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Groep 1 to 8

Primary school tests in the Netherlands

From groep 3 (age 6–7), your child takes tests in reading, spelling and maths twice a year. These tests track progress and do not count as grades. In groep 8 your child also takes the doorstroomtoets. Its result feeds into the schooladvies: the school's advice on which level of secondary school suits your child.

Tests by school yearDoorstroomtoets
Updated SourcesLees in het Nederlands

Which test in which groep?

Dutch primary school runs from groep 1 (age 4) to groep 8 (age 11–12). Choose a test for the full guide.

groep1age 4–5
groep25–6
groep36–7
groep47–8
groep58–9
groep69–10
groep710–11
groep811–12
  1. Observation

    No compulsory tests. The teacher follows your child in class.

    groep 1 age 4–5; groep 2 5–6
  2. LVS tests (Cito)

    Reading, spelling and maths, in January–February and May–June.

    groep 3 6–7; groep 4 7–8; groep 5 8–9; groep 6 9–10; groep 7 10–11; groep 8 11–12
  3. AVI and DMT

    Reading fluency: how quickly and accurately your child reads aloud.

    groep 3 6–7; groep 4 7–8; groep 5 8–9; groep 6 9–10; groep 7 10–11; groep 8 11–12
  4. Provisional schooladvies

    From the teacher, before 1 February.

    groep 8 11–12
  5. Doorstroomtoets

    Reading, spelling and grammar, and maths, late January–February.

    groep 8 11–12
  6. Final schooladvies

    By 24 March, after the test result.

    groep 8 11–12

The test guides

A full guide per test: what is tested, when, and how to read the result.

The 2026–2027 school year

National deadlines and usual school test periods. Your school announces the exact days in the schoolgids (school guide) or the parent portal.

  1. January – February 2027
    LVS mid-year tests

    Groep 3 to 8

  2. January – February 2027
  3. Before 1 February 2027
  4. 25 January – 12 February 2027
    Doorstroomtoets

    Groep 8 · paper test on 26 and 27 January

  5. By 15 March 2027
  6. By 24 March 2027
  7. May – June 2027

After groep 8: the levels of Dutch secondary school

The schooladvies names one level, or two side by side, such as havo/vwo. With a double advice, your child can join a first-year class (brugklas) that covers both levels.

  • pro

    1. Praktijkonderwijs (practical education)
    2. Until about age 18

    Then: Work or an entry-level course (entree)

  • vmbo-bb

    1. vmbo, basic vocational track
    2. 4 years

    Then: mbo (vocational college) level 2

  • vmbo-kb

    1. vmbo, advanced vocational track
    2. 4 years

    Then: mbo level 3 or 4

  • vmbo-gt

    1. vmbo, combined or theoretical track
    2. 4 years

    Then: mbo level 4 or havo

  • havo

    1. havo, senior general secondary
    2. 5 years

    Then: hbo (university of applied sciences)

  • vwo

    1. vwo, pre-university (atheneum or gymnasium)
    2. 6 years

    Then: University or hbo

Sources

Updated 12 October 2026. Something out of date? Let us know.