VU language proficiency test

Are you enrolling in a Bachelor’s programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam? At VU Amsterdam, first-year students are required to take either the Dutch or English language proficiency test in the second week of the first term. The test you will be required to take depends on the language of instruction of your Bachelor’s programme.

Language proficiency test 2022: on campus

This year, the English language proficiency test will take place from Monday, September 12 to Friday, September 16, 2022 in the DigiTenT exam hall.

You do not have to register for this test. The education office of your faculty will sign you up. When you are registered, you will find the date and time of the test on your personal schedule. If you are not registered by September 8, please contact the student desk. In the meantime, check your personal schedule to find out when your test is scheduled. 

It is important to remember your VUnet ID and associated password. You need this information to log into the test. Tip: use this link to change your password into one that is easy to remember. 

Frequently asked questions

It is more difficult to achieve good results if you do not have a good command of the language in which courses are taught. This is why the VU language test is mandatory for all first-year Bachelor’s students.
The test will take place in week 37, between Monday, 12 September and Friday, 16 September 2022. Check your individual schedule to see when you will take the test. You will be signed up for the test by your faculty and do not need to register for it yourself. 
It takes most students 1,5-2 hours to complete the test. You can leave the test as soon as you finish.

The test consists of multiple-choice and open questions on the following topics:

  • grammar
  • spelling and punctuation
  • structures 
  • vocabulary and word choice 
  • phrasing 

In addition to these topics, the English test also assesses:

  • reading comprehension
  • pronunciation
  • classroom English

Both the Dutch and the English test consist of 200 questions.

You do not need to prepare for the test. The test gauges your language proficiency based on the level that a high school graduate should possess prior to embarking on an academic career. 
The test is part of a compulsory course within your programme. Results are divided into three categories: High, Average and Low. Students who score in the low category on the language test (67% and below) will not yet receive credits for the associated course, and they will be required to take a English refresher course. They will only receive credits for the course once they have completed the refresher course and met all other course requirements. Participation in the refresher course is by no means optional.
The test is compulsory for all first-year Bachelor’s students at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. You can only apply for an exemption from the VU language proficiency test if you have taken and passed it previously, or if you have completed the VU refresher course in a previous year. If this is the case, please apply for your exemption at your current faculty before 1 September (see exemptions page). 
Even if you have already taken a language proficiency test to gain admission to VU Amsterdam, you are still required to take the university’s own test. The English language proficiency test at VU Amsterdam has a different purpose: it is a compulsory part of every Bachelor's degree programme, designed to determine whether you need extra support with your language skills.
If you have dyslexia, a disability, or a chronic illness, you are still required to take the VU language proficiency test. This test has no time limit, meaning you don't have to arrange extra test time if you have a disability. If you need a customized workspace during the VU language proficiency test, please send an email to taalloket@taalcentrum-vu.nl
With this particular test, it is not a problem if the test does not appear in your schedule. You do not have to register for this test. The education office of your faculty will sign you up. When you are registered, you will find the date and time of the test on your personal schedule. If you are not registered by September 8, please contact the student desk. In the meantime, check the timetable of your programme to find out when your test is scheduled.
 
If you are a firstyear, can go to the DigiTenT at any of the timeslots below ('Taking the test at a different time than stated in my schedule').
Generally, you must have your student card at hand to take a test. We make an exception for the language proficiency test, however, because not all students have received their card this early in the academic year. If you do not have a student card, make sure you can show a valid government-issued ID. 
Yes, it is possible to take the test at a different time on the day you are scheduled to take the test. A particular timeslot has been set for everyone based on their course schedule and in order to spread the tests out over the week. However, if you are not able to take the test at the designated time, you are also allowed to take the test at one of the other times below. You do not need to notify the test supervisor/Taalloket about the time you will take the test.
   12/09/2022  13/09/2022  14/09/2022  15/09/2022  16/09/2022
 08:30  x  x  x  x  
 12:15    x  x  x  x
 15:30  x  x  x  x  x
 18:45        x  
X = available