Translated from Dutch. The Dutch page is the original. Read in Dutch
What is the Drempelonderzoek? A guide for parents
The Drempelonderzoek is a test that many basisscholen (primary schools) use in groep 8 (the final year of primary school) to help with the schooladvies (the school's recommendation for secondary school level). It measures school skills in five parts: reading fluency, spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension and maths. The results show which level of secondary education suits your child, and whether your child needs extra support.
In short
- The Drempelonderzoek measures what your child has learnt, in five parts. It is not an intelligence test.
- Schools often give it between the autumn half-term and Christmas in groep 8, sometimes already at the end of groep 7.
- The results compare your child with children who went on to praktijkonderwijs (practical education), vmbo (pre-vocational secondary education), havo (senior general secondary education) or vwo (pre-university education), and give a plaatsingsadvies (placement advice).
- It is not compulsory. The school chooses to use it, alongside the compulsory doorstroomtoets (the national test in groep 8).
The five parts
| Part | What does it measure? |
|---|---|
| Reading fluency (technisch lezen) | How quickly and accurately your child reads words. This part is timed. |
| Spelling (taalverzorging) | Spelling: writing words and verbs correctly. |
| Vocabulary (woordenschat) | Whether your child knows the meaning of words and expressions. |
| Reading comprehension (begrijpend lezen) | Understanding texts and answering questions about them. |
| Maths (rekenen) | Sums and word problems at groep 8 level. |
The Drempelonderzoek is made by 678 Onderwijs Advisering. The current, seventh version dates from 2017. The tests do not depend on any particular teaching method: it does not matter which textbooks your child uses.
When does your child take it?
The Drempelonderzoek can be taken at any time during groep 8. Most schools give it between the autumn half-term and Christmas, in preparation for the voorlopig schooladvies (provisional school recommendation) in January. Some regions already do it at the end of groep 7 or in September and October.
The results take the timing into account: in February, more correct answers are needed for the same advice than in September.
What is in the results?
- DLE (didactische leeftijdsequivalent, a learning-age equivalent): the level your child is working at, in months of schooling. A full year is 10 months; the end of groep 8 is DLE 60.
- Comparison by school type: how your child scores compared with children who went on to praktijkonderwijs, vmbo-basis, vmbo-kader, vmbo-gt (the vmbo leerwegen, or learning tracks), havo or vwo.
- Referentieniveaus (national reference levels: 1F, 2F/1S) for spelling, reading comprehension and maths.
- A plaatsingsadvies: the level at which your child is in a "safe" place. According to the makers, that is a place where about a quarter of classmates know or can do less.
If the Drempelonderzoek shows that your child is well behind in their learning, this can help with an application for extra support at secondary school (leerwegondersteuning or praktijkonderwijs).
How can you help your child?
- Read together for fifteen minutes every day. This helps with reading fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
- Talk about difficult words in the news, on packaging or in a book.
- Practise little and often with spelling and maths. For example, with our free Drempelonderzoek questions.
- Don't panic: it is just one measurement. The schooladvies looks at several years.
Sources
Schoolwegwijzer is not connected to 678 Onderwijs Advisering. Our sample questions are our own material.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Drempelonderzoek compulsory?
No. The school decides for itself whether to use the Drempelonderzoek, usually as an extra tool for the schooladvies. Only the doorstroomtoets is compulsory.
What is the difference between the Drempelonderzoek and the NIO?
The Drempelonderzoek measures what your child has learnt: reading, language and maths. The NIO (an intelligence test used by some schools) measures how your child reasons. Some schools use both.
Can you practise for the Drempelonderzoek?
Yes. It measures school skills, so simply practising reading, spelling and maths helps. It is also good if your child knows beforehand what the tasks look like, so they are not caught off guard by, for example, the timed reading list.
What does DLE mean in the results?
DLE stands for didactische leeftijdsequivalent. It shows the level your child is working at, expressed in months of schooling. A child halfway through groep 8 with a DLE of 45 is working at about the level of halfway through groep 7.
Does the Drempelonderzoek count towards the schooladvies?
It is one of the things the school looks at. The advice is based on several years: tests, work in class, attitude to work and conversations. After that, the doorstroomtoets can still raise the advice.
Practise for the Drempelonderzoek
Sample questions for all five parts, with explanations. Free and no account needed.
Practise the Drempelonderzoek