I actually took the KVT twice. DUO’s system crashed after I had done it the first time (unbeknownst to me), so I had to re-take the test (a different set of random questions, though there 1-2 that were the same).
I’ll break down my experience in a few posts, starting with my studying strategy, then my 1st test experience, my 2nd test experience (yes, I passed), and finally a list of all of the test scenarios and questions I’ve come across on various forums. Please note, there's no guarantee the "answers" are correct - you'll have to do your own validation!
My studying strategy was as follows:
- Build up at least a rudimentary knowledge of Dutch so I could read and understand the basics – hopefully enough to get the gist of the questions and answers – or at least identify which is most likely to be the answer, either by discarding those that I did understand that didn’t make sense or by selecting one which I did understand and which did make sense.
- I took a 30-day “intensive Beginner’s Dutch course with the UvA” that covered levels A1-A2. - After the Dutch course, I bought the book “Kom Verder” and retyped it all, in Dutch in MS Word, reading aloud as I went for practice, and then copying and pasting into Google translate and inserting English text below each paragraph. By the end of the book, I hardly needed to use Google translate, as I was already becoming familiar with the Dutch words used previously in the book.
- I borrowed the book “Bagage” from a friend and did the same thing, retyping it, translating using Google, inserting English text below each paragraph, reading aloud, etc.
- I downloaded the sample tests for Bagage from http://www.coutinho.nl/bagage/getfr.htm?/bagage/toetsen.htm and tested myself a few times, again, noting any corrections.
- I did the same thing with 3 other books (Opweg, Onderweg, and Wegwijzer) just a few days before I took the KVT for the 2nd time, mostly in anticipation of doing the KNS, TGN and EPE, but every bit of Dutch helps, I suppose.
- I used the website www.kennisvan.nl and self-tested myself on the numerous KNS and Tegenstellingen examples only, and also printed them out so I could make notes on them. To be honest, it didn’t really help for the KVT; I used it as a back-up plan in case I failed the KVT and found myself having to do the other inburgering tests.
- I tried to familiarize myself with the basic subjects which I knew might come up – I figured I should at least try to understand them in my native English first, and then would try to figure out the Dutch equivalent, or try to recognize what I thought was the Dutch equivalent during the test. I used www.Iamsterdam.com for an overview of the Education and Healthcare systems (there were more subjects, but those were the ones I highlighted in my studies), I also reviewed and then translated using Google the Dutch into English of every subject in the www.kennisring.nl website. You have to be a bit careful, though – in one case it suggests if you see people fighting in the street, you might want to get a couple of strong friends and intervene (wrong, wrong, wrong when it comes to the expected test answer on the KVT!).
- I familiarized myself with the format of the test by trying the two KVT sample questions from https://www.telecursus.org/portal/appmodules/examen/login.ctrl?organisatieid=43&productdefinitieid=905&index=0
- I downloaded the KVT test software from the DUO website which allows the user to try a full 30 question test. While there’s no answer key, the format is the same as the test itself, and you see your score at the end. You can re-do the test over and over so that you are eventually able to identify which are the correct answers (i.e. get a 100% score). I would do 1 question and select an answer then end the test and if it was correct it would show 3% correct (i.e. 1 out of 30), then do 2 questions and if they were both correct, it should be 6% correct (i.e. 2/30), etc. Download the .msi file and install it from here: http://nl.sitestat.com/ibg/inburgeren/s?Kennis%20Nederlandse%20Samenleving&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=http://film.ib-groep.nl/proefexamens/Korte%20Vrijstellingstoets.msi then run it from your computer
- I downloaded the sample test software for the KNS, installing and running the .msi file from here: http://nl.sitestat.com/ibg/inburgeren/s?Kennis%20Nederlandse%20Samenleving&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=http://film.ib-groep.nl/proefexamens/Kennis%20Nederlandse%20Samenleving.msi
- I also downloaded the sample test software for all of the other Inburgering tests and practiced each of them, including the “Praktijk” tests. See the full list at: http://www.inburgeren.nl/inburgeraar/examen/oefenen_met_examens/voorbeeldexamen_elektronisch_praktijkexamen.asp. Download the .msi files and install them, then run each of them from your computer
- The posts here and else where was a big help. While I knew my biggest challenge would be identifying these questions and answers in Dutch, or ensuring that what people posted as the correct answer actually was (I did catch what I thought to be a few errors), they were extremely helpful and for that I’m extremely grateful.
I’ve not provided any attribution to the original posters (sorry!) in my own expanded "knowledge base" (like one of the earlier posters - great idea, BTW), as I originally just copied and pasted the actual content into MS-Word, and reformatted into “Scenarios”, “Questions” and “Answer Options” for my own study purposes. Regardless, I absolutely do appreciate the original poster’s sharing and take my hat off to all of them. Just as a side note, I found numerous inconsistencies in Bagage and various government and education-related websites related to ages for mandatory school attendance (5-16, 5-17, 5-18, etc.). I’ve used the ages 5-16. Wegwijzer also has errors, for instance, the same question “Hoe heet het grootste vliegveld van Nederland?” appears as Q2 in Les 3, p. 20 and in the “Extra examenoefeningen” section as Q 13 on p. 109. Answer options for both are KLM, Schiphol or Airport. The answer key for Q2 Les 3 on p. 132 says “Schiphol” whereas the answer key for the Extra exam questions on p. 134 says “a” which refers to KLM. Though it’s obvious which is correct in this case, it makes it hard to trust the answer guide when it comes to more difficult or more vague/obscure questions.
Below is a synopsis of my first test experience:
I arrived an hour early (letter said must be there 30 minutes in advance). They actually started the test a bit early – there were about 6 of us. The docent takes you through a brief intro and you do the same 2-question practice exam that’s on Duo’s website to make sure you know how to use the pc (basic mouse work) and how the test works.
The person next to me had no computer skills and was asking for help or clarification or something from the docent through most of the test which I found a bit disturbing.
You have to click on the speaker icon if you want to hear the audio in some cases (you do this also if you want it repeated, but it can take a few seconds to start).
I had 30 questions in the 45 allotted minutes.
Here’s what I remember (no particular order):
1. See people kissing on the street (it is not forbidden)
2. See a lot of women with short skirts (it is not forbidden)
3. Turns out the neighbours aren’t married (options: I have lost all respect for you, that’s not how it is in my culture and another one, something about the women)
4. Power not working, husband has gone outside, what do you do (look in meterkast)
5. 2 guys fighting in the street (you don’t need to listen to the audio for this one), what do you do (call police, get help or something else)
6. How many calories per day does the daughter need (based on article – answer in the text and provided in the answer choice: approximately 2000/day)
7. Mo or someone has a great idea, let’s get a house. It’s going to be expensive. What does he do (make appointment to meet with banker, give up it’s too expensive, the bank knows how much money we make already)?
8. There’s a 10-year waiting list for housing, what’s the wife’s best answer: we’ll have a lot of money by then, something else, that’s crazy, we first need to find a place to live
9. Some text about daughter’s career aspirations. At the end, it turns out the daughter wants to be a veterinary assistant, where does she go to school? The text has very high level description of ROC, AOC or some sort of Youth Work Experience outfit, which does she go to?
10. A question about the cost of further education – answer is WO is more expensive than Hoger Onderwijs
11. A question about if can go from VMBO to HBO (I think). Can she go directly, via VMBO, MBO then HBO or some other option?
12. Audio between Mo & his daughter talking about education in Netherlands. But they only talk about the location of a secondary school near some shop. Then what does Mo say? Something about not all opleiding for Hoger Onderwijs and WO is the same (3 options, I think this is the correct answer – the options included Middelbare is not the same as something else as well.
13. Something about housing being expensive. Answer options are you always have to pay for an aanslag (?), you can get huurtoeslag and one other option. Don’t really remember the question or answer.
14. Another question about housing – answer options included always get the most expensive
15. Another question about housing – it’s not so expensive because you can deduct the mortgage from your monthly loon,
16. You’re looking for a house, you see an ad in a paper but there’s no info about a number to call or the internet (I think). where do you look? Register with the housing association and check on the internet, keep reading the newspaper ads each day, another option
17. Mo’s wife tells him the benefits of a makelaar (he’s concerned they are expensive). Answers: get a makelaar to work for you, search yourself, and some other option
18. You have a 11 month old child, which day care option on the 3 forms is correct (babygroup, peutergroup, kleutergroup)
19. A friend also wants their kid to go to daycare, what should they do (just bring them along, call the daycare to register them, go to the gemeente)
20. Daughter wants to know if she can have sweets. Article on healthy eating says that sweets aren’t part of the essential 5 foods and can have fats and high calories to make them taste better; shouldn’t have hearty portions. Answer options, no you should not have sweets, another option, I think it says yes, have sweets but watch out for portion size b/c of fats & calories, and third option is yeah, eat a lot of them.
