Hardest and Easiest Dutch Theory Exams (Rijbewijs B)

This short overview compares all major rijbewijs B theorie-examens based on three things: average pass rate, number of exams (volume), and how much the pass rate jumps around (standard deviation).

Easiest theory exam (highest pass rate)

• BTH-I-T – Theorie-examen auto met tolk (with interpreter)
• Average pass rate: 43.9%
• Volume: about 22,300 exams per year
• Std (spread): 4.7 percentage points

This is the most successful route on average. Candidates with a tolk clearly benefit from language support, and the results are consistently above 40%.

Middle group – “normal” difficulty

• BTH – Normal Dutch theory
  • Mean: 38.3% · Volume: 540,900 · Std: 2.6
• BTH-I – Individueel theorie-examen
  • Mean: 34.8% · Volume: 16,600 · Std: 3.4

These are the classic exams most people know. The Dutch group has by far the largest volume and relatively stable results (kleine schommelingen week tot week).

Harder exams (lower pass rates)

• BTH-E – English theory
  • Mean: 31.9% · Volume: 35,100 · Std: 4.0
• BTH-E-VE – English extra time
  • Mean: 28.1% · Volume: 13,600 · Std: 3.8
• BTH-VE – Dutch extra time
  • Mean: 25.9% (laagste) · Volume: 80,400 · Std: 2.4

These variants are used by candidates who need extra time or prefer English. Their slagingspercentages are clearly lower, even though the exam structure is similar. Extra time does not automatically make the test easier; it mainly indicates that candidates need more support.

Simple takeaway

• Easiest: BTH-I-T (with interpreter)
• Toughest: BTH-VE (Dutch extra time), followed by English extra-time and normal English theory.
• Most common: normal Dutch theory (BTH), with over half a million exams per year.

For learners this means: choose the format that fits your situation (language, stress, tempo), but don’t assume that “extra time” guarantees a higher slagingskans—good preparation still matters most.