Profile choice havo and vwo.

In the third year of havo and vwo, students choose a profile. There are four different profiles. Further education sometimes requires a certain subject or profile. It is important to consider this when choosing a profile.

The four profiles

There is a choice among four different profiles. Within these, you choose one or two profile subjects. Each secondary school offers all four profiles. These are the four profiles:

Nature and technology: in this profile, the subjects mathematics B, physics, and chemistry are compulsory. In addition, you can choose one of the following profile subjects: natural science, life and technology, computer science, biology, or mathematics D.
Nature and health: in this profile, the subjects mathematics A, biology, and chemistry are compulsory. In addition, you can choose one of the following profile subjects: natural science, life and technology, geography, or physics.
Economics and society: in this profile, the subjects mathematics A, economics, and history are compulsory. In addition, you can choose one of the following profile subjects: business economics, geography, social sciences, or a modern foreign language.
Culture and society: in this profile, history is compulsory. At havo, a modern foreign language is also compulsory. At vwo, mathematics C is compulsory. In addition, you can choose two profile subjects. The first choice is between geography, social sciences, or economics. For the second profile subject, the choice is among art subjects, philosophy, or a modern foreign language.

The school does not have to offer all profile subjects. Check well which profile subjects are possible. Sometimes choosing a certain subject means actually following two profiles. Both profiles will then be mentioned on the diploma.

See here for more information about profile choices.

The profile choice

Many children find it hard to choose among the profiles. Some things are important in the choice:

Which subjects does your child like;
In which subjects does your child get good grades;
Which further education does the child want to do or which direction does the child want to take;
Which optional subjects does the school offer besides the profile.

The mentor can help with the choice of a profile. A profile choice test can also help.

Optional subjects

Besides profile subjects, a child also chooses a subject in the free part. The school decides which optional subjects it offers. The offer of optional subjects can depend on the profile choice. This often has to do with the schedule. Sometimes participation in an optional subject also depends on the number of registrations. This is allowed if the school informs parents and children beforehand.

The common part

Besides the profile subjects, all children follow the subjects from the common part. These are Dutch, English, math, social studies, cultural and artistic education or physical education, and at vwo a second modern foreign language. Each child also has to make a profile research paper.

Additional requirements by the school

Some schools set additional requirements to follow a certain profile. For example, for nature and technology, an average grade of at least 6.7 is required for mathematics, chemistry, and physics. The school may set extra requirements if these are clear to parents and children beforehand.

Further education

The profile choice is important for further education. For a university or higher professional education study, specific prior knowledge is expected. A certain profile or subject can then be a requirement for study admission. It is therefore wise to consider this when choosing a profile. For example, use an interactive secondary school transition test, such as the one below.

View the secondary school transition test here