Passing the Civic Integration Exam B1

Passing the Civic Integration Exam B1 requires an understanding of 4400 Dutch words. Besides, you should be able to speak in complex sentences, with correct word order. Focus on vocabulary and word order: the two requirements for success. Learn more about the B1 exam in this blog.

Estimated reading time 8 minutes

Margreet Kwakernaak, author of Dutch for Dummies and 7 other textbooks on Dutch

Reaching level B1 requires twice as much effort as reaching level A2

For Dutch level A2, 2200 words are required, for level B1 the double, 4400. Additionally, at level B1 you must be able to construct complex sentences.

Are you an expat and planning Dutch citizenship?

In that case, read Integration Exam requirements for expats to know which level is required for you.

The B1 exam requires 4400 words- how do I learn them?

When you are studying by yourself, start by reading Word learning: make it part of your daily life

Learning is followed by remembering: the blog How to remember words – the seven steps helps you with memorizing them.

Accelerate the learning of Dutch B1 words focuses on B1 words, which often are composed of parts you already know.

All the mentioned blogs are useful, but, learning a language all by yourself up to level B1 may take two years or more. Participating in a course may reduce two years to one- depending on the kind of course.

Traditonal courses focus on grammar and writing. Speaking and listening come in the second place, supposing you have opportunities to speak and hear Dutch in your daily life.

The Delft method is a proven quick way to learn Dutch focusing on vocabulary and conversation during class. However, it requires hard work. In Dutch B1 – how many hours? you can read how many study hours you should invest to pass the B1 exam.

The B1 Civic Integration exam wants me to speak in complex sentences – how do I learn that?

In the Integration Exam A2, you can speak and write in short and simple sentences. Some sporadic conjunctions like en or maar are enough.

For the B1 level however, you must master some 20 conjunctions more, like omdat , dat en als. After all other conjunctions than en, maar, want, of en dus, Dutch word order changes: all verbs are in the end of the sentence. Exercising is needed to make this word order a routing, especially for those who speak English in daily life.

The Duolingo app is popular amongst selr-learners. However, up to now, I met no Duollingo user who mastered B1 conjunctions, besides the mentioned five A2 ones, and omdat, dat en als.

To acquire the B1-level in a short time, teacher guided courses with proper B1 materials, preferably e-learning, are proven to be the shortest way to success.

The B1 reading exam is about work, education, technology and social life

The subjects of the reading B1 exams 2020- 2026, and 2022 can be divided into 4 categories:work, education, technology, and social life.

The B1 level is enough for socializing and for work on an intermediate level. For work on academic level, language level B2 or even C1 is required.

The listening subjects are all about work: jobs at an intermediate level

As the B1 exam is related to a wide scale of intermediate professions, a broad vocabulary is needed. As far as technical terms are concerned, the interviewees explain them. The listening exams are videos: pictures are a great help in the technical field. Even if you don’t know the profession, you can understand the interviewees.

Nevertheless, for most candidates the listening exam is the most tricky part of the B1 integration exam. Factors such as peaking speed, regional accents, poor articulation and not knowing where the speaker is heading to, make understanding diffcult. Though most mentioned factors have been filtered our of the B1 listening exam, candidates who do not have a broad listening experience, may face problems.

Where can I find exams to exercise with?

Detailed information concerning the exams can be found at the DUO page Inburgeren. Not only is this the place to register for the exams, you’ll find recent exams to exercise with as well.

Conclusion

Passing the Civic Integration Exam B1 requires two main skills: you must have a vocabulary of 4400 words, using complex sentences with correct word order
The topics of the B1 exam are work, studies, and daily life
Though the A2 level of the Civic Integration Exam can be reached by self-study and the help of volunteers, reaching the B1 level requires double effort. Professional help, especially in the field of writing and speaking, reduces the study time.

Suitcase talen Delft method modular system

Suitcase talen courses are for full-time working expats and highly educated people who can spend 4-6 hours per week studying – after work or caring for children.
The Suitcase talen modular system covers level 0- B1 in a year.
The route is shorter when you know some Dutch already. Ask us to test your actual level of Dutch in a free intake by phone.

The modular system offers the utmost flexibility. When work or personal obligations are required, you can take a break between modules.
A module takes 5 weeks and we start new modules 10 times per year.

The Delft method focuses on speaking and vocabulary. In each Lesson, you learn 50 new words, in useful and communicative sentences.
You prepare your classes with e-learning and practice in two online group evening conversation classes per week, with a teacher.

40% of the optional B1 Grammar Module is about word order. The other 60% is about frequently asked B1 grammar questions. You prepare your grammar class with worksheets.

In the Grammar online class, the teacher answers your questions. Most of all, you practice the learned grammar in oral exercises, whilst the teacher helps and corrects.