21. Audio with daughter talking to mom about healthy lifestyle and exercise. You can join a sports club, but you can also take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. What does she say: join a sports club, incorporate exercise in your daily activity (I think that’s what it said!), and something else
22. Which form is correct? Look for the phone number that has no hyphen (which is the correct one)!
23. Wife is unclear on social housing options, she calls the helpline. Which is the best answer of the medewerker? The wife asks if she must take a house if they find one for her. Options are: there’s a long waiting list, it depends on your situation, you need to take a house if we find one for you.
24. Is HAVO secondary education?
25. Discussion about rappers (zwangers). Answer options are: I think they should sing that (?), they are an important part of a multicultural society, everyone can sing what they want as long as they don’t discriminate, etc.
Below is a summary of my 2nd test experience:
About 7 people this time. 15 minute introduction (the docent advises there are 30 questions in 45 minutes and that you have to work quickly), including brief run-through demo and 2 test questions from KNS demo (yes, KNS, not KVT).
First you play a video – Mo is in a car dealership admiring, and then driving off with his new car. Soon you see the speedometer hit 140 km/hr. Video ends.
Sample question #1: Where does Mo pay his speeding fine (gemeente, politiebureau or Euro acceptgiro). Acceptgiro is the answer (one of the test-takers questioned this, saying she paid at the gemeente – and of course, many of the sample test questions elsewhere show Mo paying various fines at the gemeente, but never mind).
Sample question #2: Mo receives (or places) a telephone call while driving the car. What should he do? (make the call in the car, pull over to the side of the road which has a white line, or pull into a designated pay parking area). The answer, believe it or not, is to pull into a pay parking area (the docent reviewed all of the answers).
Then, docent starts the test – she logs each participant on one at a time, and your own 45-minute time limit counts down when you initiate the test. You get a warning on the PC when you have just 15 minutes left. I received 30 questions.
My strategy, which has worked successfully both times, leaving me ample time, is to completely avoid the videos and even the audio recordings – only going back to the audio when and if required. You have to know that the videos basically sit idle in between the actual questions, so if you’ve finished question #1 (which may only have a still picture) and click next, you then get a blank square with a “play” button on it. It does not play until you start it, and it just sits finished once it’s ended. You are not automatically advanced to the actual questions/answers. Meanwhile, valuable time is counting down...
Furthermore, out of all of my 60 questions in the two tests I took, absolutely none required me to view the video in order to choose the correct answer, as the videos seem to be just general stage-setting. You can move forward through the questions by clicking the next button at the bottom right, or go forward/backward by choosing the question number at the top of the screen (see the sample tests based on the software you download to your computer in my posts above, which gives a very good impression of how it works – their sample test has a full 30 questions – not just 2).
My advice is if you are unsure or hesitant, don’t select an answer, as you won’t know which question to come back to (the question #s at the top turn orange once you’ve completed them, and remain grey/green when they are unanswered).
I quickly went through as many of the 30 questions, answering those I was confident in first. I took a few moments longer on some, but generally this was quite quick – probably between 15-20 seconds a question on average, and if I was being particularly careful with one or two, I’d spend 30 seconds. Plenty of time. I then had about 4-5 questions that I had to go back to, as I was too unsure about answering them the first time, or these absolutely required listening to the audio (which I didn’t do the first time by design). Once I did those, I did a quick run-through all 30 questions one last time, quickly skipping over the obvious ones and confirming or changing my answer to any that were more dubious.
I spent about 44 minutes in total – but at a very relaxed pace and at no time did I feel I was rushed for time. When I took the test earlier, I was one of the first finished with 10-15 minutes to spare. I decided to take a bit more time on the 2nd go round to review all of my answers this time just to be on the safe side rather than second-guess myself once I was finished!
Here are some of the questions I remembered:
Q1: Mo sees to neighbours fighting outside. What does he do? (call police, get 2 strong friends and try break it up, or something else – it was either intervene himself or do nothing, I don’t remember).
VIDEO SCREEN (which I skipped)
Q2 Ali & his wife are talking about buying a house and the relative advantages/disadvantages of a mortgage and claiming the tax savings (you’ll need to listen to the audio). What is Ali’s best response to his wife’s question at the end of the audio? (I don’t know, it’s pretty complicated – I’ll call the bank for an appointment; the bank already knows how much I earn; or another answer. (call the bank)
Q3 Listen to the audio which simulates a phone call to the bank about a mortgage. What is the best response for Mo at the end of the audio. (thanks, I’ll take a mortgage; thanks I’d like to make an appointment to discuss getting a mortgage; I’m undecided or something).
Q4 Mortgage interest is... (deducted from monthly netto loon/salaris, deducted from monthly bruto loon/salaris or deducted from income tax). Answer is deducted from monthly bruto loon/salaris.
Q5 Mohamed and his friend Mahmet are at a verzekering fair (insurance fair). Mo’s friend picks up a brochure. Listen to the audio, what is Mo’s best response to his friend? You almost don’t need to the audio for this one, as it’s just Mahmet ranting about how inappropriate and insulting the material is – and you can tell that from the question, which is: what does Mo say to his friend: Everyone can write and say whatever they like in The Netherlands, even if they discriminate there’s nothing you can do; Everyone can write and say whatever they like in The Netherlands, and if you are discriminated against, you can to go a rechter; 3rd answer, which I don’t remember. But you get the idea based on the 1st two answers – but they are worded a bit trickily, so you will have to read them well (they are identical except for just a few words).
Q6 Can Mo’s daughter go from VMBO to HBO? Possible answers, yes; no, or yes VMBO, MBO, then HBO.
Q7 Mo’s daughter wants to quit school. What does Mo say to his daughter? You can listen to the audio, but you don’t need to (I didn’t). The answer options are: you must stay in school until you are 16 in The Netherlands; you can leave school after you are 17 in The Netherlands; you must stay in school until you are 18 in The Netherlands. I believe the answer is you must stay in school until you are 16 (it's complicated as you'll see if you research the ages for compulsory education - it depends on if you have the skills to start a job or something and you can go to school 1 day a week when you're 17, etc. - google netherland compulsory education and you'll see lots of seemingly conflicting info from either government, expat or even education/school sites).
Q8 Is the CITO test binding? The answer is no, it is used with advice from the teachers, but the parents decide.
Q9: Mo’s daughter Malika has her bicycle stolen. Part of the aangifte fietsdiefsal form displayed. Which do you put in the “other distinguishing characteristics box”? (something I did not recognize, but which I choose because the other two did not fit; Gazelle – which is incorrect, that is not a distinct characteristic of the bike, that is the “merk” or make of the bike, and is already displayed in the field immediately above this blank field on the form anyway; 3rd option might have been something like the location or something else which is clearly incorrect).
Q10: Mo calls the police to report the bike theft, he understands he can report it via the internet (this is an audio recording). The question is a bit tricky: according to the phone call, what does Mo select to aangifte fietsdiefstal: something about internet security; select aangifte fiesdiefsal; provide his name & address. In the recording, the policeman tells him to select aangifte fietsdiefstal from the right-hand side of the webpage. It’s a bit counter-intuitive because the question basically tells you what he needs to do. I thought it might be a trick so listened to the audio to double-check that he wasn’t told to provide his name & address.
Q11: What does Mo select on the form to indicate he wants to follow the case and be informed if the thief is caught? I know this because I downloaded a sample form (from Belgium) on the web the night before in case this question came up. I know you can file a report on the www.politie.nl but I was afraid if I played around with the site, I might accidentally end up filing a report (I once bought a boat that way – but that’s a different story!). You can find that form here: http://www.kuleuven.be/velo/pdf/aangifteformulierfietsdiefstal_2012.pdf It’s not the same form referred to in the test, of course, but it does provide specific phrases which you can identify and hang on to for the questions that might come up (like the bike’s description or “beschrijving” and “....de hoogte te worden ....” to be kept informed). I don’t remember the 3 answer options, only the one I selected, which more or less stated something like, “te hoogte....”.
Q12: A neighbour has a problem with his shed – it catches fire. Another neighbour is upset, what does the 1st neighbour say? (it’s not clear that Mo or any of the usual suspects are involved this time, but that doesn’t matter!). 3 options again, the answer, is apologize, of course!
Q13: The daughter has a work placement interview, so will need to be absent from school. Which of 3 letters is the one her mother must send to the school? This requires reading the letters and selecting the one with the appropriate politeness. I don’t remember the details precisely, but one trick is to look at the greetings and salutations at the beginning of each letter (reject any that are too informal, such as addressing the principal only by their first name, etc.
