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Failed the Civic Integration Exam: Retaking and Your Next Step

You have your results and you failed a component of the civic integration exam. That feels awful, but it is not the end. You are allowed to retake, and with a focused plan you can go further than you think. In this article you will read exactly how retaking works, what you need to arrange, and how to prepare smartly for your next attempt.

In the Netherlands, the civic integration exam is an important moment: it determines whether you get a diploma, and you need that diploma for a permanent residence permit or naturalisation. The rules differ per law and per route. Under the Civic Integration Act 2013, you do language at A2 or higher, plus Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM). Under the B1 route of the Civic Integration Act 2021, you do language at B1, plus KNM. The State Examination NT2 Programme I (B1) or Programme II (B2) counts for the language part of the B1 route and the education route. It does not replace KNM. So if you have failed, it is important to know exactly which exam you need to retake.

In this guide you get a step-by-step plan for the first week, example sentences for contacting DUO and the municipality, and a checklist to see if you are ready for your retake. You will also read what you should not do. You do not have to do this alone: with the right information and practice, you can face your next exam with more confidence.

What Does 'Failed' Actually Mean? And Can You Always Retake?

If you failed the civic integration exam, it usually means you did not achieve the required level for one or more components. You get a result per component. Sometimes you score more than sufficient for reading and listening, but you fail writing or speaking. It is important to know which component you need to retake, because you do not have to redo all your exams. In principle you are allowed to retake, but the exact rules differ per exam and per situation. Sometimes you have to wait a certain period or pay again. So always check your own result and the current rules at DUO or Mijn Inburgering.

Check with DUO or your gemeente what the retake rules are in your situation. Check with DUO or your gemeente what the retake rules are in your situation. If you fall under the Civic Integration Act 2021, you have a municipality that guides you. They can look at your planning with you and at what is realistic. If you fall under the Civic Integration Act 2013, you arrange a lot yourself via DUO. In both cases: do not wait too long to see what you need to do, because time keeps ticking.

It is also good to know that 'failed' is not the same as 'a failure'. Many people fail a component once, especially if they are nervous or if the exam format does not go their way. With targeted practice on the component you find difficult, you can often make a big jump. It helps to read your result carefully: is there a score per skill? What level did you achieve? How far were you from the threshold? That information determines your next step.

Retaking the Civic Integration Exam: How It Works per Law and per Route

The way you retake depends on the law you fall under. Under the Civic Integration Act 2013, you do language at A2 or higher, plus KNM. If you failed there, you will deal with retakes for the language exams and/or KNM via DUO. Depending on when your integration obligation started, the Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market (ONA) and the participation declaration may also be mandatory. Those have their own rules and trajectories. Ask DUO what applies to you.

Under the B1 route of the Civic Integration Act 2021, you do the language exams (reading, listening, writing, speaking) at B1, plus KNM. The municipality guides you and also arranges the participation declaration trajectory (PVT) and the Labour Market & Participation Module (MAP). If you are on the B1 route and have had at least 600 hours of language lessons but do not pass B1, you can discuss with the municipality whether scaling down to A2 is possible. That is not automatic, but a conversation. If you failed a language component, discuss with your contact person at the municipality what is wise: try again at B1, or first pass A2 and grow later.

For the education route (especially young people), language at B1 or higher applies. If you fail there, you look at your planning with your school or municipality. The self-reliance route (Z route) is for people for whom the other routes are too difficult; there the level is A1. If you are on the Z route and do not pass a component, you discuss the next step with your supervisor. The State Examination NT2 Programme I (B1) and Programme II (B2) fall under a separate arrangement: if you fail that, you retake via DUO, which does the registration. The content of the exam is set by CvTE. Note: State Examination NT2 does not replace KNM, so if you still need to do KNM, that remains.

What to Arrange Immediately After Your Result (First 48 Hours)

Check with DUO or your gemeente what you need to arrange after your result. You do not need to know everything right away, but you must avoid getting stuck in disappointment. Take your result and look at what it says per component. Note which part you need to retake and what deadline you have. Then check Mijn Inburgering or the DUO website for the possibilities. If you fall under the Civic Integration Act 2021, send a message to your municipality. They can help you with planning and with questions about your route.

