Online 1-on-1 training for all four parts of Programme II, at level B2: reading, listening, writing and speaking.
Programme II
Programme II of the NT2 state exam (Staatsexamen NT2) is comparable to language level B2. It is meant for people who want to study or work in the Netherlands at hbo (university of applied sciences) or university level. According to the Board of Tests and Examinations (CvTE), the diploma is often required to start a degree, but each programme sets its own requirement. For some professions B2 is fixed, for example for a physiotherapist with a foreign diploma or a primary school teacher with a diploma from outside the EEA.
You do not have to take Programme I first. In the 1-on-1 lessons we look at where you stand now and train specifically for the parts where you can gain the most.
The exam
You take all parts on a computer, at an exam location in the Netherlands. You may take them on different days and retake them separately. For Programme II they look like this:
| Part | What you do | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 35 or 36 multiple-choice questions on 6 texts. Reflective and argumentative texts play a big role. | 100 minutes |
| Listening | About 40 multiple-choice questions on audio texts and a few short videos. You hear each text only once. | 90 minutes |
| Writing | Writing or completing sentences, short texts such as a note or letter, and one or two longer texts in which you describe a problem and propose a solution. | 100 minutes |
| Speaking | 4 short tasks (20 seconds speaking time), 8 medium tasks (30 seconds) and 1 long task of 2 minutes, with preparation time. You record your answers on the computer. | About 25 minutes |
Each part costs €50 at DUO, all four together €200. You register per part, preferably about 8 weeks in advance; registration closes 3 weeks before the exam date. The result arrives after about 5 weeks. You receive the diploma once you have passed all four parts.
What the exam looks like (staatsexamensnt2.nl, in Dutch)Exam dates 2026-2027
Pass rates
In 2025 the average pass rate per part of Programme II was 60%. Reading had the lowest rate, as it has every year since 2021. Writing went best.
| Part | Passed in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Writing | 68% |
| Listening | 60% |
| Speaking | 59% |
| Reading | 53% |
Source: 2025 annual report of the Board of Tests and Examinations (CvTE).
Your teacher
I teach 1-on-1 online Dutch lessons and prepare students for the NT2 state exam, Programme I and II. I can explain in Dutch, English or Russian.
Pricing
Private 1-on-1 lessons cost EUR 40 per 50-minute lesson, and you start with a free trial lesson.
Try a free trial lessonPrefer a small group? The B1→B2 group course ties in with Programme II: €360 per 8-week block, which is €15 per lesson hour.
View the group coursesQuestions
No. You may, but it is not required. Choose the programme that fits your goal. If you are around B1 now, you can also train for Programme II straight away.
That varies a lot per person: how much time you have each week, how often you use Dutch and which parts you find difficult. In the free trial lesson we look at where you stand and make a plan that fits your exam date.
For hbo-level healthcare professions such as physiotherapist, midwife and dental hygienist, the CIBG requires level B2, and Programme II is enough. For doctors, dentists and pharmacists the requirement is B2+, which is higher than the NT2 state exam. More on this on our page about Dutch for BIG registration.
Each programme decides that for itself. Check the programme's website or ask the admissions office before you register for the exam. A diploma also does not mean automatic admission.
A private lesson costs €40 per 50-minute lesson, and you start with a free trial lesson. A small group is cheaper: the B1→B2 group course costs €360 per 8-week block (€15 per lesson hour). You pay for the exam at DUO: €50 per part, so €200 for all four parts.
Yes. You register per part and may take the parts on different days. If you fail one, you only retake that part. You receive the diploma as soon as you have passed all four.
The lessons are in Dutch. Where needed I can also explain in English or Russian.
Yes. All lessons are online, so you can join from any country; lesson times are agreed in Dutch time. The exam itself you take in the Netherlands, at an exam location.