A short written test (schriftelijke overhoring, so) is a brief written test on a limited part of the subject matter; it usually counts for less than a full test (proefwerk). In the Netherlands, there are various ways in which testing, assessment and examination take place, depending on the school, the course and the type of education. For example, a distinction is made between diagnostic tests and progress tests. In addition to the school exam (schoolexamen), there is also a central (national) exam (centraal examen). This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
Tests, assessments and exams by type of education
The way in which pupils' knowledge and skills are tested is partly regulated by law. Schools also have relatively great freedom to develop their own policy on this. In any case, the way of testing, assessing and examining will differ per type of education.
Primary education
Schools can be expected to monitor and assess pupils' development properly. That is why tests and quizzes also take place regularly in primary education. Schools decide for themselves how they map pupils' development. This can also be done through observations, for example. In any case, primary schools are required to use a pupil monitoring system (leerlingvolgsysteem) and to administer a progression test (doorstroomtoets) (since 2023-2024, in the first or second full week of February in year group 8, the final year of primary school). This progression test covers proficiency in arithmetic and the Dutch language (article 45b of the Primary Education Act, Wet op het primair onderwijs, WPO).
All information about primary educationSecondary education
In secondary education, pupils take both diagnostic tests and progress tests. Unlike a progress test, a diagnostic test does not count towards the school report. An example of a progress test is a written test (proefwerk). In the upper years, pupils also take PTA tests. These tests count towards the school exam. Testing policy differs per school and is set out in the school guide (schoolgids). In the final school year, pupils must also sit the central exam. The average of the central exam and the school exams is the final grade for that subject.
All information about secondary educationSecondary vocational education
In secondary vocational education (mbo), tests are intended to assess, distinguish between and guide students. The way of testing and examining differs per mbo institution and course. Often, acting out practical situations is chosen. When drawing up the exams, the qualification files (kwalificatiedossiers) must be taken into account. The qualification files set out what mbo students must be able to do at the end of their course.
All information about secondary vocational educationHigher education
At the end of a course in higher education, an examination board will assess whether a student has the necessary knowledge, insight and skills to graduate. Different graduation programmes can apply per course. At a university, for example, scientific research must be carried out in the graduation phase. In a course in higher professional education (hbo), the focus is mainly on professional assignments and a graduation internship. Often a bachelor's thesis or a portfolio must be produced. In the first year of a bachelor's programme, the binding study advice (BSA) also plays a role.
All information about higher educationTypes of tests and exams
Assessing pupils is an important part of the education system in the Netherlands. It allows schools to evaluate pupils' progress and can contribute to better guidance. It should also help to guarantee that pupils have reached a certain level, which should help them on their way to a diploma. There are various ways in which theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge can be tested. A distinction must be made, among other things, between diagnostic tests and progress tests.
School exam and central exam
The school exam consists of the tests taken for a subject that count towards the final grade. It is the school board that decides which grades count towards the final grade. Before the central exam, pupils are told what grade they have achieved for the school exam. It is also possible that no grade is given, but a general assessment such as "good", "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory".
The central exam is the exam taken as the concluding part of secondary education. During the central exam, all knowledge is tested. The final grade per subject is the average of the school exam grade and the central exam grade. In addition, the unrounded average of all central exam grades must be at least 5.5 (havo and vwo; articles 3.32 and 3.34 of the Secondary Education Act Implementing Decree 2020, Uitvoeringsbesluit WVO 2020, see also examenblad.nl, uitslagbepaling havo en vwo 2026). Bear in mind that specific pass and fail rules apply to the final exams. All fives is not enough to pass.
