Years 1–6 · reading levelsFlemish schoolsAVI reading levels: reading aloud by school year
AVI measures how fluently and accurately your child reads a text aloud in Dutch. There are twelve levels, from AVI-Start to AVI-Plus. The number in the code refers to school groups in the Netherlands: subtract 2 for the Flemish school year. So AVI-M3 is the level of mid year 1.
Which AVI level matches which school year?
M means mid-year, E means end of year. Pick a school year to see the average level.
| Level | What your child reads |
|---|---|
| Start | Beginning readers. Short words spelled the way they sound, such as vis and maan, in sentences of a few words. |
| M3 – E3 | Short sentences. At E3, sentences of up to about seven words, with diminutives and two-syllable words. |
| M4 – E4 | Sentences run on to the next line and have about eight words. |
| M5 – E6 | Longer sentences and more words with several syllables. |
| M7 – E7 | Longer texts with compound sentences. |
| Plus | Above the average at the end of year 5: your child reads a difficult text quickly and accurately. |
These are averages. A level earlier or later is normal. Children learning Dutch as a second language, and children with dyslexia, often reach the levels later.
How does an AVI test work?
Your child reads a short text aloud to the teacher. The teacher notes how long it takes and how many mistakes your child makes. The test starts at a text that fits the expected level and moves up until the text is too hard.
Mastery level
Your child reads the text fluently with few mistakes. This level goes on the report or in the planner.
Instruction level
Your child can read the text, but still slowly or with a few mistakes. This is where your child learns most, with help.
Frustration level
The text is still too hard: too many mistakes or too slow. The test stops here.
Word reading tests: the EMT and the Klepel
Besides AVI, many schools use a test with single words. Your child reads as many words as possible in a fixed time. The score is the number of words read correctly.
EMT
Een-Minuut-Test: real Dutch words, getting harder: en, de, pop, boek, fiets, straat, bloemen, verjaardag
Klepel
Words that do not exist, so your child cannot guess them: fip, raan, toek, plimp, straag, kwelp, bonnel, faderik
More test guides
Sources
- Nederlands Evalueren: test overview (Dutch) (opens in a new tab)
- Onderwijs Vlaanderen (opens in a new tab)
Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.