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100+ Free HAVO Engels Practice Questions

Prepare for the Netherlands HAVO Engels — Centraal Examen and Schoolexamen exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: HAVO Engels Exam

13:30–16:00

CE duration window 2026 (2.5 hours)

Examenblad Engels havo 2026 rooster

18 May 2026

1e tijdvak CE date

Examenblad.nl

22 June 2026

2e tijdvak CE date

Examenblad.nl

Domein A only

CE tests Leesvaardigheid (reading)

Examenprogramma / Syllabus MVT havo 2026

Not C1 pass

Voldoende ≠ CEFR C1 for Engels havo CE

Syllabus moderne vreemde talen havo 2026

≥5.5

Typical subject pass on 1–10 scale

Dutch VO grading practice

N-term

CE points → grade conversion

Examenblad omzettingstabel normering

100

Free English MCQ study items on this page

OpenExamPrep study adaptation

Official HAVO Engels 2026 CE is a 2.5-hour national reading paper (Domein A) plus school SE for other skills — not pure MCQ and not a writing/speaking exam. These 100 English MCQs are a study adaptation for CE reading comprehension strategies aligned to the CvTE/Examenblad 2026 MVT syllabus.

Sample HAVO Engels Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your HAVO Engels exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Passage: "City libraries now lend e-readers for two weeks. Borrowers must return devices undamaged or pay a repair fee." What is the main purpose of this notice?
A.To warn borrowers about return rules for e-readers
B.To advertise a new bookstore opening
C.To cancel all paper book loans
D.To announce free permanent ownership of devices
Explanation: The notice focuses on lending e-readers and the consequence of damage — a practical rule for borrowers. That is the main purpose.
2Passage: "Bring a reusable bottle. The festival will not sell single-use plastic bottles after 2026." What should visitors do?
A.Bring their own reusable bottle
B.Buy only plastic bottles at the gate
C.Avoid drinking water at the festival
D.Collect empty bottles for recycling prizes
Explanation: The instruction is explicit: bring a reusable bottle because single-use plastic bottles will not be sold.
3In the sentence "The researcher remained sceptical about the bold claim," sceptical most nearly means:
A.doubtful
B.enthusiastic
C.confused
D.silent
Explanation: Sceptical means inclined to doubt or question a claim. Context "about the bold claim" supports doubt, not enthusiasm.
4Passage: "Although tickets were expensive, the concert was sold out within hours." The word Although signals:
A.Contrast between cost and demand
B.A cause of the sell-out
C.A time sequence
D.An example of ticket types
Explanation: Although introduces a concession/contrast: high price versus still selling out quickly.
5Passage: "Students who finish early may leave quietly. Others should continue working until the bell." Who may leave early?
A.Students who have finished
B.All students at any time
C.Only teachers
D.Students who feel tired
Explanation: The first sentence limits early departure to students who finish early.
6Which sentence best states a hoofdgedachte (main idea) rather than a detail?
A.Public transport use rose after the city expanded late-night metro hours.
B.One passenger waited twelve minutes on Tuesday.
C.A blue seat was broken on line 4.
D.The driver wore a grey jacket.
Explanation: The first option summarises a broader trend; the others are narrow details.
7Passage: "The app tracks sleep patterns and suggests earlier bedtimes when users report fatigue." What does the app suggest when users feel tired?
A.Earlier bedtimes
B.More caffeine
C.Skipping exercise
D.Turning off all notifications forever
Explanation: The text directly links fatigue reports to suggestions for earlier bedtimes.
8In "Her argument was compelling," compelling most nearly means:
A.convincing
B.confusing
C.illegal
D.humorous
Explanation: Compelling means persuasive or convincing in this academic reading context.
9Passage: "First, rinse the wound. Next, apply a clean bandage. Finally, seek medical help if bleeding continues." The words First, Next, Finally show:
A.A sequence of steps
B.A disagreement
C.A comparison of brands
D.A definition
Explanation: Ordinal/sequence markers organise instructions in order.
10Passage: "I had hoped for sunshine; instead, we got three days of rain." The writer's feeling is closest to:
A.Disappointment
B.Pride
C.Indifference to weather
D.Fear of sunshine
Explanation: Hoped for sunshine but got rain implies disappointment; instead marks the unwanted outcome.

About the HAVO Engels Exam

HAVO Engels is the Dutch upper-secondary English eindexamen under CvTE rules, catalogued on Examenblad.nl. The Syllabus moderne vreemde talen havo 2026 (unchanged vs 2025 per vakspecifieke informatie) specifies that the Centraal Examen tests Domein A Leesvaardigheid only, with ERK/CEFR descriptors for reading. A voldoende on Engels havo CE does not certify CEFR C1 for the tested skill (CvTE syllabus). Listening, speaking, writing and literature are assessed in the Schoolexamen. This practice bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation for CE reading strategies, vocabulary in context, grammar judgment for comprehension, and text structure — clearly not a substitute for SE writing or speaking practice.

Assessment

Eindexamen = CE + SE. Centraal Examen: one national written sitting testing Domein A Leesvaardigheid only (reading comprehension of authentic-style English texts; mixed open/short items with correctievoorschrift scoring; N-term conversion to 1–10). Schoolexamen: Domains B–F (kijk- en luistervaardigheid, gespreksvaardigheid, schrijfvaardigheid, literatuur, oriëntatie op studie en beroep) per school PTA. Official CE is not an MCQ-only paper and does not assess writing/speaking.