Q14: The daughter also needs to write to her teacher or to the school. I think it was an e-mail, but don’t remember, and I don’t recall the scenario, but again, like the question above, it’s about selecting version with the appropriate level of politeness, etc. It’s not difficult to identify the ones that don’t fit if you carefully scrutinize the greeting & salutation as a first step, and then if that’s not enough, the text itself. In both of these types of questions, also look at the instructions which set up the scenario for further clues (i.e. whether the full name of the principal/teacher is mentioned or if they are referred to as “Dhr. Smit”, etc.).
I am afraid I don’t recall the rest of the questions – I passed the test, receiving my certificate in the mail about 1 week later.
I’ve assembled a list of all of the scenarios and questions/answers I found on various forums and documents as part of my preparations for the test (as you’ll see, some are duplicated by my own experiences). The questions and answers are as indicated by the original posters and may not necessarily be accurate (i.e. they aren't my own answers, just what I've seen other people post), so best to double-check as part of your own review & preparation process - remember, in many instances, the answer is a bit tricky. I don't know if it's best to not "over-think" the situation and look for exceptions, or to make those exceptions the rule...
Theme: Culture, Norms & Civic Life
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Boyfriend & girlfriend live in a condominium. They agree to visit the neighbour for dinner but the girl falls ill on that day.
Question: What should they do?
Answer: call the neighbour and explain that the girl is ill, offer their excuses and pass on the visit (incorrect answers: sorry tonight is not good; not go without saying anything; to go regardless of the illness)
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Friends on a balcony say “wij gaan eten”.
Question: What does this mean, are you invited or not? What is your reply?
Answer choices (sure we will come; sorry we can’t come but next time; have a good time)
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. A neighbour has died.
Question: What should they do?
Answer: send a condolence card (incorrect answers: stay away; offer to help with the funeral arrangements)
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Your child is celebrating their 12th birthday and is throwing a party.
Question: What should be done?
Answer: put up a note saying that a party will be organized, that it will last until this-or-that hour, and that neighbours are asked to be patient during the time (incorrect answers are: do nothing; send a letter to all the neighbours requesting written permission to organize the party)
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. How to interact with your neighbours, if there is an issue and how best to resolve it
Scenario: having a party at your house and how to interact with the neighbours; herrie maken met je muziek en klagende buren
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Your neighbour has just had a child.
Question: Will you go visit immediately, send a card or do nothing?
Answer: send a card
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Mo has a problem with his shed. The neighbour is angry about it. The shed catches fire and the neighbour is afraid their house will catch fire too.
Question: What should Mo say to the neighbour?
Answer: He should apologize and promise it won’t happen again.
Scenario: Dealing with neighbours. Two neighbours are fighting (literally throwing punches).
Question: What should Mo do?
Answer: Call the police (incorrect answers are: go separate them alone/by himself; collect a couple of other large neighbours and try to separate them)
Scenario: Dutch holidays (should read & memorize dates & meanings of the dates)
Question: not specified
Scenario: Dutch holidays. May 4 & 5 (May 5: Bevrijdingsdag). A foreign woman and her husband are visiting their friends and on the TV is something about Bevrijdingsdag.
Question: The woman asks the other, why do the Dutch observe two minutes of silence?
Answer: The Dutch give a lot of value to their freedom (incorrect answers include Nederlanders hebben nooit de Duitsers vergeven voor de tweede orloog; Nederlanders hebben zijn in een vrije dag)
Question: Dutch holidays. Why do we celebrate Bevridingsdag?
Answer: To show freedom is still important to us
Scenario: Dutch holidays. May 4 & 5 (May 5: Bevrijdingsdag)
Question: Is interesting in May 4 growing or shrinking?
Answer: Growing
Scenario: Dutch holidays. A neighbour invites someone on April 29 to come with her the next day (April 30) into town for a party.
Question: Which holiday does she mean?
Answer: Koningennedag (Queen’s Day) (incorrect answers: Pasen/Easter, Kerstmis)
Scenario: Birthdays. It is Jan’s birthday and their friends come and congratulate Hanna. Hanna is confused why she is being congratulated.
Question: Why was the lady congratulating her?
Answer: it is Dutch custom to wish you and congratulate you if it is the birthday of your children, spouse, etc. (incorrect answers: it was a mistake; the lady was congratulating her about the fact she married a great guy who had his birthday today)
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. How to register a newborn child; what papers are needed and what last name the child may take
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. Ali (or Mo) goes into his garden and sees it is small and that there is a shed and wants to extend it (expand his schuurtje or schuur).
Question: What must he do? What does he need to put in a request for?
Answer: needs a vergunning from the gemeente
Answer: there is a form with some details for the gemeente; one of the options is ticked for “extending” – this is the correct form (incorrect answers are for “rebuilding”, making a veranda, etc.)
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. Extending your shed and getting a permit
Question: Which box do you fill in?
Answer: Making shed larger box
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. Extending your shed and getting a permit
Question: What happens if you leave something out of your form?
Answer: You will hear from them in 4 weeks
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. Extending your shed and getting a permit
Question: What type of permit do you need?
Answer: one option includes you do not know it depends on the specific conditions and site
Scenario: Dealing with the Gemeente. Mo is at the gemeente. There is a question about drunken driving and he is paying a fine for it.
Scenario: Misc. How to handle power outages or issues with your house
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination.
Answer: People are allowed to say whatever they want as long as they do not discriminate against others.
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination. There is a rap song.
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination. Public displays of affection and how a person should respond to it.
Question: Mo sees a couple (boy & girl) kissing in a shop. How should he react?
Answer: He should do nothing. It is not his business.
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination. Mo sees his neighbour with a short skirt in her own garden.
Question: What should Mo say?
Answer: He should say nothing. It is not his business.
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination. Mo notices his neighbours are not actually married.
Question: What should Mo say?
Answer: He should say nothing.
Scenario: Freedom of expression, opinion, religion, non-discrimination. Gay marriage (homohuwelijk). Mo listens to the radio and hears about gay marriage.
Question: What is gay marriage (homohuwelijk)?
Answer: A marriage between two men or two women.
Scenario: Naturalization. Mo and his wife want to become Dutch. The family goes to the Gemeente and asks for information about naturalization. There are questions about the Optie procedure for naturalisatie (antwoord in het tekst).
Question: Is it possible for them to do it with the “optie process”?
Answer: in the text (also see www.ind.nl about naturalization process)
Scenario: Elections & voting. There is an election for the gemeente and Mo is in Morocco.
Question: What should Mo do?
Answer options: Send a letter to vote; as your friend to vote for you; other (answer in the text)
Scenario: Elections & voting.
Question: Why does Mo want to vote?
Answer: in the video
Scenario: Elections & voting. Mo goes voting and his friend asks whether he has to vote too.
Question: Can Mo’s friend vote, too?
Answer options: Voting is an obligation in Netherlands; Mo’s colleagues vote so he has to vote, too; we decide altogether
Scenario: Elections & voting. Mo’s friend Fatosh who lives in Rotterdam has a French passport.
Question: Can Fatosh vote in the EU elections?
Answer: She is French (an EU-member) so yes she can
Scenario: EU and Netherlands Government
Question: not specified
Theme: History, Politics & Economy
Scenario: Friends are sitting in front of TV watching the news. Various news pieces are heard. There is a piece about the introduction of the Euro currency in the European Union.
Question: Since what year can you use the Euro to pay for good in a supermarket?
Answer: Jan 1, 2002
Scenario: Political questions regarding trading with other countries; the position of the Dutch government in world finance
Question: not specified
Scenario:
There is a video about the European Union.
Question: Why was the European Union founded?
Scenario:
There is video about the USA-Netherlands relationship.
Question: What is the relationship between the USA and The Netherlands?
Answer (heard in the piece)
Scenario: Anti-semitism in The Netherlands during World War 2.
Scenario: There is a video about the fate of the Jews during WW 2.
Question: Were the Jews persecuted in The Netherlands during that time?
Scenario: Decolonization of the Netherlands empire (recorded text)
Question: What were the reasons the colonies became independent?
Scenario: Decolonization.
Question: How did decolonization start?
Scenario: Decolonization.
Question: About Nederland Indie and about the decolonization process.
Scenario: VOC
Question: What did they do? What was their main purpose?
Answer: trade (incorrect answers: make war; build ships)
Scenario: Dutch history from 16th & 17th centuries and the Dutch colonial empire (trading & slavery)
Scenario: Cultural history. Ali and his wife have visitors from Turkey or Morocco. Ali takes his friend to the Rijksmuseum. They are at the museum and the visitor is asking Ali questions about utch history by looking at the guide book they have picked up.
Questions: several related to Dutch history & culture.
Theme: Health & Child Care
Scenario: Health (Gezond). Mother and daughter sit in the kitchen. Topic is gezond eten (healthy eating or diet). They talk about the importance of breakfast.
