CNaVT explained: the five Dutch exams from A2 to C1, a pass mark of 50 with no section minimum, fees by country, and one attempt per calendar year
The CNaVT (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal) is the Dutch exam for people learning Dutch outside the Netherlands and Flanders, or anyone who wants an international certificate. It is developed by KU Leuven's Centre for Language and Education and Radboud University for the Dutch Language Union (Taalunie), and is offered in more than 40 countries.
Everything below is from cnavt.org, read in Dutch on 3 November 2026: the exam pages, the candidate FAQ, the registration page, the recognition page, the 2026–2028 fee list, the 2026 exam timings and the exam regulations for candidates.
Five exams, four levels
INFO (Maatschappelijk Informeel), A2: everyday, informal situations.
FORM (Maatschappelijk Formeel), B1: dealing independently with more formal situations in Dutch or Flemish society.
PROF (Zakelijk Professioneel), B2: the workplace, especially healthcare and administrative jobs.
STRT (Educatief Startbekwaam), B2: starting a degree at a Flemish or Dutch university or university of applied sciences.
EDUP (Educatief Professioneel), C1: teaching, or business settings that need advanced Dutch.
A pass shows that you are at least at that level, and no higher. The CNaVT says a high score on a B2 exam cannot be turned into a C1; for C1 you take the C1 exam.
How the exam works
Every exam has three parts: part 1 on listening (and writing), part 2 on reading and writing, both in a group, and part 3 speaking with an examiner, one to one, recorded, and at B2 and C1 with a presentation. Skills are tested together: one task can ask you to read and then write.
In 2026 the exams are taken digitally, at exam centres, in May and November. The November 2026 session runs 11 to 20 November, with results in the second half of January 2027. May results come in the second half of July.
A paper dictionary is allowed in parts 1 and 2, explanatory or translating, but only into or from Dutch: Dutch–German is allowed, German–Dutch is not. No electronic aids.
The CNaVT's 2026 timing table gives, for example, FORM (B1): 65 minutes for part 1 and 70 for part 2, and STRT (B2): 75 and 75. The speaking tasks run from about 6 to 22 minutes each, preparation included.
The pass mark: 50 on the total, no minimum per part
You pass with a total score of 50 or more. The CNaVT's own FAQ answers "do I have to pass every part?" with no: a part can be lower as long as the total is enough. The pass mark is set by a standard-setting study.
Your result shows four sub-scores: written content, written form, spoken content and spoken form. Content is whether you understood and used the information; form is vocabulary, grammar, structure and, when speaking, fluency and pronunciation. At A2 (INFO), form is reported as one score for written and spoken together.
A 0 on a part does not mean everything was wrong. Each task is judged against the level of the exam, so 0 means the answers did not yet reach that level.
Our reading: because there is no section minimum, the cheapest points are in the part you are already good at. But the four sub-scores also show where the total was lost, which is what a teacher needs to plan the next attempt.
One attempt per calendar year
The exam regulations allow one sitting of each exam per calendar year. So although 2026 has a May and a November session, a candidate who fails in May cannot sit the same exam again in November; the FAQ says you can retake it in a following calendar year.
For 2026, the regulations add that you can register for only one of PROF and STRT, the two B2 exams.
Our reading: choose the date with this in mind. Failing in November means the next chance is the following May. Failing in May means skipping November and waiting for the next year's sessions. Either way, the attempt you book is your only one that year.
If you disagree with how the exam was run, the regulations allow a reasoned appeal within 6 weeks of receiving the result. You can also ask to review your exam by email; for the May 2026 exam the deadline was 11 September 2026.
Fees by country
The Taalunie's fee list for 2026, 2027 and 2028 sorts countries into three groups by income per person:
Group A (including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and the US): €95 (A2), €100 (B1), €105 (B2) and €125 (C1).
Group B (including Poland, Hungary, China, Turkey and Mexico): €50, €55, €60 and €80.
Group C (including Indonesia, Suriname, South Africa, India, Ukraine and Morocco): €27.50, €30, €35 and €50.
The exam centre can add its own costs on top, for staff, the venue and administration. You see the full price only when you register and pick a centre. You can cancel free of charge within 14 days of registering.
What a certificate is used for
CNaVT certificates do not expire. But the CNaVT notes that universities and employers sometimes ask for one that is no more than two years old, so check with them.
Inburgering: a certificate can give a partial exemption from the Dutch language part of the Netherlands' civic integration exam and from Dutch lessons in Flanders' integration programme. In the Netherlands, DUO decides under articles 3.12 and 3.13 of the integration rules.
Study: most Flemish and Dutch higher-education institutions accept STRT (B2) and EDUP (C1), but each decides for itself, sometimes per programme. In the Netherlands, the NT2 Staatsexamen is the other common route.
Healthcare in the Netherlands: the CNaVT says nurses need at least B1 (FORM), many medical jobs B2 (PROF), and some professions such as doctors B2+, shown with EDUP (C1). The BIG register sets the level per job.
Sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands need C1, which EDUP shows.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Planning to retake in November after failing in May.
Treating each exam as one attempt per calendar year.
The CNaVT regulations allow one sitting of each exam per calendar year.
Believing you must pass listening, reading, writing and speaking separately.
Aiming for a total of 50 or more.
The CNaVT FAQ says there is no minimum per part; only the total counts.
Bringing a dictionary from your language into Dutch.
Bringing a paper dictionary from Dutch, for parts 1 and 2 only.
Only dictionaries into or from Dutch are allowed, e.g. Dutch–German but not German–Dutch.
Questions
What is the CNaVT pass mark?
A total score of 50 or more. There is no minimum per part, so one part can be lower if the total reaches 50.
How much does the CNaVT cost?
It depends on the country: from €27.50 (A2, group C) to €125 (C1, group A), plus any costs the exam centre adds.
How often can I take the CNaVT?
Once per exam per calendar year. In 2026 you can also register for only one of the two B2 exams, PROF or STRT.
Does the CNaVT certificate expire?
No, but some universities and employers ask for a certificate no older than about two years.
Which CNaVT exam do I need for university?
Most Flemish and Dutch universities accept STRT (B2) or EDUP (C1), but each institution decides, sometimes per programme.
When are CNaVT results published?
For the May session, in the second half of July; for November, in the second half of January.
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