Graduated?.

It is time. Your child takes an exam and hopes to get a diploma. There are many rules to check if your child passed the exam. When is your child passed for the vmbo, havo, or vwo exam? What rules apply?

When is your child passed for the vmbo-b work-study path?

If your child follows a work-study path at vmbo-b, different rules apply. Your child passes if they meet these rules:

• The subject Dutch is finished with a 6 or higher.
• You have no grade lower than a 4 in any vocational subject.
• The vocational profile subject is finished with a 6 or higher.
• The combined grade is finished with a 6 or higher.
• You must have made a career portfolio. This has no grade.
• If you do not take the math exam, you took the school math test. The grade for the school math test does not count for your diploma or the average of the central exams.

When is your child passed for the havo or vwo exam?

To pass the havo or vwo exam your child must meet all these conditions:

• The average of all subjects of the central exams is 5.5 or higher.
• For the core subjects Dutch, English, and math, your child may have one 5 at most and not lower. If your child follows the profile culture and society at havo, the core subjects are only Dutch and English.
• Your child has no more than two failing grades on the final list, including the combined grade. One 5 is allowed on the final list. If your child has one 4, two 5s, or one 4 and one 5 on the final list, they only pass if the average of all subjects is at least a 6.
• Your child has no grade lower than a 4 on the final list, also not for optional subjects.
• The subject physical education is finished with at least a pass.
• For all subjects that count for the combined grade, at least a 4 must be obtained.

Pass or fail with an extra subject

Some children take one subject more than needed to get a diploma. For example, because they want to move from vmbo to havo. Your child cannot fail because of an extra subject.

The results of that subject do not count for the diploma if it is failing. Your child must still meet the rules to pass for the other subjects.

Passed? Time for the diploma ceremony

Celebrate: your child is passed for the exam! As proof, your child gets a diploma, usually during an official ceremony.

The school director and the secretary of the exam board sign the diplomas and grade lists. With the diploma your child can move to another level in school or start a mbo, hbo, or university education.

Pass with honors

If your child has many high grades, they can sometimes pass with honors. This means: pass all exams with an average of 8. This means your child passes ‘with praise’.

It is an honorable title, which usually has little effect. Sometimes your child has a better chance to be chosen or accepted for some educations with a diploma with honors.