Scenario: Health (Gezond). Mother and daughter talk about doing sports at school and becoming a member of a club at school.
Scenario: Health (Gezond). Daughter reads an article about health.
Question: How many calories does she require daily?
Answer: In the text.
Scenario: Women’s menstrual cycles, pregnancy, birth and immunizations of newborn children
Scenario: Health. Hanna visits the verloskundige (midwife). Hanna is pregnant and goes to the midwife clinic for a check-up. There is a conversation between then.
Question: when should she set up her first echo gram?
Answer: in the first visit itself (answer in the text)
Scenario: Health. Midwife and Hanna talk about making an appointment at the ziekenhuis.
Question: possibly about when to make an appointment at the hospital
Scenario: Consultatiebureau vaccination. A side effect can be fever.
Question: What do you ask?
Answer: What should I do if fever is too high?
Scenario: email from a mother that her child cries a lot.
Question: What should she do?
Answer: Contact the consultatiebureau
Scenario: Kraamhulp
Question: What does kraamhulp do when they visit in the first week of having a new baby?
Answer: Take blood and check hearing (answers in the recorded conversation)
Scenario: Kinderopvang (childcare) when you are on kraamverlof (maternity leave)
Question: Amal just delivered her 3rd baby and she is on kraamverlof (maternity leave). Can she get kinderopvangtoeslag?
Answer options: the employer always pays 1/3; the government’s payments depend on the salary of Amal; no, she receives nothing.
Scenario: Mo lives on social security and wants to take his son to a crèche.
Question: Who pays for this?
Scenario: Ouderschapsverlof (parental leave = 26 weeks or 26 x your weekly hours, up to 3 months until the child is 8); taken in consultation with employer
Scenario: Healthcare Insurance (zorgverzekering)
Question: What type of insurance is mandatory?
Answer: Only health insurance or zorgverzekering is mandatory (3 types of insurance are listed).
Scenario: Child care. A woman’s work hours don’t coincide with the school.
Question: Where can she send her children?
Theme: Education
Scenario: School attendance. The daughter cannot go to school one day.
Question: Which letter (3 examples) is the most polite?
Scenario: Compulsory education. The daughter wants to quit school at 17.
Question: What does her father say?
Scenario: Text is shown about schools in Den Haag.
Question: At what age is school compulsory?
Scenario: Types of education. Differences between VMBO, HBO, MBO, VWO, WO
Question: What type of education is HAVO?
Answer: Voortgezet Onderwijs
Question: What is the difference between HBO and Universiteit?
Scenario: Types of education. A mother enrols their child for HAVO. The form requires us to fill in which education level HAVO belongs to.
Question: Which education level does HAVO belong to?
Answer: HAVO is a middle school (incorrect answers are basisschool, hogeschool, special school)
Scenario: Types of education. Types of studies at the AOC. AOC is Agrarirische Opleidings Centra for MBO Opleidingen in the green sector: milieu, landbouw, voeding en natuur.
Scenario: Types of education. Daughter wants to become a veterinary assistant.
Question: Does she go to the ROC or to an AOC for a veterinary assistant training?
Scenario: Types of education. Related to types of training available at the ROC.
Scenario: Student financing & tuition. The cost of university/higher school studies
Question: Name the most expensive school or determine that there is no difference.
Answer: WO is more expensive than Hoger Onderwijs
Question: Are tuition fees the same for HBO and university in The Netherlands?
Scenario: Student financing & tuition. The parents are applying for a subsidy for the child’s tuition.
Question: Are they required to repay the subsidy?
Answer choices: (yes, no, partially)
Scenario: Student financing & tuition. A mother is looking for financial aid for their child’s tuition. A website shows instructions how to fill a form.
Question: How should she send the filled-in form?
Answer (the answer is contained in the excerpt from the website)
Scenario: The CITO test.
Question: Is the CITO binding advice or as a parent can you deviate from this advice?
Theme: Housing, Money & Banking
Scenario: Buying a house
Question: Where do you look?
Answer: In the newspaper/magazine
Question: Where do you get more information about a house advertised for sale?
Answer: On the internet
Question: Why use a makelaar?
Question: Where do you sign the purchase contract?
Answer: At the notaris
Scenario: Husband and wife are talking about a new apartment for themselves and for their daughter.
Question: What apartment do they need?
Answer: Three room (incorrect answers include two room; many bedroom)
Note: In The Netherlands, living room & bedrooms are included in the # of “kamers”, so the correct answer is probably a 3-room apartment.
Scenario: Renting a house
Question: How do you find a rental house?
Answer: look in the newspaper (other answer option is inscrijven bij en wonen corporaties)
Scenario: A boyfriend and girlfriend are looking for a new apartment.
Question: How do they find a new apartment?
Answer: they read the advertisements in the newspapers (incorrect answers are: asking the neighbours; wandering the city and looking around)
Scenario: Renting a house
Question: Social housing has too long a waiting list so then what do you do?
Answer: Vrijsector housing
Scenario: Mo and Amal have a house from the housing association (woningstichting).
Question: If the rental cost exceeds their benefit payment (uitkering), what will happen or what are their options?
Scenario: A girl wants to fill an online form for either renting or buying a house. The website has several user categories and the girl must choose which of the categories applies.
Scenario: A girl fills an online form. The data in the form must be entered in the correct format (such as phone number entered without dashes - geen streepjes - birthdate in DD-MM-YYYY format, etc.)
Question: Which of 3 examples of filled in forms is correct?
Answer: Look at the data on the forms to ensure the correct format (no dashes!)
Scenario: Mortgages. Mortgage interest payment deductions from taxes (voice). You can deduct monthly or annually. Jan says what are the advantages of monthly deduction and Hana asks what are the disadvantages of annual deduction.
Question: what are the disadvantages of annual deduction?
Answer: You can’t use the money until the end of the year (incorrect options are: you don’t know until end of the year how much you can deduct; some other option)
Scenario: Mortgages. If you have a hypotheek you can use that to pay less tax.
Question: How do you pay less tax?
Answer: Deduct from your brutto salary (incorrect answers: deduct from your netto salary; deduct from your tax)
Scenario: Loans. Mo must offer his house as a guarantee in order to get a loan from the bank for the new company.
Question: What happens if the loan is not paid on time?
Answer: the bank insists that the house is sold (incorrect answer options are: the bank becomes the owner of the house; some other option)
Scenario: How to fill in an acceptgiro when paying bills
Question: Which form has been filled in correctly based on the details provided in the text
Theme: Special Situations (Police Report, dealing with the Gemeente, Domestic Violence, etc.)
Scenario: reporting a crime, how to describe what happened, forms you need to fill in and how to work with the police
Scenario:
Malika’s fiets is stolen and aangifte (reported) to the politie. Mo talks to the police on the phone and fills in a form on the internet.
Question: What to fill “ter hoog” field in form?
Question: What to fill in “special features” box?
Question: What option to choose if you want politie to contact you on the progress of the case?
Scenario: Huislijk geweld (Domestic violence). Long 3 paragraphs of legal description on the right of collecting damages in case of severe domestic violence. In 2nd paragraph in parenthesis it is mentioned you may also collect for psychological abuse. A newspaper article is presented describing family violence and reporting of such cases.
Question: can you collect damages if you are a victim of psychological abuse?
Answer: Yes, but you need to show proof (incorrect options are: no, the damages are only paid for physical abuse; and yes, psychological abuse is punishable by law therefore you get compensated)
Question: Who reports the most cases of family violence?
Answer: The families (answer is in the text).
Theme: Employment
Scenario: Looking for work. Applying for a job, going for an interview, what to say in an interview and what to ask/say when leaving the interview or job
Scenario: Looking for work. Mo’s friend Jan is without a job.
Question: Where does he look for job ads?
Answer: in the newspapers in the “job ads” section
Scenario: Looking for work. There is a job listing/advertisement. It says they are looking for someone who can speak English. Applicants are advised to contact the company via email.
Question: Jan (or Ali) is not sure of his English skills. He is learning it. What should he write in e-mail?
Answer: (third option) Jan’s (or Ali’s) email asks if it is sensible that he applies for the job despite his lack of English skills but that he is learning it (incorrect answers include: I refuse to speak English)
Scenario: Looking for work. Jan is reading an ad.
Question: Which paragraph relates to presatiegericht (performance oriented)?
Answer: selling all the old and new autos
Scenario: Looking for work. About applying for a job (via e-mail). More about the tone and type of language to be used (i.e. “uw” instead of “je”, etc.).
Scenario: Looking for work. Looking at a job ad.
Question: Which paragraph says knowledge of computers is important.
Answer: It is mentioned in the answer options (no need to read the text).
Scenario: Looking for work. Questions about the CWI.
Question: How does the CWI assist people?
