The best order and timing for inburgering exams in 2026

· By Maksim · 4 min read

Hi, I'm Maksim 👋 When I started thinking about the inburgering exams, one of the most confusing questions for me was not only how to prepare, but also in which order to schedule everything.

There are several exams — Reading, Listening, Writing, KNM, and Speaking — and if you schedule them randomly, the whole process can quickly feel stressful 😅

That's why I wanted to write this short article: to share the order that feels the most logical to me, based on my own preparation experience. Not as a strict rule, but as a simple practical plan that can help you avoid chaos and keep motivation.

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What is the best order for the inburgering exams? ✅

Based on my experience, I would schedule the inburgering exams in this order:

  • Reading 📖
  • Listening 🎧
  • Writing ✍️
  • KNM 🇳🇱
  • Speaking 🗣️

Why this order makes sense

Reading and Listening are the easiest exams to start with. You don't need to overcomplicate them too much: solve as many exercises as possible, get used to the format, and build confidence.

Starting with these two exams can also give you a nice motivation boost 🚀 When you finish the first exams and start getting results, the whole inburgering process feels less scary.

After that, I would move to Writing. Writing needs more preparation because you need to produce Dutch yourself, not only understand it.

Then I would leave KNM and Speaking for later. In my opinion, these two exams need the most specific preparation, so it makes sense to give them more time and not rush them.

Recommended timing for each inburgering exam 🗓️

The timing depends on how intensively you can study, but this is what feels realistic to me:

  • Reading 📖 — 2 weeks
  • Listening 🎧 — 2 weeks
  • Writing ✍️ — 2 weeks of intense preparation, or 3–4 weeks with lighter preparation
  • KNM 🇳🇱 — 3–4 weeks
  • Speaking 🗣️ — 2 weeks of intense preparation, or 3 weeks with lighter preparation

Get feedback for Writing and Speaking

For Writing and Speaking, I would also add one week of intense preparation with a teacher.

These exams are much easier to improve when someone gives you feedback, because you need to actively use Dutch. It's not only about knowing the language — it's also about understanding what kind of answer works well in the exam.

My recommended inburgering exam schedule 🔁

If I had to schedule everything again, I would choose the same order.

First, I would schedule Reading and Listening as fast as possible because they are easier to prepare for and can help build motivation. Then, after getting some confidence, I would spend more serious preparation time on the exams that are left: Writing, KNM, and Speaking.

A simple schedule: Reading after 2 weeks of preparation, Listening after 2 weeks, Writing after 2 intense weeks (or 3–4 lighter weeks), KNM after 3–4 weeks, and Speaking after 2 intense weeks (or 3 lighter weeks).

This plan is not about being perfect. It is about making the process feel manageable and giving the harder exams enough time.

How I would prepare between exams 📚

My approach is simple: use teacher sessions for preparation and feedback, and use DutchExam as homework between lessons.

For example, after a lesson, I would go through the related topics on DutchExam and solve exercises there.

This gives structure — and for me, this is better than just studying randomly and hoping that it will be enough.

  • Teacher sessions help with feedback.
  • DutchExam helps with repetition.
  • Exercises help you understand the exam format.
  • Small progress keeps motivation alive.

Short answer 💡

The best order and timing for inburgering exams is Reading, Listening, Writing, KNM, then Speaking — that's the order I would personally choose.

Reading and Listening can be scheduled faster because they are easier and mostly require practice exercises. Writing needs more preparation. KNM and Speaking need the most specific preparation, so I would give them more time.

And for Writing and Speaking, I would definitely use a teacher for focused feedback before the exam 🙌

Keep preparing

Frequently asked questions

What order should I take the inburgering exams in?

Reading, Listening, Writing, KNM, then Speaking. Reading and Listening are the easiest to start with and help build confidence and motivation, Writing needs more active preparation, and KNM and Speaking benefit from the most focused preparation time.

How long should I prepare for each inburgering exam?

As a rough guide: 2 weeks each for Reading and Listening, 2 weeks of intense preparation (or 3–4 lighter weeks) for Writing, 3–4 weeks for KNM, and 2 intense weeks (or 3 lighter weeks) for Speaking.

Should I use a teacher to prepare for Writing and Speaking?

It helps a lot. Adding about one week of focused preparation with a teacher before these exams gives you feedback on your actual language use, which is harder to get from self-study alone.

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