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Nursery to year 6

Primary school tests in Belgium

Belgium has separate school systems for Dutch-speaking Flanders and the French-speaking Community. Brussels has both. In a Flemish school your child takes the Vlaamse toetsen (Flemish tests) in years 4 and 6. In a French-speaking school, the CEB exam at the end of year 6 leads to the primary school certificate.

Tests by school yearVlaamse toetsen
Updated on SourcesLees in het Nederlands

Which test in which school year?

From the last year of nursery school to year 6. Pick your child's school system, then a test for the full guide.

nursery3age 5–6
year16–7
year27–8
year38–9
year49–10
year510–11
year611–12
  1. KOALA language screening

    Does your child understand enough Dutch? October – November.

    nursery 3 age 5–6
  2. LVS tests

    Spelling, reading and maths, two or three times a year.

    year 1 6–7; year 2 7–8; year 3 8–9; year 4 9–10; year 5 10–11; year 6 11–12
  3. AVI reading levels

    How fluently and accurately your child reads aloud.

    year 1 6–7; year 2 7–8; year 3 8–9; year 4 9–10; year 5 10–11; year 6 11–12
  4. Vlaamse toetsen

    Dutch and maths, the same for every school, April – May.

    year 4 9–10; year 6 11–12
  5. IDP and OVSG-toets

    Tests set by the school network. IDP in years 4 and 6, OVSG in year 6.

    year 4 9–10; year 6 11–12
  6. Getuigschrift basisonderwijs

    The primary school certificate. Decided end of school year.

    year 6 11–12

The test guides

A full guide per test: what is tested, when, and what the result means.

The 2026–2027 school year

Official dates where they exist, and usual periods for school tests. Your school publishes the exact days.

  1. 10 October – 30 November 2026
    KOALA language screeningFlemish

    Last year of nursery

  2. January – February 2027
    LVS tests and AVI (mid-year)Flemish

    Years 1 to 6

  3. February – April 2027
    Registration for secondary schoolFlemish

    Year 6 · in cities with a registration system

  4. 2027 dates to be confirmed by the school
    Vlaamse toetsenFlemish

    Years 4 and 6

  5. 2027 dates to be confirmed by the school
    IDPFlemish

    Years 4 and 6 · Catholic schools

  6. 2027 dates to be confirmed by the school
    OVSG-toetsFlemish

    Year 6 · city and municipal schools

  7. 21, 22, 24 and 25 June 2027
    CEB examFrench-speaking

    6e primaire · mornings

  8. After the exam; school confirms the date
    CEB results to schoolsFrench-speaking

    6e primaire

  9. End of the school year

After year 6: where secondary school starts

In both systems, the end-of-primary certificate decides which first year of secondary school your child starts in.

Flemish schools

  • With the getuigschrift

    1. 1A
    2. 2A

    Then: Second stage, all study options

    The A-stream. With a favourable decision from the admissions class council (toelatingsklassenraad), your child can also start in 1B.

  • Without the getuigschrift

    1. 1B
    2. 2B

    Then: Or 1A or 2A, if the admissions class council agrees

    The B-stream. Your child can still earn the getuigschrift in 1B.

French-speaking schools

  • With the CEB

    1. 1re commune
    2. 2e commune

    Then: 3e secondaire

    The common first year of secondary school.

  • Without the CEB

    1. 1re commune
    2. 2e commune

    Then: 3e secondaire

    With extra support in class. In exceptional cases the school jury keeps your child in 6e primaire for one more year.

Choosing a school in Brussels

Brussels has Dutch-speaking and French-speaking schools side by side. You choose the language of instruction, whatever language you speak at home.

  • Who counts as a Dutch-speaking parent?

    For 2027–2028, a parent needs a Dutch-language diploma or proof of Dutch speaking, listening, reading and writing at B2 level or higher.

  • How do you register?

    For Dutch-speaking schools, register online via inschrijveninbrussel.be. Check the current procedure and dates for your school level.

  • French-speaking schools

    For nursery and primary school, you register directly at the school. For the first year of secondary school there is one common registration form.

  • No Dutch at home?

    That is common in Dutch-speaking schools in Brussels. KOALA and extra Dutch lessons help your child keep up.

  • Priority groups

    Dutch-parent priority covers 65% of nursery and primary places; the under-represented GOK or non-GOK group has 20% priority. These priorities can overlap and are not separate shares of a pie chart. You can also register without priority.

Sources

Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.