Time Limit

CE: 2.5 hours (Examenblad 2026: 1e tijdvak Monday 18 May 2026 13:30–16:00; 2e tijdvak Monday 22 June 2026 13:30–16:00). SE duration and forms follow each school’s PTA.

Passing Score

Dutch grading scale 1–10; a subject is typically passed at ≥5.5. When both apply, the final subject grade is the average of CE and SE. CE points are converted via the published N-term table for that series. Engels is a kernvak in diploma rules.

Exam Fee

No separate published per-subject fee for regular secondary-school HAVO candidates (publicly funded). Do not treat DUO Staatsexamen subject fees as the school CE fee; those fees apply only to independent DUO Staatsexamen candidates. (College voor Toetsen en Examens (CvTE); catalogue and documents on Examenblad.nl)

HAVO Engels Exam Content Outline

~25%

Relevant information & scanning

Locate facts and details that answer a stated information need in English texts.

~20%

Main idea & gist

Identify the hoofdgedachte of a passage or paragraph without being distracted by details.

~20%

Vocabulary & meaning in context

Infer word and phrase meaning from surrounding English context (betekenis van belangrijke elementen).

~20%

Text structure & cohesion

Recognise how sentences and paragraphs relate (contrast, cause, example, reference).

~15%

Author intent, tone & inference

Conclude what the writer intends, believes or feels from textual clues.

How to Pass the HAVO Engels Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Dutch grading scale 1–10; a subject is typically passed at ≥5.5. When both apply, the final subject grade is the average of CE and SE. CE points are converted via the published N-term table for that series. Engels is a kernvak in diploma rules.
  • Assessment: Eindexamen = CE + SE. Centraal Examen: one national written sitting testing Domein A Leesvaardigheid only (reading comprehension of authentic-style English texts; mixed open/short items with correctievoorschrift scoring; N-term conversion to 1–10). Schoolexamen: Domains B–F (kijk- en luistervaardigheid, gespreksvaardigheid, schrijfvaardigheid, literatuur, oriëntatie op studie en beroep) per school PTA. Official CE is not an MCQ-only paper and does not assess writing/speaking.
  • Time limit: CE: 2.5 hours (Examenblad 2026: 1e tijdvak Monday 18 May 2026 13:30–16:00; 2e tijdvak Monday 22 June 2026 13:30–16:00). SE duration and forms follow each school’s PTA.
  • Exam fee: No separate published per-subject fee for regular secondary-school HAVO candidates (publicly funded). Do not treat DUO Staatsexamen subject fees as the school CE fee; those fees apply only to independent DUO Staatsexamen candidates.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

HAVO Engels Study Tips from Top Performers

1Train scanning for relevant details and skimming for hoofdgedachte on authentic English articles — CE is reading-only.
2Practise vocabulary-in-context: guess meaning from the sentence before looking anything up.
3Map cohesive links (however, therefore, which, this) — many CE items test relaties tussen tekstdelen.
4Use these English MCQs for strategy drill, then switch to Dutch past CE papers on Examenblad for authentic timing and open-answer wording.
5Do not skip SE: listening, speaking and writing are assessed at school and are not replaced by reading MCQs.
6Check vakspecifieke informatie each year: open answers in Dutch unless citation in English is required; no language-error deduction on content answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Netherlands HAVO Engels?

It is the HAVO English eindexamen subject under CvTE, with documents and rooster on Examenblad.nl. The examenprogramma moderne vreemde talen covers Domains A–F. The Centraal Examen tests only Domein A Leesvaardigheid (reading). Domains B–F (listening/viewing, speaking, writing, literature, study/career orientation) are assessed in the Schoolexamen.

Is the official Centraal Examen multiple-choice?

No. The official CE is a written reading paper with mixed item types scored with a correctievoorschrift and converted via the N-term omzettingstabel. Open answers are normally in Dutch unless the question requires an English citation. This page’s 100 questions are an English-language MCQ study adaptation for reading strategies — not an official CE simulation and not a substitute for writing or speaking practice.

How long is the 2026 HAVO Engels CE?

Examenblad lists both 1e tijdvak (18 May 2026) and 2e tijdvak (22 June 2026) as 13:30–16:00, i.e. 2.5 hours. Schoolexamen timing is set in each school’s PTA.

What CEFR level is HAVO Engels reading?

The Syllabus moderne vreemde talen havo 2026 specifies CE reading with ERK/CEFR descriptors. For Engels havo, CvTE states that a voldoende does not mean the candidate has demonstrated C1 for the tested skill, because the CvTE pass cesuur and the C1 cesuur differ substantially. Treat CE practice as CEFR-aligned HAVO reading, not as a C1 certificate.

What score do I need to pass?

Dutch secondary grades use a 1–10 scale; a subject is typically passed at 5.5 or higher. When both CE and SE apply, the final subject grade is normally their average. CE raw scores are converted via the series N-term table. Engels is a kernvak in diploma rules.

How much does HAVO Engels cost for school candidates?

Regular secondary-school HAVO candidates do not pay a separate published per-subject CE fee; schooling is publicly funded. DUO Staatsexamen subject fees apply only to independent Staatsexamen candidates and should not be cited as the school exam fee.