Scenario: Looking for work. Ali goes to the CWI but his friend tells him that he should also register himself with an Uitzendbureau.
Question: What should Ali say about this idea?
Scenario: CAO and employee rights
Question: about what falls within the authority of the CAO
Scenario: CAO and employee rights
Question: Who is covered (all workers or only those in a vakbond)?
Scenario: Vakbond. Mo is speaking with his colleagues about the benefits of a vakbond and telling them why they should be part of one. One of Mo’s colleagues asks about the benefits or how it helps workers.
Question: What can Mo say?
Answer: they provide advice on work matters and negotiate the CAO
Scenario: Vakbond. It appears that tax is not being properly deducted from a colleague’s paycheque.
Question: Can the vakbond help?
Scenario: Loon/Wages
Question: Why are premies and belasting taken out of your wages?
Answer in the recorded text
Scenario: Starting a business. 4 paragraphs from the KvK rulebook are presented.
Question: Which paragraph says that the KvK helps new businesses?
Scenario: Starting a business. Mo wants to start his own computer winkel.
Question: Which paragraphs say Kennis met Computerwinkel (marketing, finance or organization)?
Question: The Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) asks him to submit a few items. One of them is a description of the target group of customers. What should he write about the target group?
Answer: The target group are people using computers at home (incorrect answer options are: I don’t know what my target group is; what do you care what my target group is)
Question: Who does Mo talk to in order to start a company?
Answer: the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK)
Theme: Environment
Scenario: Deltawerken (recorded text)
Question: What happened to the nature and environment?
Answer choices (better; worse; people disagree)
Question: What did the people of Zeeland think about it?
Question: How did the people of Zeeland react?
Question: How did Deltawerken help Zeeland?
Question: How did Zeeland benefit from it?
Again the caveat that you should check the possible answers for correctness yourself (I have no idea if other people remembered the scenarios correctly, or the answer choices either, of course), but I hope the above consolidation is helpful - and good luck!
Hi expatican - sorry, I come from a long line of paper shredders - anything I no longer use or need hits the old circular file pretty quickly.
I did find the process of reading, typing and then doing the translations an invaluable part of the learning process - and really recommend that if your language level isn't all that high (remember, the KVT is B1-level versus A2 for the "normal" inburgering tests). Perhaps you can find 2nd hand copies of the books online or at the bibliotheek. Otherwise, Bagage is available either on http://www.bol.com/nl/p/nederlandse-boeken/bagage-druk-6/1001004010996413/index.html or http://www.intertaal.nl/WshWebShop/WshArticle/tabid/313/articleId/758/Default.aspx for €22.50.
You can find pdf versions of the sample tests on the Bagage website (in Dutch, of course). If you want to, you can use the old CTRL + A , CTRL + C and CTRL +V to select and paste these into google translate as well, it's up to you. You may find this google search an easy way to find them all in one go:
http://www.google.nl/search?&as_sitesearch=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coutinho.nl%2Fbagage&=&as_filetype=pdf
(sorry, can't get the site to accept the full link, above, so you'll have to copy & paste it into your browser)
I wanted to benchmark myself before I started my studying (but after my Dutch lessons which got me to about an A2 language level), so when I got about 90-95% on the 50 self-test questions at the beginning of the Bagage book I was feeling pretty confident. Yippee, no problemo! Uh, no. That was misleading, not only because the tests in the latter part of the book were more specific (most of which I couldn't answer now because I can't remember the ins and outs of what was going on in the 1600's... not that those came up in my KVT, mind you), but also because I found the actual KVT itself much more difficult (remember, according to government statistics, the pass rate, while improving slightly since 2008, is still only about 40%).
I think it would be pretty common to get 90-100% on the tests in Bagage and still fail the KVT primarily because the KVT isn't comprised of 30 clear questions followed by choice of 3 single-word multiple choice answers.
The KVT questions are either tricky, or the answers you choose from, which are often about 25-word sentences, are tricky enough that 2 of the 3 seem plausible. Furthermore, if you have limited Dutch language skills, you may find the number of plausible answers actually increases to 3 out of 3 (ha!). I found myself in that position on a few questions...
In cases where the question refers to an article, I'd read the question carefully to identify the key words they are looking for, and then quickly scan the article for that word(s). Bingo! That's the short-cut to identifying how many calories are required for a girl or who reports the most incidents of domestic violence to the authorities, etc. without struggling (and wasting valuable minutes) through a whole 7 paragraph letter written in B1-level Dutch.
So, to have a reasonable shot at passing the KVT, you need to build up your level of the Dutch language well enough that you think you'll be able to understand the questions, or at the very least identify the correct answers (i.e. maybe you can't understand the question, but in reading 3 answers you can somehow either identify the correct one or else dismiss the two incorrect ones). And to do that, you're probably going to require knowledge of some arcane societal & cultural norms, as well as how to find housing, get a mortgage, dealing with your employer, etc., etc, as per the subjects outlined in my previous post. You can improve your odds by having a test-taking strategy (i.e. monitoring your progress so you don't run out of time, looking for key words & phrases, only relying on the video/audio if strictly required, etc.) and hopefully using the same logic the test-makers used when coming up with those tricky Q&A's (!). So, language and subject-matter knowledge combined. No real short-cut other than figuring how to get all of that into your brain (and out again) the quickest.
I really recommend downloading the software to run the full sample KVT & the Praktijk tests on your PC (links provided in one of my earlier posts) so you get an idea of the language level, etc. Remember, not just the 2 sample questions, but the full 30-question versions of several of these exams. If you can't hit at least 90% on these, you're likely to have trouble on the actual exam (I say 90% even though the KVT pass rate is lower because you're going to have a bit more pressure and chances are you'll get unlucky and your version of the test will included a few questions with more complicated text or letters than in these examples).
If your objective is to build up your vocabulary & comprehension, you may find Kom Verder a bit too basic both in terms of content and in language. I found it a good first step initially, but quickly outgrew it as my Dutch improved. I have to say I found it rather ironic that the book's protagonist is a Brazilian woman, and that she is correcting her Dutch husband on the ways to act in Dutch society (i.e. not to use the old broom handle on the ceiling if the neighbours are too loud). They have the first chapter available on their website at: http://www.komverder.nl/images/les_1.pdf
I picked up the three books (with CD's, which I couldn't get to work on 2 laptops) Op weg, Onderweg and Wegwijzer at intertaal (link above). They progress in difficulty in the order I've listed them. Op weg is very basic. But my strategy was to absorb and take as many tests in as many formats as possible in advance of the real KVT. The sample forms & letters in Onderweg are good for understanding how some letters might be written (when you do the KVT you may have to read from a sample form or letter) and Wegwijzer is okay, too. They have a very simple format which is good, but you'll have to be careful that doesn't lead to over-confidence.
If you cram so you cover the basic subjects covered by the inburgering process and then develop and stick to your own strategy for taking the test, you've got a good shot at passing, IMHO. And, I think it's certainly worth an €81 gamble to avoid a lengthier, more involved and more costly process.
I took the darn test on April 10, 2012.
Guess what. The first questions surround healthy diet, nutrition.
I was overwhelmed, as these articles and audio fragments are things I have never prepared for.
I've also got a few questions about how to fill out an 'aangifte' form with the police. A little girl's bike is stolen near her school. The father calls the police. One question is this "What do you fill out in the column 'ter hoogte van'"? Should choose school. I got it wrong. Why can he do the 'aangifte' online? The answer is in the audio clip.
Some more questions about extending 'schuur' and what kind of vergunning you should get.
4 Mei herdenking. Why do Dutch people hold two minutes of silence on 4 Mei. To pay respect to the military that fought in WWII. Or to pay respect to the Dutch victims who starved in WWII?
Some stupid questions about freedom of speech and gay rights.
Let me know if anyone needs more details of the questions I got.
yichenlee said:
I took the darn test on April 10, 2012.
Guess what. The first questions surround healthy diet, nutrition.
I was overwhelmed, as these articles and audio fragments are things I have never prepared for.
I've also got a few questions about how to fill out an 'aangifte' form with the police. A little girl's bike is stolen near her school. The father calls the police. One question is this "What do you fill out in the column 'ter hoogte van'"? Should choose school. I got it wrong. Why can he do the 'aangifte' online? The answer is in the audio clip.
Some more questions about extending 'schuur' and what kind of vergunning you should get.
4 Mei herdenking. Why do Dutch people hold two minutes of silence on 4 Mei. To pay respect to the military that fought in WWII. Or to pay respect to the Dutch victims who starved in WWII?
Some stupid questions about freedom of speech and gay rights.
