Practising the KNM exam: what's tested and how to approach it smartly

The KNM exam (Knowledge of Dutch Society) is a mandatory part of the civic integration exam. The other parts, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, test your Dutch language skills. KNM is different: it's about how Dutch society works. Think of how the education system works, what institutions do, how healthcare is arranged and how Dutch government and the rule of law function.

What exactly is tested?

Since 1 July 2025, the official KNM exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions at A2 language level. To pass, you need at least 24 of the 40 questions correct: that's the official pass mark of 60%. The questions are spread across eight themes:

• Work and income
• Social norms and values
• Housing
• Health and healthcare
• History and geography
• Institutions
• Government and the rule of law
• Education and upbringing

Each theme stands on its own, but the questions are often about practical situations: what to do when you need a doctor, how childcare works, or which institution to contact for a housing permit. Since the new 2025 attainment targets, the emphasis is even more on this kind of factual knowledge question, rather than on how you would react in a situation.

Why people underestimate this part

Because KNM isn't a language exam, some candidates assume it's "easier" than Reading or Speaking. That's partly true, since you don't need to master complex grammar. But the knowledge itself is often new, even for people who have lived here for a while. Common pitfalls:

• Mixing up topics that look similar, for example which authority is responsible for what.
• Reading questions too quickly and missing a detail that decides between two nearly identical answer options.
• Only studying the themes that seem interesting, and skipping Government and the rule of law or History and geography because they feel more abstract.

How to approach it smartly

A few things that really make a difference when practising:

• Work through one theme at a time. Build a solid base per topic before moving on. That works better than skimming all eight themes at once.
• Practise with real multiple-choice questions, not just reading summaries. The exam tests application, not memorising facts. Practice questions show you exactly where you still hesitate.
• Review what you got wrong. A question you missed once can easily reappear in a slightly different form on the actual exam.

Practise for free on Inburgerify

Inburgerify has all eight KNM themes worked out into individual lessons, including practice questions per theme and full mock exams of 40 questions, built exactly like the real exam has been since 2025.