For schools, it is important to draw up good school exams that test knowledge in the right way.
| School exam | Central exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Spread over the upper years according to the PTA, completed before the central exam | Nationally set exam periods, the same for all exam candidates |
| Drawn up by | The school | Nationally, the same for all schools |
| Marking | By the pupil's own teachers | By the pupil's own teacher and a second marker from another school |
| Effect on the final grade | Half | Half; in addition, the average of all central exam grades must be at least 5.5 (havo and vwo) |
Diagnostic tests and progress tests
A diagnostic test is a test that lets the school or the teacher see whether a pupil has sufficiently mastered the subject matter. It is meant to help diagnose the pupil. The result is used to make adjustments where needed and to give extra information. This test usually does not count towards the school report.
Like a diagnostic test, a progress test checks whether the pupil has sufficiently mastered the subject matter. However, this test has an assessing function. So it does count towards the school report.
PTA tests
A PTA test (Programma van Toetsing en Afsluiting, the testing and completion programme) is a test that counts towards the school exam. Schools put this testing and completion programme together themselves. The programme must, however, meet requirements as to content. The Secondary Education Council (VO-raad) has developed a checklist for secondary schools that they can use to check whether their programme meets these content requirements.
Written test
At secondary school, most tests are written. Written tests include both full tests (proefwerken) and short written tests (schriftelijke overhoringen). A short written test generally counts for less towards the school report than a full test. In a written test, the pupil must answer questions. It usually consists of a combination of multiple-choice questions and open questions.
Oral test
Oral tests are often chosen for language subjects. The teacher will then, for example, have a conversation with the pupil to assess the pupil's spoken language level. However, pupils can also be tested orally in other subjects.
Reading test
A reading test is a test that is often used in language subjects. Pupils must read a text and answer questions. These questions are usually multiple-choice questions. Text analysis is very important for language subjects. That is why, for example, the central exam in Dutch largely consists of text analysis.
Practical test
In a practical test, pupils must carry out a practical assignment. The teacher can assess both the process and the end result. Examples include drawing assignments and lab assignments, for example for biology. A practical test helps to assess the extent to which theoretical knowledge can be put into practice.
Written project
A written project (werkstuk) consists of text and images that explain a particular topic in an understandable way. Sometimes pupils must also present or defend the project.
Listening test
Listening tests are typical of language subjects. Pupils must listen, for example to a recorded conversation or a radio programme. Pupils must then answer a number of questions, usually multiple-choice questions. There is often a listening part in which pupils must listen and a question part in which they must answer the questions. A sufficiently high level of concentration is required. Sometimes pupils may take notes during the listening part.
Talk or presentation
In a talk (spreekbeurt), pupils must discuss a specific topic in front of the class. They often have to follow a particular format and also make a supporting PowerPoint presentation. The advantage of a talk or presentation is that pupils also learn to speak in front of an audience.
Digital test
A digital test is a test taken on a tablet or a laptop. The advantage of a digital test is that the results are processed immediately. They can also be analysed in great depth. For example, the processing time per question can show which questions pupils find more difficult on average. Whether and how many tests are taken digitally differs per school.
Types of test compared
| Type of test | What is tested? | Does it count? |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic test | Whether the pupil has mastered the material, so adjustments can be made | Usually not |
| Progress test | Whether the pupil has mastered the material, with an assessment | Yes, towards the school report |
| PTA test | Part of the school exam | Yes, towards the school exam |
| Short written test | A limited part of the material | Yes, usually for less than a full test |
| Oral test | Often the speaking level in language subjects | Depends on the school |
| Practical test | Applying knowledge in practice | Depends on the school |
| Central exam | The exam material of the final year | Yes, for half of the final grade |
School rules for tests and exams
Every school can draw up its own rules on tests and exams. These can also differ per subject. For mathematics, it makes sense for pupils to take a written test with exercises, with or without a calculator. For English, an oral test and a listening test are a solution, and for chemistry there are lab assignments. The school guide may also contain information about keeping track of learning results, for example in a pupil monitoring system.
Announcing a test
A teacher will usually announce in advance that a test is going to take place. The school guide often states how many days in advance the teacher must announce this. Sometimes pupils may also be given a test unexpectedly. The school guide may also contain information about the maximum number of tests that can be scheduled in a day or a week.