Let me know if anyone needs more details of the questions I got.
hallo yichenlee , thanks for sharing your experience and some sample questions... i think you are the latest you take this exam, and i am going to take on june 15, 2012, i hope you can share some more details about the questions... please... i need it... im very nervous already because my husband says i can take only once.... thanks anyway and looking forward for your reply...
grace
yichenlee said:
Hi Grace, here are the questions I can remember, besides the ones I posted already. Group 1. Healthy diet. Mom explains to her daughter why breakfast is important. a. What should daughter reply? b.What is the best way to keep fit. Answer: to exercise a bit in daily activities. ex. take the stairs and not use the lift. c.How many calories are recommended for women. Answer in the article: 2000 calories. d. Is sugar recommended for healthy diet? Answer in the article. Group 2: For extending 'schuur' a. which box should he choose? Schuur vergroten. b. What kind of vergunning should he get? Depends on his situation. c. What happens after the application. You will hear from the Gemeente in 6 weeks. Group 3: Child and day care. a.To sign up for a space in the daycare, which group is one-year-old baby in? baby group, peuter group or kleuter group. Answer: baby group. b.Another child in basisschool, but the mom has to work, where can she sign him in? Buitensschoolse opvang. c.Can she get bijstand benefits from government? Depends on her salary. BTW, on April 14 somebody compiled a list of all possible scenarios. Check it out and good luck!
yichenlee, thank you so very much... this can help me a lot... greetings
morted said:
Hello everybody! Thanks guys! You shared some valuable experiences about this exam! Does anyone know the right answer to the following question? 1) Mo is at home. He hears two guys fighting outside. What should he do? a- Call the police b- Go outside and yell at them c- Call a strong friend and fight with them 8. two neighbors are fighting -call the police -Collect a couple of others and try to separate them - go outside and separate them alone They have such a ridiculous exam to evaluate our Dutch knowledge ;-) anyway Thanks a lot!
I answered "Collect a couple of others and try to separate them" based on logic that: a. they are neighbors, so you sort of know them, b. if we wait until police get to the scene, someone might get seriously hurt. c. since it is a group involvement in the Dutch 'Polderen' tradition, people might be amenable to a friendly neighborhood intervention :-)
I passed the exam, but I am not sure if my answer is correct.
This question bothered me so much that I actually went to two separate police stations in Amsterdam, you know what? THEY didn't know the correct answer!! After a couple minutes of deliberations amongst themselves, they hesitantly suggested "Call Police" is the answer :-)
I am not sure if there is way to find the real answer, calling DUO?
Katekate said:
-Overall, I kind of felt like I cheated, knowing all I did from this forum, but then, in the end, I am pretty happy to know all this stuff. It's kind of interesting to understand the education, work scene, etc and how it works so, either way, mission accomplished from the Staat's perspective.
I am not sure why you feel that you 'cheated'? I thought the goal of the IND is to educate new immigrants about Dutch culture, institutions and basic legal rights & responsibilities. KVT is not a competitive exam, like GRE or GMAT where you knowing the questions will rob some other candidate of going to college.
After preparing for KVT, I know more than my native Dutch colleagues. Most of them will fail KVT :-))
I am very happy I prepared for the KVT, but it could have been more easier and fun. I don't understand why doesn't IND just give prepartion material and ask questions from there and why the test is crammed into 45min time limit?
For US citizenship exam, I think you get a book with 200 questions and the exam contains 10 questions from the book. That is it!
BTW, Congratulations!
Katekate said:
1. Hanna and Jan want to buy a house but they’re afraid it will be too expensive (or something). Hanna suggests they meet with a makelaar. What should Jan say: -Good idea, I hear the first visit is free (I chose this, don’t know if it was right – does anyone know??) -No, we shouldn’t until we’re sure we want to buy a house -That will be really expensive (or something else wrong) 2. Jan and Hanna are talking about getting financing for a house. Hanna works as a nurse and Jan has an uitkering. What should Jan say: -Talk to the bank about their options (yep) -Wait, do nothing -The bank knows I’ll find a good job soon so we should be able to get a lot of money 3. Jan and Hanna want a new apartment with their daughter. What kind of apartment do they need? -2 room – one for them and one for daughter -Many rooms -At least 3 rooms (this one) 4. Jan got a letter from the woningcorporatie which she doesn’t understand. She calls to have them explain (audio – challenging). She says, so when will I get the apartment? I’m pretty sure her letter was saying there was an available apartment. -It depends on her income and family situation -It depends on how long she’s been on the waiting list -When she sends back the letter saying yes, she’d like the apartment (I chose this) 5. Jan and Hanna are discussing the long wait with the woningcorporaties. Hanna says there’s another option – vrijsector makelaars. It’s more expensive, but in any case they need a place to live. She’ll go to the library and look on their internet about the different woningcorporaties. I may not have understood this all correctly because this didn’t really make sense. What should Jan respond? -That’s all? -Sure, I agree -But, you said that’s a long waiting time, right? (I chose this) 6. Daughter is graduating from VMBO – can she go direct to HBO? -Yes, via the WO (wrong) -Yes, directly (wrong) -Yes, via MBO then HBO (correct) 7. Daughter wants an administrative job, but would also like to assist with animals. Where can she go to find a job to work with horses? Read descriptions of ROC, AOC, and some youth assistance program that is more like an advising agency. This was hard because the descriptions didn’t really say. -ROC (described as more general, academic) -AOC (for nature, food, environment – career-oriented) I chose this -The wrong thing 8. Hanna and Jan are talking about the relative advantages and disadvantages of monthly mortgage interest deduction (hypotheekenrenteaftrek). Jan says the advantages, Hanna says what are the disadvantages? -You can’t use the amount monthly (yes) -You’ll get it all back at once and what would you do with it? -You won’t know how much you get 9. Hanna and Jan finally bought their house. Are they done? No, one more step. They have to sign the papers at the: -Notaris (right) -Bank -Makelaar or something wrong 10. At the consultatiebureau the baby is getting a vaccination. She might get thirsty or cry or something and that’s fine, but you only need to be concerned if she gets a fever. What is the correct response? -How much should she drink? -Something else wrong -What should I do if the fever is too high? (yes) 11. Friend writes an email about her wonderful new baby, but it cries so much, what should she do? -Call the gynecologist -Call the kinderarts -Go to open hours at the consultatiebureau (correct) 12. Ali or someone is talking with his friends about the vakbond, and if they are members can they tell him why so much is taken out of his wages? -It’s a mistake – they will get it back for you -Something wrong about the vakbond suing for you or something -It’s salary taxes and premies that are taken out (correct, this is normal) 13. Ali talking with his friends again about vakbond – what’s the advantage? -You need to be a member if you want to be on the board -You can’t get fired if you’re a member -They can help with you with work-related legal matters (correct) 14. Talking with friends – why do you vote? -Everyone at work does -Voting is how we participate in deciding (correct) -Voting is a requirement in Holland 15. Fatoush is French, can she vote in the EU elections? I would have thought no, but the video clip says she can since she has a valid EU passport. But here is the tricky thing: the answer choices are: -Yes, because the Netherlands is part of the EU (this is true, but irrelevant to the question) -Yes, but she must be 18 (correct, it was stated specifically in the audio clip – you must be meerderjarig) -No, she needs a Dutch passport 16. Mo is in Morokko for the gemeenterad election. Voting is important to him and his friend with an equally middle-eastern name. Paragraph describes the procedures, basically you can authorize a friend, for some elections (tweede Kamer and EU) you can send a letter, or vote in another wijk (village, I think?) if you have permission from the mayor. Something also about if you live in another country, relating to letter or embassy voting but either way that was misleading. Send your friend. I assume they mean he knew enough to plan ahead with the letter and making it official and all. I was afraid to assume this. -Yes, send a friend (correct) -Send a letter -Go to the consulate in Morokko 17. Discussing guy whose wife is about to have a baby – can he also get Ouderschafsverlof? Text explains it, so you don’t have to know this, but basically your CAO can modify the law but can’t reduce the minimum you’re allowed. So: -Yes, he and his wife can both take it if they meet the requirements (yes) -Better check the CAO (no) -No, because his wife isn’t taking maternity or ouderschafsverlof (no) 18. (Audio) What does the audio say about the CAO and non-vakbond members? Answer choices are other things the audio said, so be careful. This is in reference to what is asked. -You have to be a member of the vakbond to influence the CAO -CAO applies to everyone (yes) -Something else that was said, but the wrong answer 19. Jan and Hanna are invited to dinner, but then Hanna gets sick. She feels badly because her friend has already made dinner. Should they: -Call and say tonight isn’t good afterall -Call and say they’re sorry, Hanna is sick, and can they reschedule? (correct) -Go anyway 20. Neighbor complains about loud music. Guy turns it down, but then thinks, is there something else I should do or say? -No, they’ve only lived here 2 months and that’s not long enough to complain anyway -Ask if there were other instances of the music being bothersome (correct) -Send flowers and a card to apologize 21. Daughter gets a letter from school saying she’s been truant too much and will have to leave school if this continues. She says this