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About this exam

The Aruba Landsexamen MAVO is the central written examination that closes out the MAVO (middle-level secondary) programme in Aruba. It is meant for students who have finished the school-based component, the schoolexamen, at an Aruban MAVO school and now need the central result to complete the diploma. The exam is administered in Aruba and is mostly multiple choice, with a school-based component combined with the central examination. Candidates are assessed across Dutch language and literature, Papiamento, English, mathematics, social studies with Aruban civics and history, general science foundations, and practical or elective profile subjects. Because it is a national examination, the content follows the official syllabus rather than any single textbook, so preparation should start from the published subject syllabi and past papers where the responsible authority makes them available. A sensible plan is to map each subject against the syllabus, close gaps in the weaker subjects first, then practise under timed conditions so that reading speed and accuracy in Dutch and Papiamento do not become the limiting factor. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the examining authority; always confirm current rules with the official body.

What you'll study

Common questions

About Aruba Landsexamen MAVO preparation

What is the format of the Landsexamen MAVO?

It is a central written examination administered in Aruba, largely multiple choice, taken alongside the school-based schoolexamen. The final diploma result combines both components. The responsible authority publishes the current subject list, paper structure and any adjustments, so check its site before you plan revision.

How many questions are on the exam and how long does it take?

Those figures change by subject and by year, so no fixed number is reliable. The official examining body publishes the current question counts and time limits per subject in its exam regulations and timetable. Use those documents, not second-hand summaries, when you build a practice schedule.

What score do I need to pass?

Passing rules combine the schoolexamen and central results and include per-subject requirements, so a single percentage is misleading. The official body publishes the current pass/fail rules and any compensation arrangements. Ask your school's exam coordinator to walk you through them, because they affect which subjects deserve the most attention.

Can I retake a subject if I fail?

Retake and resit arrangements are set by the official regulations and are not universal. The examining authority publishes the current rules and the dates for any resit opportunity. Confirm eligibility with your school as soon as results are released, since deadlines are usually short.

How hard is the exam really?

Difficulty comes less from trick questions than from breadth: you must be solid in two languages plus mathematics, social studies and science at the same time. Candidates who lose marks usually do so through vocabulary gaps, slow reading and careless errors, not through unseen topics. Steady weekly practice across all subjects beats last-month cramming.

In what order should I study the subjects?

Start with the subjects where your school marks are weakest, because those carry the most room for improvement. Keep Dutch and Papiamento reading practice running weekly since they underpin every other paper. Then rotate mathematics, social studies and science, and finish with timed full papers in every subject.

What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?

Misreading the question stem, running out of time on long texts, leaving multiple-choice items blank instead of eliminating options, and neglecting the practical or elective profile subject because it feels less academic. Handwriting and clear structure matter in open questions. Practising under real time pressure exposes all of these early.

Where do I find the official exam dates and rules?

The official examining body for Aruban secondary education publishes the timetable, regulations, subject syllabi and results information on its website, and your school receives the same documents. Treat those as authoritative for dates, fees and procedures, since this page is independent study material and does not administer the exam.