Groep 3–8 · reading fluencyAVI and DMT: reading levels per groep
AVI and the DMT measure how quickly and accurately your child reads Dutch aloud. In the AVI test your child reads a text, in the DMT single words. There are twelve AVI levels, from AVI-Start to AVI-Plus. AVI-M5 is the level children reach on average halfway through groep 5.
Which AVI level belongs to which groep?
M stands for midden (mid-year), E for eind (end of year). The number is the groep. Choose a groep to see the average level.
| Level | What your child reads |
|---|---|
| Start | Beginning readers. Short words spelled the way they sound, such as vis (fish) and maan (moon), 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 such as rugtas (backpack). |
| 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 | The highest level: your child reads a difficult text quickly and without mistakes. |
These are averages. Reaching a level a little earlier or later is normal. Children with dyslexia, and children who are still learning Dutch, 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 the reading takes and how many mistakes your child makes. The test starts with a text at the expected level and moves up until the text becomes too hard.
Mastery level
Your child reads the text fluently with few mistakes. This level, the beheersingsniveau, goes on the school report.
Instruction level
Your child can read the text, but still slowly or with a few mistakes. At this level, the instructieniveau, your child learns most, with help.
Frustration level
The text is still too hard: too many mistakes or too slow. The test stops here.
The DMT: three cards, one minute per card
In the Drie-Minuten-Toets (three-minute test) your child reads single Dutch words from a card, without a story around them. Your child has one minute per card. The score is the number of words read correctly.
Card 1
Short words without consonants next to each other: vis, maan, boek, kam, pen, huis, zeep, bal
Card 2
Short words with consonants next to each other: straat, plank, sprong, krant, bloem, sterk, vrucht, grond
Card 3
Words of two or more syllables: tafel, olifant, fietsen, boterham, schommel, verjaardag, kabouter, regenjas
More test guides
Sources
- Cito (opens in a new tab)
- Leesadvies: reading levels explained (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab)
- Rijksoverheid: tests in primary school (in Dutch) (opens in a new tab)
Updated 12 October 2026. Something out of date? Let us know.