is a mistake and she will write a letter to the headmaster. Pick the appropriate letter. This is super easy – just look at the salutations. -Hi (first name), thanks, girl (No) -Geachte Dhr so and so, vriendelijke groeten, etc (yes) -Another less polite version 22. Daughter wants to have 12th bday party with disco music. Pick the appropriate letter to the neighbors. Check salutations for level of politeness (not impolite, but not formal either): -Attention neighbors: We’ll have a party, we’d like your written permission -Dear neighbors, party times, etc, please let us know if you have concerns or complaints (obvious) -Yo neighbors, party until 11, if you have problems after that it’s not us 23. What does the somebody do when they come after the birth. Answer is in the text – heel prick, if you hear nothing everything is fine. Also do a hearing test. -Take blood and check hearing (correct) -Take blood and give a bewijs -Something else not right 24. Jan and Hanna want to look for a new apartment. Where should they look? -Ask neighbors if they are moving -Walk around and look -Check the paper (yes) 25. Guy is starting a new company and has gone to the KvK. Which paragraph says the KvK can help new businesses? Answer in text. Para 1: KvK checks your legal stuff. Para 2: KvK can help you with advice and things Para 3: KvK also helps local economy -Para 2 (correct) 26. Which section is where he can make clear that kennis met computerwinkel is important? (Read plan outline) This is kind of tricky, but only one had anything to do with computers -Marketing (correct) -Budget (was about where he’ll get money, finances only) -Administrative (was about applying for permits) 27. Guy starting computerwinkel – what is his competitive advantage? 3 paragraphs, and one was professional and the other two were kind of whiny -“Advantage is our professionalism and broad selection in addition to unique home service” (I think this is correct) -We will have more variety for less cost than other stores that have less and charge more -Other stores in my neighborhood are really bad and ours will be better than that 28. Guys are at a verzekeringfair and his friend goes off about what is written and how offensive it is. His friend explains that in the Netherlands there is freedom of speech, his friend says what does this mean: -In the Netherlands you can write whatever you want even if it discriminates (wrong, I think, although would be true in many other democracies) -In the Netherlands you don’t need permission to write what you want, but if it discriminates you can go to a judge (I think this is right – I chose this, but then read about it after and strangely, I still think it’s right. There is a contradiction in NL law about freedom of speech and you can be held accountable if your discriminatory remarks bother the wrong people at the wrong time. Someone, please comment if you know differently.) -In the Netherlands you’re encouraged to write nasty things about people you don’t like 29. I think the last question was a text about CAO and which paragraph says something about something (choose paragraph 1, 2 or 3). But I can’t remember it!
Hallo Katekate,
thank you so very much from your post, this gonna help me, this friday june 15 im gonna take the KVT. and hope to pass it... im happy to read this post today... thanks again and God bless...
Milkman said:
Below is a summary of my 2nd test experience:
About 7 people this time. 15 minute introduction (the docent advises there are 30 questions in 45 minutes and that you have to work quickly), including brief run-through demo and 2 test questions from KNS demo (yes, KNS, not KVT).
First you play a video – Mo is in a car dealership admiring, and then driving off with his new car. Soon you see the speedometer hit 140 km/hr. Video ends.
Sample question #1: Where does Mo pay his speeding fine (gemeente, politiebureau or Euro acceptgiro). Acceptgiro is the answer (one of the test-takers questioned this, saying she paid at the gemeente – and of course, many of the sample test questions elsewhere show Mo paying various fines at the gemeente, but never mind).
Sample question #2: Mo receives (or places) a telephone call while driving the car. What should he do? (make the call in the car, pull over to the side of the road which has a white line, or pull into a designated pay parking area). The answer, believe it or not, is to pull into a pay parking area (the docent reviewed all of the answers).
Then, docent starts the test – she logs each participant on one at a time, and your own 45-minute time limit counts down when you initiate the test. You get a warning on the PC when you have just 15 minutes left. I received 30 questions.
My strategy, which has worked successfully both times, leaving me ample time, is to completely avoid the videos and even the audio recordings – only going back to the audio when and if required. You have to know that the videos basically sit idle in between the actual questions, so if you’ve finished question #1 (which may only have a still picture) and click next, you then get a blank square with a “play” button on it. It does not play until you start it, and it just sits finished once it’s ended. You are not automatically advanced to the actual questions/answers. Meanwhile, valuable time is counting down...
Furthermore, out of all of my 60 questions in the two tests I took, absolutely none required me to view the video in order to choose the correct answer, as the videos seem to be just general stage-setting. You can move forward through the questions by clicking the next button at the bottom right, or go forward/backward by choosing the question number at the top of the screen (see the sample tests based on the software you download to your computer in my posts above, which gives a very good impression of how it works – their sample test has a full 30 questions – not just 2).
My advice is if you are unsure or hesitant, don’t select an answer, as you won’t know which question to come back to (the question #s at the top turn orange once you’ve completed them, and remain grey/green when they are unanswered).
I quickly went through as many of the 30 questions, answering those I was confident in first. I took a few moments longer on some, but generally this was quite quick – probably between 15-20 seconds a question on average, and if I was being particularly careful with one or two, I’d spend 30 seconds. Plenty of time. I then had about 4-5 questions that I had to go back to, as I was too unsure about answering them the first time, or these absolutely required listening to the audio (which I didn’t do the first time by design). Once I did those, I did a quick run-through all 30 questions one last time, quickly skipping over the obvious ones and confirming or changing my answer to any that were more dubious.
I spent about 44 minutes in total – but at a very relaxed pace and at no time did I feel I was rushed for time. When I took the test earlier, I was one of the first finished with 10-15 minutes to spare. I decided to take a bit more time on the 2nd go round to review all of my answers this time just to be on the safe side rather than second-guess myself once I was finished!
Here are some of the questions I remembered:
Q1: Mo sees to neighbours fighting outside. What does he do? (call police, get 2 strong friends and try break it up, or something else – it was either intervene himself or do nothing, I don’t remember).
VIDEO SCREEN (which I skipped)
Q2 Ali & his wife are talking about buying a house and the relative advantages/disadvantages of a mortgage and claiming the tax savings (you’ll need to listen to the audio). What is Ali’s best response to his wife’s question at the end of the audio? (I don’t know, it’s pretty complicated – I’ll call the bank for an appointment; the bank already knows how much I earn; or another answer. (call the bank)
Q3 Listen to the audio which simulates a phone call to the bank about a mortgage. What is the best response for Mo at the end of the audio. (thanks, I’ll take a mortgage; thanks I’d like to make an appointment to discuss getting a mortgage; I’m undecided or something).
Q4 Mortgage interest is... (deducted from monthly netto loon/salaris, deducted from monthly bruto loon/salaris or deducted from income tax). Answer is deducted from monthly bruto loon/salaris.
Q5 Mohamed and his friend Mahmet are at a verzekering fair (insurance fair). Mo’s friend picks up a brochure. Listen to the audio, what is Mo’s best response to his friend? You almost don’t need to the audio for this one, as it’s just Mahmet ranting about how inappropriate and insulting the material is – and you can tell that from the question, which is: what does Mo say to his friend: Everyone can write and say whatever they like in The Netherlands, even if they discriminate there’s nothing you can do; Everyone can write and say whatever they like in The Netherlands, and if you are discriminated against, you can to go a rechter; 3rd answer, which I don’t remember. But you get the idea based on the 1st two answers – but they are worded a bit trickily, so you will have to read them well (they are identical except for just a few words).
Q6 Can Mo’s daughter go from VMBO to HBO? Possible answers, yes; no, or yes VMBO, MBO, then HBO.
Q7 Mo’s daughter wants to quit school. What does Mo say to his daughter? You can listen to the audio, but you don’t need to (I didn’t). The answer options are: you must stay in school until you are 16 in The Netherlands; you can leave school after you are 17 in The Netherlands; you must stay in school until you are 18 in The Netherlands. I believe the answer is you must stay in school until you are 16 (it's complicated as you'll see if you research the ages for compulsory education - it depends on if you have the skills to start a job or something and you can go to school 1 day a week when you're 17, etc. - google netherland compulsory education and you'll see lots of seemingly conflicting info from either government, expat or even education/school sites).
Q8 Is the CITO test binding? The answer is no, it is used with advice from the teachers, but the parents decide.
Q9: Mo’s daughter Malika has her bicycle stolen. Part of the aangifte fietsdiefsal form displayed. Which do you put in the “other distinguishing characteristics box”? (something I did not recognize, but which I choose because the other two did not fit; Gazelle – which is incorrect, that is not a distinct characteristic of the bike, that is the “merk” or make of the bike, and is already displayed in the field immediately above this blank field on the form anyway; 3rd option might have been something like the location or something else which is clearly incorrect).
