefly why you think something or want to do something.

B1 and civic integration

• B1 route: within 3 years you learn Dutch at level B1. You take language exams at level B1 and knowledge exams.
• Education route (onderwijsroute): you take language exams at level B1 or B2 and knowledge exams.
• Is B1 too difficult? In the B1 route the level can go down to A2, after at least 600 hours of lessons. Ask your municipality about this.

The staatsexamen Nt2

The language exams at level B1 and B2 are also called the staatsexamen Nederlands als tweede taal (Nt2), the state exam Dutch as a second language. It has 4 parts: writing, speaking, reading and listening.

Which exams you have to take, you see in Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl.

Official practice exams

For B1 and B2 (the staatsexamen Nt2) there are practice exams. There are also separate practice tasks for writing and speaking at B1.

• Practice exams by DUO on inburgeren.nl (opens in a new tab)
• Practice exams and practice tasks for B1 and B2 (opens in a new tab)