failed and now?.

Your child did not pass the final exam. What now? Can you still help your child pass this year? Can your child repeat the exam year? And what are the other options? We give you an overview of the choices.

Retakes

Not every student passes the final exam the first time. Sometimes your child can still get the diploma by retaking a subject. The school usually advises which subject your child should retake. All students have the right to one retake. This is true even if your child has already passed or failed.

Repeating the year

Most students who fail repeat the exam year. This means your child repeats all subjects from the school year. Also, the subjects your child already passed. Always check the school guide for the school rules about repeating the exam year.

September route or regulation

At vmbo-tl, havo, and vwo the combination grade is part of the exam rules. You can find which subjects and grades count for the combination grade in the exam rules and the testing and completion program of the school.

Would your child have passed with a higher combination grade? The September route of the adult education program can be a solution. Through the adult education program, your child can redo parts of the combination grade and raise it.

Once the combination grade is high enough for a diploma, your child can still get the diploma before October 1 and start further study. You can ask at the adult education program about the options and costs.

Vavo and Rutte-regeling

Sometimes your child can get a vmbo-t, havo or vwo diploma through adult education (vavo). At vavo, your child only gets lessons in subjects where they have a failing grade. The grades for subjects already passed stay the same.

Note: Vavo is mainly for students aged 18 and older. Much more independence is expected than at a regular secondary school. Students aged 18 and older can register themselves at vavo. You as a parent (or your child) must pay for this yourself.

However, it is also possible for 16- and 17-year-old students to follow subjects at vavo. Your child then stays registered at a regular secondary school. That school outsources the teaching to vavo. This is called the ‘Rutte-regeling’.

The vavo institution takes the final exam and issues the diploma. The exam is the same. The diplomas have the same value. Not every secondary school wants to cooperate because they remain responsible for your child.

To mbo

If your child is 16 or older, they can change to mbo. Does your child have a transfer certificate from 3 to 4 havo or vwo? Then your child can enter mbo level 4. Without a transfer certificate, your child can also go to mbo level 1 or mbo level 2. Your child often has other transfer options at mbo. Do you want more information? You can best ask the mbo school.

State exam

Sometimes you can still get the diploma through a state exam. For example, if your child cannot go to another secondary school, or if your child failed vmbo but can start mbo. With the state exam, your child takes exams in separate subjects that can be combined into a diploma.

Did not pass exam and older than 18?

Did your child turn 18 in the exam year? Then your child does not have to go to school because of the law. That does not mean the school can just say your child is no longer welcome. Always check the school guide for rules about repeating the exam year.