Test week
Some schools have a test week at the end of a term. During the test week, pupils have one or more tests every day. Pupils have no lessons during the test week and may also get extra time off to prepare for the tests. Other schools have no test week and simply hold tests spread throughout the year. The way testing is organised is set out in the school guide.
Right to catch up and resit
Schools can develop their own policy on catching up on a missed test and resitting a test. Some schools, for example, have a policy of only one resit per test period, while other schools offer more or fewer resits. Consult the school guide for more information on this.
Exam regulations
The competent authority of a school (bevoegd gezag, usually the school board) will always draw up exam regulations (examenreglement). The exam regulations contain various rules of conduct and practical arrangements designed to ensure that the exam is conducted properly and correctly. The exam regulations include, among other things, rules on the organisation of the exam, information on the application of sanctions in the event of irregularities, rules on resits and information about appealing against a result. The school's participation council (medezeggenschapsraad) has a right of consent when the exam regulations are adopted.
Sanctions for irregularities
If irregularities occur when the exams are held, the head of the school (rector or directeur) has the power to impose sanctions (article 3.58 of the Secondary Education Act Implementing Decree 2020, which contains the exam rules). The head can then decide to award a 1 for a test of the school exam or the central exam. It is also possible to exclude the pupil from further participation in certain parts of the exam, to declare one or more tests already taken invalid, or to require the pupil to sit a new exam. If the pupil is a minor, the sanction will always be sent to the parents in writing. It is possible to appeal against this sanction.
Tests, exams and the right to information
Parents have a right to information about the progress of their child's studies. All parents have this right; the law makes no distinction between parents with day-to-day care and parents without it. Both the pupil and the parents (or legal representatives) have the right to inspect the central exam work. Someone from the school must always be present when the work is inspected.
All about parents' right to informationFrequently asked questions about tests, assessments and exams
Many students and parents have questions about the way testing is done and exams are held. Exams and tests cause a lot of stress, and that is easy to understand, because the result can have far-reaching consequences for the rest of a pupil's school career. Below are answers to a number of frequently asked questions on this topic.
How long must a school keep exam material?
The school is required to keep a pupil's central exam work for at least six months after the result has been determined, as well as the accompanying list of grades. There is no statutory retention period for school exams.
What may I take to the central exam?
Writing materials, a drawing pencil, a blue colouring pencil, a red colouring pencil, a ruler with millimetre markings, a pair of compasses, a set square (geometric triangle), an eraser and a calculator with basic functions are always allowed. Sometimes a dictionary, De Grote Bosatlas (a Dutch school atlas), a graphing calculator and other reference material are also allowed. These items may not be lent to others during the exam.
Which calculator may I use in the exam?
A calculator with basic functions is always allowed. The general rule is that exam candidates at vmbo and mavo may not use a graphing calculator. In the central exams in mathematics (A, B and C) at havo and vwo, a graphing calculator is allowed, in Dutch exam mode. Which models and operating systems are allowed differs per exam year; for 2026, the list is in the Regeling toegestane hulpmiddelen voor de centrale examens vo 2026 (the 2026 regulation on permitted aids for the central secondary school exams) and on examenblad.nl.
What does the exam secretary do?
The exam secretary (examensecretaris) must ensure, together with the head of the school, that the final exam runs correctly. The exam secretary has a supporting role in this. The head will appoint one or more members of staff as exam secretary. A teacher can also be designated as exam secretary.
What is the testing and completion programme (pta)?
The testing and completion programme (programma van toetsing en afsluiting, pta) is a programme containing information about the content, planning and assessment of the school exam. The school must adopt the pta every year before 1 October. The participation council has a right of consent in this. Among other things, the programme sets out which exam material is tested, the periods in which candidates take the tests and resits, the options for resits and the way in which the school exam grade is arrived at.