Many people forget that a retake is not just an exam, but also a planning. You have to register again, choose a date and sometimes pay. Do not wait until you feel 'ready', because waiting times can add up. Put a reminder in your calendar right away. If you have DigiD, you can often see online what you need to do. If that does not work, call DUO or ask for help at the municipality. They are there to help you, even if you have failed.

It is also sensible to see if something was going on that caused you to fail. Were you ill? Did you suffer from stress? Did you practice too little with the computer? Sometimes a retake is mainly a matter of getting used to the exam format. If that is the case, you can focus your preparation on that. If you continue to have difficulty with a specific component, such as writing or speaking, seek extra practice. The sooner you start, the calmer your next exam will feel.

How to Plan Your Retake: From Registration to Exam Day

A good planning starts with a date. Choose a moment when you can realistically be ready, but not so far away that your motivation drops. Check with DUO or your gemeente what a realistic moment is for your retake. Check your calendar for busy weeks (work, school, holiday) and plan around them. Also put the day of registration and the day of payment in your calendar. If you retake via DUO, check whether you have to pay again and how much. That amount can differ per exam; check it at DUO or Mijn Inburgering.

Divide your preparation into blocks. Do not spend every day on everything, but focus on the component you need to retake. If, for example, you need to retake writing, practice with short messages: an email to the doctor, a message to the municipality, a text to your child's school. Read back your old mistakes and ask for feedback. If you need to retake speaking, practice out loud, alone or with someone. Record yourself and listen back. That may feel uncomfortable, but it is one of the fastest ways to improve.

Also plan rest. Nerves can influence your exam. Make sure you sleep well in the week before your exam, do not learn too much new material and mainly repeat what you already know. On the day itself: take your ID, arrive on time and read the instructions carefully. If you take a computer exam, practice beforehand with the buttons and the time. The more familiar the environment feels, the more room you have to show what you can do.

Practical Example Sentences for Contact with DUO, Municipality and School

Step-by-Step Plan (What You Do This Week)

Common Mistakes (and What Works Instead)

Mini Checklist for Your Retake

How to Practice This (Dutch Fluency + Extra)

Practicing in exam style means: acting as if you are already in the exam. Use short assignments that resemble the real work. Write an email to the municipality about a broken street lamp. Practice a conversation at the doctor about a headache. Read a letter from the Tax Administration and summarise what it says. Listen to a fragment of a Dutch radio programme and answer questions. That way you get used to the language and to the situations that come back in the exam.

At Dutch Fluency NT2 you will find exercises that focus precisely on these skills. You can practice per component: reading, listening, writing, speaking and KNM. There are also mock exams with which you can experience how it feels to work under time pressure. Use them to see where you still need to adjust. The more often you practice with realistic situations, the more confidence you gain for your retake.

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Frequently asked questions

I failed the civic integration exam. Can I always retake?

Yes, in principle you are allowed to retake, but the rules differ per exam and per law. Sometimes you have to pay again or wait a certain period. So check your result and the current information at DUO or Mijn Inburgering. If you fall under the Civic Integration Act 2021, also discuss it with your municipality.

Do I have to redo all components if I fail one component?

No, usually you only retake the component you did not pass. If, for example, you fail writing, you do not have to redo reading, listening and speaking. Do check whether your result per component remains valid and whether there is a time limit.

What does 'scaling down' to A2 mean and when is it possible?

Scaling down means that you go from the B1 route to A2. That is only possible under the B1 route of the Civic Integration Act 2021, and only if you have followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and do not pass B1. You have to discuss this with the municipality. It is not an automatic choice, but a possibility that is looked at per person.

How long do I have to wait before I can do my retake?

That differs per exam and per period. Sometimes you can retake within a few weeks, sometimes there is a longer waiting time. Check at DUO or Mijn Inburgering what currently applies. Check at DUO or Mijn Inburgering what currently applies for planning your retake.

Does State Examination NT2 also count for my civic integration?

The State Examination NT2 Programme I (B1) or Programme II (B2) counts for the language part of the B1 route and the education route. It does not replace KNM. If you take State Examination NT2 and fail, you retake via DUO. The content of the exam is set by CvTE. Always check with DUO and the municipality whether it counts in your situation.

Where can I find official information about retaking and my next step?

For exams, registration and payment: DUO and Mijn Inburgering. For guidance and your route under the Civic Integration Act 2021: your municipality. For residence permits and naturalisation: IND. For the content of State Examination NT2: CvTE. Use these sources for the most current rules, because they can change.

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