If you start searching for information about the civic integration exam, you’ll quickly come across the term ONA. ONA stands for Oefenen op Niveau en Afstand (Practising at Level and from a Distance). It’s a recognised way to prepare for the civic integration exam at home, at your own pace. No classroom lessons, just independent practice through a digital environment.
It’s worth being clear right away: ONA is not an exam. You don’t earn a diploma with ONA and you don’t take an official test through it. The exam itself is always administered by DUO. ONA is the path towards it, not the destination itself.
ONA is relevant for everyone who needs to take the civic integration exam at DUO. But which level you need to reach, and which rules apply to you, differs per situation. You can read more about that further on in this article, because it makes a big difference whether you are a status holder or whether you came to the Netherlands as a family or labour migrant.
Preparing well takes time and attention. Honestly, that’s also necessary. The civic integration exam requires genuine knowledge of the Dutch language. Those who take that seriously are in a much better position for the exam.
Key takeaways from this blog
- ONA stands for Oefenen op Niveau en Afstand and is a recognised practice method for the civic integration exam, which is administered by DUO
- Status holders must reach level B1; family and labour migrants can in many cases still integrate at A2 level
- The three-year integration period starts on the date you receive the letter from the IND
- The set-up and structure of the exam are fixed, but the questions themselves differ per exam sitting
- Good preparation requires real effort, but with the right approach you’ll get there
- Inburgering Online offers practice material that matches DUO’s exam requirements, for both A2 and B1
What exactly is ONA?
ONA stands for Oefenen op Niveau en Afstand. The name says it all: you practise at your own level, and you do so from a distance, meaning from home. You don’t need a teacher sitting next to you and you don’t have to go to a course location.
Within the civic integration system, ONA is a recognised way of practising. That means the method matches the requirements DUO sets for the civic integration exam. But it is explicitly not an exam in itself. With ONA you don’t take an official test and there is no official certificate attached to it.
The exam itself is always administered by DUO. A course provider or practice platform never takes that over. The same applies to the content of the questions: the set-up and structure of the exams are fixed, but the specific questions you get on exam day differ per exam sitting. You can prepare well for the format and the level, but it’s not a matter of memorising the questions.
ONA matches the different parts of the civic integration exam, such as reading, listening and speaking. Which parts apply to you depends on your situation and the level at which you need to integrate.
Who is subject to which obligation?
Not everyone who integrates has the same rules. It’s important to know which category you fall into, because that determines which level you need to reach and what your path looks like.
Status holders
Are you a status holder? Then you are required to take the civic integration exam at level B1. The civic integration exams at B1 are, in terms of content, the same as the State Exams NT2 at B1. There is no separate or lighter version for status holders.
The municipality draws up a personal integration plan together with you. This looks at what you need and what steps you’ll take. The municipality is also your first point of contact if you have questions about your path.
Some status holders also need to complete a participation statement programme and demonstrate that they know enough about the Dutch labour market. Whether this applies to you is something you discuss with your municipality.
The period within which you must integrate is 3 years. That period starts on the date you receive the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and must integrate. Keep track of that date carefully.
Family and labour migrants and other integrators
Did you come to the Netherlands for family reunification, for work, or are you integrating voluntarily? Then different rules apply. For this group, it is in many cases still possible to integrate at level A2. There is no municipal programme. The municipality does not draw up a personal integration plan for you and is not your point of contact.
For this group too, the exam is administered by DUO. Preparation is your own responsibility. That requires a clear approach and good practice material that matches DUO’s requirements.
At A2 level you are judged somewhat more leniently on certain language errors: incorrect use of de-words or het-words counts less heavily at A2. At B1 that is no longer overlooked. That’s a concrete difference you notice in how you write and speak.
How do you prepare for the civic integration exam?
Good preparation starts with knowing what is expected of you. DUO’s civic integration exam consists of several parts, such as listening, reading and speaking. Each part has its own requirements and needs a different approach.
Listening
In the listening exam you hear fragments in Dutch and answer questions about what you heard. The questions are multiple-choice. So you don’t have to formulate sentences yourself, but you do need to understand what is being said, even if people speak quickly or have a certain accent.
Authentic Dutch material really helps you here. Think of the Journaal in makkelijke taal (news in easy Dutch). The advantage of this kind of material is that it’s more challenging than the exam itself. That gets your ear used to real Dutch and makes the exam level feel more familiar. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t understand every word. You don’t need to.
Reading
In the reading exam you read texts and answer questions about what you read. For the State Exam NT2 Programme I, the reading exam lasts 110 minutes and consists of multiple-choice questions. You don’t write any texts yourself and you don’t formulate sentences. It’s purely about text comprehension.
A broad vocabulary helps you enormously here. For A2 it’s about the most common words in Dutch, roughly the 2000 most used words. For B1 that’s larger, around 4000 words. That sounds like a lot, but with knowledge of the most common words you get a long way.
Speaking
In the speaking exam you show that you can communicate in Dutch. You respond to situations and questions. This part requires practice, because you don’t know in advance exactly what the questions will be. What you do know is the format and the level at which you are assessed.
Registering for the exam
Ready to register for the exam? You do that via DUO’s website. You can register via inburgeren.nl.
How does Inburgering Online match ONA and DUO’s exam requirements?
Inburgering Online offers practice material that matches DUO’s exam requirements. The video explanations are clear and follow the core structures of Dutch step by step. That applies to both A2 and B1.
Are you a status holder working towards B1? Then you’ll find the matching practice material on the B1 page. Preparing for A2? Then the A2 page is the right starting point.
The price is 11.95 euros per month. No year-long subscription, no hidden costs. You practise whenever it suits you.
Frequently asked questions about ONA civic integration
What does ONA mean in civic integration?
ONA stands for Oefenen op Niveau en Afstand. It’s a recognised way to prepare for the civic integration exam from home. ONA is not an exam. The exam itself is always administered by DUO.
Is ONA mandatory for the civic integration exam?
ONA is a way of practising, not a mandatory part of the exam. How you prepare is up to you. The civic integration exam itself, however, is mandatory for everyone with an integration obligation. For status holders, the municipality draws up a personal integration plan for this. For family and labour migrants there is no municipal programme.
Who administers the civic integration exam?
The civic integration exam is always administered by DUO. A course provider or practice platform never takes that over.
Which level do I need to reach for the civic integration exam?
That depends on your situation. Status holders must reach level B1. Family and labour migrants and voluntary integrators can in many cases still integrate at A2 level. Not sure which level applies to you? Check with the IND or, if you are a status holder, your municipality.
How much time do I have to integrate?
The integration period is 3 years. That period starts on the date you receive the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and must integrate. Keep that letter safe and note the date.
Are the civic integration exams at B1 easier than the State Exams?
No. The civic integration exams at B1 are, in terms of content, the same as the State Exams NT2 at B1. There is no separate or lighter version.
Can I see from my result where I made mistakes?
DUO’s result does not show which parts or themes you made mistakes on. You see whether you passed, not exactly where the gaps are. Keep that in mind if you’re considering a resit.
Take the next step
Knowing what ONA involves is a good start. Real preparation begins with practising at the right level. Inburgering Online offers video explanations and practice material that directly match what DUO asks of you.
Working towards B1? Then start on the B1 page. Preparing for A2? Then go to the A2 page. For 11.95 euros per month you practise whenever it suits you, with no surprises.