Q10: Mo calls the police to report the bike theft, he understands he can report it via the internet (this is an audio recording). The question is a bit tricky: according to the phone call, what does Mo select to aangifte fietsdiefstal: something about internet security; select aangifte fiesdiefsal; provide his name & address. In the recording, the policeman tells him to select aangifte fietsdiefstal from the right-hand side of the webpage. It’s a bit counter-intuitive because the question basically tells you what he needs to do. I thought it might be a trick so listened to the audio to double-check that he wasn’t told to provide his name & address.
Q11: What does Mo select on the form to indicate he wants to follow the case and be informed if the thief is caught? I know this because I downloaded a sample form (from Belgium) on the web the night before in case this question came up. I know you can file a report on the www.politie.nl but I was afraid if I played around with the site, I might accidentally end up filing a report (I once bought a boat that way – but that’s a different story!). You can find that form here: http://www.kuleuven.be/velo/pdf/aangifteformulierfietsdiefstal_2012.pdf It’s not the same form referred to in the test, of course, but it does provide specific phrases which you can identify and hang on to for the questions that might come up (like the bike’s description or “beschrijving” and “....de hoogte te worden ....” to be kept informed). I don’t remember the 3 answer options, only the one I selected, which more or less stated something like, “te hoogte....”.
Q12: A neighbour has a problem with his shed – it catches fire. Another neighbour is upset, what does the 1st neighbour say? (it’s not clear that Mo or any of the usual suspects are involved this time, but that doesn’t matter!). 3 options again, the answer, is apologize, of course!
Q13: The daughter has a work placement interview, so will need to be absent from school. Which of 3 letters is the one her mother must send to the school? This requires reading the letters and selecting the one with the appropriate politeness. I don’t remember the details precisely, but one trick is to look at the greetings and salutations at the beginning of each letter (reject any that are too informal, such as addressing the principal only by their first name, etc.
Q14: The daughter also needs to write to her teacher or to the school. I think it was an e-mail, but don’t remember, and I don’t recall the scenario, but again, like the question above, it’s about selecting version with the appropriate level of politeness, etc. It’s not difficult to identify the ones that don’t fit if you carefully scrutinize the greeting & salutation as a first step, and then if that’s not enough, the text itself. In both of these types of questions, also look at the instructions which set up the scenario for further clues (i.e. whether the full name of the principal/teacher is mentioned or if they are referred to as “Dhr. Smit”, etc.).
I am afraid I don’t recall the rest of the questions – I passed the test, receiving my certificate in the mail about 1 week later.
Hallo milkman, i thank you from your post, im going to take the exam this friday june 15, i hope i pass it. thanks again and God bless...
Hi, I just took the test today. This forum has helped me a lot with my exam, I would like to share my experience with the community here. I took the test in Rotterdam, the test didn't start on time, but about 15 minutes later. The lady gave a very detailed explaination about the test and 2 sample questions before the test started. She needed to turn on everybody's computer one by one. I have got some questions which I haven't seen in this forum before. I remember the following questions:
1. Zoet beleg, can you eat it?
a. yes, it belongs to one of the 5 nutrition or someting like this
b. yes, it has less calory than "hartig beleg"
c. No you can't eat it.
2. How many calory a woman can take per day? 2000
3. Mother and daughter talk about breakfast, but said it is important as you won't snack in between the day if you take breakfast. what does the daughter should response here? i think i got this one wrong..
a. then i should take breakfast after i stand up in the morning
b. I forgot but very wrong
c. then instead of snack during the day, i better helfweger de ochtend ontbijten (something like this, I chose this one, but i think it is wrong)
4. How CAO is decided?
a. vakbond oordelen the cao, they gave the cao to werkgever and werkger check and approve it
b. vakbond gives their wishes aboutcao to werkgever, werkgever adjusts the cao accordingly
c. vakbond en werkgever discuss the cao together and try to come up with an agreement
5. cao applies to:
a. if you join vakbond, you automatically will be under the cao
b. cao is for all employees even if you are not a member of vakbond
c. i forgot
6. if you join vakbond, then
a.if you want to have your won company you need to join a vakbond
b. you won't get fired
c. vakbond will help you with work matters if you have a problem
7. a man goes to cwi, a employee of the CWI takes care of the man by doing what? (I am not sure about this one)
a. The guy from CWI will help the man to write a sollicitatiebrief
b. the man introduces the vacaturebestand to the man, but meanwhile the man also needs to keep on looking for jobs by himself
c. the guy from CWI makes sure there are three jobs available to man and he can choose which one he likes
8. Extend the schuur, which option/box should you choose? Vergorte
9. One woman's daughter is going to basisschool, she is talking with her friend that often when her daughter gets off from school, she still needs to work, what should the friend suggest her to do?
a. Buitenschoolopvang
b. speelzal
c. i forgot
9. A woman is filling in a form of sending her baby (11 month old) to creche, which group the baby belongs to?
a. babygroup
b. peutergroup
c. kleutergroup
10. A man is looking at a job advertisement, he said this job is prestatiegerichte, where does he say this in the advertisement?
a. realisatie verkoopdoel voor nieuwe en gebruikte auto
b. Overleggen met the verkoopleider over optimation of nieuwe en gebruikte auto
c. Flexibale,customer service georiënteerde
11. A man is looking at a job advertisement, he said this jobhe needs to get along well with people , where does he say this in the advertisement?
a. he needs to maintain the customerrelationshipsystem
b. i forgot
c. Flexibale,customer service georiënteerde
12. A man and his wife talking about buying a house, man suggested to get a hypotheek, the woman asked if they could get one as man is now on uitkering, what should the man say?
a. he will call the hypotheeker or bank to ask for possibility
b. the man says the bank should know that he soon will find a good job
c. the bank knows how much money they have
13. A woman and man talking about use a markelaar to find a house,
a. the first visit is for free
b. they are too expensive, you need to pay
c. we don't know yet if we want to buy a house, so better not contact with them
14. a man and woman bought a house, where do they sign the final agreement?
a. hypotheeker
b. notaris
c. at the old owner's place
15. Do you need to pay back the Studiekost vergoed for your children who is going to vootgezetonderwijs?
a. ja, partly
b. nee, she doesn't need to
c.I forgot
16. A woman is asking optiongs for her child after the voortgezet onderwijs
a. i forgot
b. the child can go to HBO or WO, they cost the same, can receive studiefinanciering
c. the child can go to HBO or WO,HBO is cheaper than WO, can receive studiefinanciering
17. A woman sent her declaratieformulier to her zorgverzekering company, after one month still no reply, she sends a letter to the zorgverkering, which letter is correct? (all optiions have the same opening and ending)
a, it contains a sentense of Ik ben boos
b. I need the money urgently, please transfer the money to me
c. i have sent you the formulier 4 months ago, together with original invoice etc.....please contact me
18. A man wants to take a english course and he is looking on the websie of a school which has the course, he wants to know the lestijd of the course, so he sends a letter to the school, which letter is correct? (all optiions have the same opening and ending)
a. i want to know the time, i hope the lesson is not on a saturday as i need to work
b. I am interested at taking a English course with you, please send me more information
c. I couln't find the lestijd on your website, could you please send me the lestijd.
19. A man wants to apply for a part time job, the job is 20 housrs per week, but he wants to know how the 20 hours working time is being distributed, he needs to write a letter to the company, which letter is correct? (all optiions have the same opening and ending)
a. I know that I can decide myself for this 20 hours when I want to work
b. send me plan for 20 hours
c. could you please let me know how I suppose to plan this 20 hours
20. A woman got first aid help from a hospital which her zorgverzekering doesn't have a contract with, can she get the cost recovered by her zorgverzekering? In the test it says, "in meest geval,je krijg de kost bijna 100% terug"
a. ja, the kost will be recovered
b. no, because there is no contract
c. waarschijnlijk the whole cost or part of the cost will be recovered
21. A man wants to know if his son should go to school now:
a. if 5 years old, he can go to school
b. if 4 years old, he must go to school
c. if 5 eyars old, he must go to school
22. about oudersschapverlof:
a. if you and your partner mee the requirement, you both can take the ouderschapverlof
b. You can only take the oudersverlofschap if your wife's zwangerschapverlof and bevalling verlof is opneemt (in the text it says that this is vaak the case, but not required)
c. you need to check your cao to know if you can take it or not
23. A man calls the bank to ask if he can get a hypotheek, the guy from the man says they need to know more information from him and he usually make an appointment with the customer to get all the information they need, how should the man response?
a. Sounds good, but I really need the hypotheek
b. sounds good, ....rest i forgot
c. Sounds good, ik wil graag een afspraak maken
