Civic integration exam A2 or B1: what's the difference?

Short answer: since the Wet inburgering 2021, B1 is the target level, but not everyone takes the same exam. Which level applies to you depends on the learning route your municipality assigns you. Here's the full picture.

Why do two levels exist?

Under the old 2013 integration law, A2 was the standard for most people. A2 is enough to get by in everyday situations, shopping, having a simple conversation, filling in a form. But it turned out to be too little to truly participate in society and the labour market. That's why the Wet inburgering 2021 raised the ambition: the target level became B1.

The three learning routes determine your level

Since the Wet inburgering 2021, your municipality assigns you to one of three learning routes, based on a learnability test:

• B1-route: the standard route for most integrating migrants. The goal is language level B1, combined with (volunteer) work or a reintegration programme.
• Education route: for people with high learnability who want to move on to Dutch education. Also aims at B1 or higher, plus extra preparation for the education system.
• Z-route (self-reliance route): for those who'd struggle with the B1-route or the education route. Here the goal is language level A1, with a tailored exam instead of the regular one.

If you don't fall under the Wet inburgering 2021, for example because you're still integrating under the 2013 law, A2 remains the standard for you.

The difference in the exam itself

At A2 level, you take the regular DUO exams: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking at A2 level, plus KNM, five parts in total via Mijn Inburgering. On the B1-route or the education route, you take the Staatsexamen NT2 Programme I instead: the same four language skills, but tested at B1 level, plus the same KNM exam. There's also a Programme II, at B2 level, but that's meant for people moving on to higher education and isn't a standard part of integrating. Note that KNM itself is tested at the same level either way, namely A2, so even on the B1-route you don't need to work up to B1 level for KNM.

What the linguistic difference means

At A2, you can manage in concrete, direct situations: ordering something, asking for directions, making a short statement. At B1, you can also talk about things that aren't right in front of you: giving and explaining an opinion, recounting an event, discussing plans. The step from A2 to B1 is often called the biggest jump in language learning, precisely because you move from concrete to more abstract language use.

Watch out for naturalisation

Planning to become a Dutch citizen eventually? For naturalisation, A2 is currently still the legal minimum, even if you integrated at B1 level yourself. There are government plans to raise this to B1 in the future, but that isn't finalised yet. If in doubt, check the current requirements with the IND.

Why choose B1 anyway, even if it isn't required?

Some people who could technically integrate at A2 level deliberately choose to work towards B1: it opens more doors in the labour market, makes further education more realistic, and B1 is simply the level the law ultimately wants to see you functioning at in Dutch society.