🇳🇱 Staatsexamen NT2 · Programma II · B2

Staatsexamen NT2 Programma II — the B2 exam for hbo, university and professional work

Programma II is the higher of the two NT2 programmes, set at CEFR B2. It is what Dutch universities, hbo institutions and most professional employers ask for, and it is the language exam behind BIG registration for healthcare professionals trained abroad.

⭐ Each of the four components is passed separately at 500 points and earns its own deelcertificaat. Four deelcertificaten are exchanged for the NT2 diploma — and you only ever retake the component you missed.

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What's in the exam

Lezen — 100 minutes, around 35–36 multiple-choice questions across six texts. A Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2 is permitted.
Luisteren — 90 minutes, around 40 multiple-choice questions over five or more listening texts plus one to three video fragments. Every fragment plays once only.
Schrijven — 100 minutes: seven to eight zinstaken, one to two korte schrijftaken and one to two middellange schrijftaken.
Spreken — about 25 minutes: four short tasks (20 seconds), eight medium tasks (30 seconds) and one long task (2 minutes).

How it is scored

Every component is scored separately, and 500 is the pass mark on each. CvTE publishes 500 as the only fixed number — the minimum and maximum scores differ per component and per exam day, so any score outside that pass mark is indicative rather than absolute. Lezen and Luisteren are machine-scored; Schrijven and Spreken are rated by two trained assessors against a published beoordelingsvoorschrift.

Who needs Programma II

Students entering an hbo or university programme taught in Dutch.
Healthcare professionals seeking BIG registration — doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists trained outside the Netherlands.
Professionals working at hbo level, where employers commonly ask for B2.
Anyone who wants the strongest possible NT2 diploma, since Programma II sits a full CEFR level above Programma I.

FAQs

Is Programma II harder than Programma I?

Yes, by a full CEFR level. Programma I is B1 and aimed at mbo-level study and work; Programma II is B2 and aimed at hbo, university and professional-level work. The format is the same; the texts, tasks and expected output are more demanding.

Do I have to pass all four components at once?

No. Each component is passed separately and yields a deelcertificaat that stays valid. If you pass three and miss one, you re-register for that single component.

What does the real exam cost?

50 euro per component, so 200 euro for the complete Staatsexamen NT2. You register through Mijn DUO with DigiD.

Does Programma II count for civic integration?

Yes. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 the B1 and B2 language exams are the Staatsexamen NT2, so passing Programma II satisfies the language requirement, and it also meets the language condition for naturalisation.

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Find out whether you'd pass Programma II

A full mock costs a fraction of the 200 euro you would pay DUO, and tells you which component still needs work.

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Mock results are indicative practice scores, not official DUO outcomes. Each component is graded separately against the 500-point pass mark.

Everything about this exam

Detailed guides covering every part of the exam.