VWO Engels study guide
VWO Engels · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
VWO Engels is the English component of the Dutch vwo school-exam programme, examined under the responsibility of the College voor Toetsen en Examens (CvTE). It is taken by vwo candidates in the Netherlands who need English as part of their diploma profile; the programme is described by the domains listed on this page: leesvaardigheid (reading comprehension), kijk- en luistervaardigheid (listening/viewing), schrijfvaardigheid (writing), gespreksvaardigheid (speaking) and literatuur (literature). The exam combines centrally set components with school-exam components, so your own school's programme (PTO) determines part of what you are assessed on. Preparation should be built around sustained exposure to authentic English: read long-form journalism and literary texts, listen to interviews and lectures at natural speed, and practise writing structured argumentative and informative texts with a clear register. The VWO Engels study guide has 5 sections and about 1,516 words.
01Leesvaardigheid (Reading Comprehension)
Leesvaardigheid is the central written component (CSE) of VWO Engels. You read authentic English texts - newspaper columns, opinion pieces, popular-science articles and literary extracts - and answer multiple-choice and open questions.
325 words, about 2 min02Kijk- en luistervaardigheid (Listening/Viewing)
Kijk- en luistervaardigheid is usually assessed in the schoolexamen (SE). You hear and watch news items, interviews, documentaries and vlogs, and answer questions on main idea, specific detail, speaker attitude, and implied meaning.
308 words, about 2 min03Schrijfvaardigheid (Writing)
Schrijfvaardigheid is an SE component. You produce formal letters or emails, informal messages, essays, articles or reviews.
302 words, about 2 min04Gespreksvaardigheid (Speaking)
Gespreksvaardigheid is assessed in the SE through presentations, discussions and role-plays. The examiner judges fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and interaction.
274 words, about 1 min05Literatuur (Literature)
Literatuur is an SE domain built around your leeslijst and literatuurdossier. You discuss literary works and show that you can analyse them using terms such as narrator, setting, character, conflict, theme, symbol, irony and tone.
307 words, about 2 min