CvTE releases 2026 exam conversion tables for Dutch pupils
Dutch schools can now convert 2026 central exam scores into grades after CvTE published the year's normalisation factors.
In 30 seconds
- CvTE said it fixed first-sitting 2026 n-termen on 11 June 2026.
- CvTE's Examenblad portal says raw scores can now be converted into final grades.
- CvTE said final n-termen for the second sitting will be published on 30 June 2026.
- Examenblad lists 2026 conversion tables for vmbo, havo and vwo subjects.
College voor Toetsen en Examens, or CvTE (Dutch public examination authority created under Dutch law in 2009), oversees central exams and standardised tests in the Netherlands. Examenblad.nl (CvTE's official exam information portal for schools and pupils) publishes timetables, conversion tables and norm-setting documents. Vmbo (Dutch preparatory secondary vocational education, usually a four-year track) leads mainly toward mbo vocational education. Havo (Dutch senior general secondary track, usually five years) leads mainly toward universities of applied sciences. Vwo (Dutch pre-university track, usually six years) leads toward research universities. N-termen (Dutch exam normalisation factors) adjust raw scores for exam difficulty. LAKS (Dutch national pupils' action committee) collects exam complaints from students. Cito (Dutch testing institute based in Arnhem) supports assessment and standard-setting work. Flanders (Belgium's Dutch-speaking region) is the closest Belgian comparator for Dutch-language education policy.
Background
The Dutch central exam system has treated national comparability as a core feature for decades, but recent years tested that model. During the COVID-19 disruption, the 2020 central exams were cancelled and diploma decisions relied on school exams instead, a break from normal practice noted in education research on pandemic cohorts. CvTE later adjusted performance requirements during the coronavirus years and said its later norming work aimed to stabilise the expected standard again. A 2025 population-level study of Dutch exam cohorts from 2017 to 2023 found that some achievement gaps persisted or intensified after pandemic disruption, especially in vocational tracks.
Why now
The trigger is CvTE's 11 June 2026 publication of the n-termen and conversion tables for the first sitting of Dutch central exams. That publication turns exam scores into actionable diploma decisions for schools and pupils.
What happens next
The next concrete date is 30 June 2026, when CvTE says it will publish definitive n-termen for the second sitting. Watch also for school-level resit decisions and any LAKS or teacher feedback if particular exams are disputed.
What to do
Dutch pupils should expect their school to communicate whether they passed, need a resit or require further steps. Belgian-linked families with children in Dutch schools should follow the school's resit deadlines closely. Belgian admissions or HR staff evaluating Dutch qualifications can treat the 2026 outcomes as nationally normalised CvTE exam results.
How we got here
- 2020
Dutch central exams were cancelled during COVID-19 disruption, with diploma decisions relying on school exams instead.
- 2025-11-25
CvTE updated its public explanation of central-exam norming for the 2026 exam year.
- 2026-06-11
CvTE published the 2026 first-sitting n-termen for vmbo, havo and vwo central exams.
- 2026-06-30
CvTE expects to publish definitive n-termen for the second sitting.
EvidenceDeveloping · 1 primary source + 2 official documents · Academic sources: 1 · Background sources: 1 · some details remain unconfirmedExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
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