VMBO GL/TL Engels exam-day guide
VMBO GL/TL Engels · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring a valid ID document
Dutch schools normally require a valid identity document (paspoort, ID-kaart or rijbewijs) at the exam. Exact requirements can differ per school, so confirm with your own school which document is accepted.
Know your exam number and candidate details
Write down your exam number (examenkandidaatnummer), name and the subject code for Engels GL/TL. You often have to fill these in on the answer sheet; having them ready prevents mistakes at the start.
Bring black or blue pens and a pencil
Take at least two working pens for written answers and a pencil plus eraser for any multiple-choice answer sheet. Check that the pens write clearly and do not leak.
Bring your school timetable and room number
Note the exact start time, room and seat number from your school's exam schedule. Arrive well before the start; schools usually close the room once the exam has begun and late entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
Leave your phone and smart devices at home or in your bag
Phones, smartwatches and other devices must be off and out of reach during the exam. Rules on where bags are stored differ per school; ask your invigilator beforehand.
Prepare a clear water bottle with the label removed
Water is usually allowed, but bottles with labels or text can be refused. Bring a transparent bottle without a label and ask if you are unsure.
Check whether a dictionary is permitted
For Engels GL/TL a dictionary may or may not be allowed depending on the paper and the year's regulations. Do not assume; confirm with the provider or your teacher before exam day and only bring one if it is officially allowed.
Read the official exam instructions for Engels GL/TL
Look at the instruction page of a recent official paper to see the number of questions, text types and how answers must be written. This is free on the official examination site.
Practise with a full past paper under time pressure
Do at least one complete GL/TL English paper with a timer in the final days. Focus on reading texts quickly, marking key words and writing short answers in your own words where required.
Plan your route and transport
Check travel time to school and plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Traffic, weather or public transport delays are not usually accepted as an excuse, so build in spare time.
Get a normal night's sleep and eat breakfast
A reading-heavy exam rewards concentration. Avoid studying late the night before; a short review of strategies is more useful than new material.
Bring a watch if the room has no visible clock
You need to divide time between texts. A simple watch without smart functions is safe; confirm with the invigilator if you are unsure whether it is allowed.
Plan the day
Make a short overview of the paper structure: how many texts, how many questions and the mark distribution if your teacher provided it. Do one full past paper under exam conditions and mark it honestly. List your three biggest error types (for example: missing detail in open answers, vocabulary gaps, running out of time) and work on those specifically.
Review exam strategies rather than new grammar: skim the questions before reading a text, underline names, numbers and signal words, and answer in the language and length the question asks for. Practise writing short open answers in complete English sentences where the question requires it. Check the official instructions again so nothing about the format surprises you.
Pack your bag: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, water bottle and any officially permitted aids. Confirm the start time, room and any school-specific rules with your school. Do one light review of strategies and vocabulary, then stop. Eat well and go to bed at a normal time; do not start a new full paper the evening before.
Eat breakfast, drink water and arrive at school 20 to 30 minutes early. Hand in or switch off your phone before entering the room. Go to the toilet before the exam starts. Once seated, fill in your name and exam number carefully and read the instruction page before the signal to begin.
Check the number of pages and questions so nothing is missing. Read the instructions for each part. Decide a rough time budget: for example, divide the total time by the number of texts and leave 10 minutes at the end to check answers and transfer anything to the answer sheet.
Work text by text. Read the questions first, then the text, and mark evidence in the text. Answer in your own words when asked to explain, and keep answers as short as the question allows. If a question blocks you, mark it and move on; return later. Watch the clock at the halfway point and near the end.
Make sure every answer is on the answer sheet or in the correct place. Check that multiple-choice answers are unambiguous and that open answers are in English and actually answer the question. Check your name and exam number once more. Stop writing immediately when the invigilator says so.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the invigilator (surveillant). Talking, passing materials or helping another candidate during the exam is not allowed and can lead to invalidation of your paper; the exact sanctions are set by the school and the official examination rules.
Keep your phone and any smart device switched off and out of reach for the whole session. Having a phone accessible during the exam is treated as cheating under the official exam regulations; confirm with the provider how devices must be stored at your school.
Bring a valid ID if your school requires it, and place it on your desk if asked. Because requirements differ per school, confirm with the provider which document you need and whether it must be visible.
Toilet visits during the exam are usually possible but may be supervised and may cost time. Ask the invigilator before the exam how this is arranged at your school, and go beforehand to avoid losing minutes.
Write answers in English unless a question explicitly asks for Dutch or for a word from the text. Answers in the wrong language or copied whole sentences where you were asked to explain in your own words may not earn full marks.
Use only aids that are officially permitted for this paper. Do not bring a dictionary, grammar overview or notes unless you have confirmed with the provider that they are allowed; unauthorized aids can lead to invalidation.
The score is based on the number of points earned converted to a grade using the official conversion table (normering) for that year. You do not need to answer everything perfectly to pass; secure the easier questions first and do not leave blanks, since a guess may still earn a point.
If something goes wrong during the exam (illness, a missing page, a broken pen), raise your hand and tell the invigilator immediately. Do not wait until the end; report it so it can be recorded.