Pre-Master's assessment

Pre-master's assessment

• Who is the pre-master's assessment for?

  To be admitted to the pre-master's with a Dutch bachelor's degree, some pre-master's programmes require a pre-master's assessment.

  For the following pre-master's programmes, the assessment is compulsory:

  Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (FGB)

  • Human Movement Sciences
  • Pedagogical Sciences

  School of Social Sciences (SSW)

  • Policy, Communication and Organisation
  • Public Administration
  • Communication Science
  • Culture, Organisation and Management
  • Political Science
  • Social and Cultural Anthropology
  • Sociology

• Sign up

  You can apply from spring 2026 for the pre-master's assessment. While completing your application, you will need to provide a preferred date for this via your personal dashboard on VU.nl. To do so, go to the tab 'Study-specific questions'. Submitting a preferred date is equivalent to an application.

  Invitation to the assessment centre

  Once you have registered for the pre-master's assessment, you can expect an invitation for the assessment from 15 May onwards.

  Registering for the pre-master's assessment

  Register on time when the application opens via your VU dashboard, even if you have not yet received a notification of your eligibility. The deadline for registering for the pre-master's assessment (including your preferred date) can be found under the heading "Dates and application deadlines pre-master's assessment" below.

• Dates and application deadlines pre-master's assessment

  The pre-master's assessment will be taken on two different dates. The test takes place on campus during one half-day session and lasts a maximum of four hours in total.

  Date	Starting time	Duration	Application deadline assessment
  Wednesday 17 June	15:30	3:00 pm	8 June 2026
  Wednesday 15 July	3:30 pm	3:00 am	6 July 2026

  We will try to take your preferences into account and eventually assign you to one date. If one date is full, you will be assigned to the other date. Therefore, to be on the safe side, keep both dates free.

  Please note! Changing dates is not possible. Once you have been assigned and have received an invitation, it is no longer possible to change the date. So put the date in your schedule!

• Taking pre-master's assessment

  The pre-master's assessment will be held on campus. You will receive a personal invitation by e-mail after you have been assigned to a date. The invitation contains more information about the assessment and what you might need.

• Content and test items

  The pre-master's assessment is a digital test consisting of up to five parts. Depending on the programme you want to do, you will be given a number of these components. The test takes place in one part of the day and lasts a maximum of four hours in total.

  Components

  Cognitive ability test
  The cognitive ability test consists of multiple-choice questions that you have to solve using logical reasoning or verbal and numerical abilities.
  Duration: 35 minutes + instruction time

  English language text comprehension and reading skills
  This section focuses on understanding an English-language text. You will be presented with four English texts/articles on which you have to answer a number of multiple-choice questions.
  Duration: 35 minutes + instruction time

  Test focusing on arithmetic skills and mathematics/statistics
  This component focuses on your arithmetic skills, mathematics and statistics. The arithmetic component depends on your chosen (pre)master programme.
  Duration: 40 - 60 minutes + instruction time

  The STEM test is intended for candidates of the programmes:

  • Human Movement Sciences (Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences).

  The Gamma test is intended for candidates of the programmes of the:

  • School of Social Sciences
  • Pedagogical Sciences (Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences)

  Scientific case
  You are presented with a number of Dutch texts, on which you have to answer multiple-choice questions. The main focus will be on your ability to analyse, reason logically, distinguish between main and minor issues and make connections.
  Duration: 50 minutes + instruction time

  Text comprehension and reading skills Dutch language
  The writing skills test consists of a number of pieces of text, on which you have to answer multiple-choice questions. This test is designed to check your understanding of basic principles applied when writing a text. These include: paragraph layout, logical structure and flow of sentences, formulation of logical argument and conclusion.
  Duration: 30 minutes + instruction time

  Components per faculty

  If you have to take a pre-master's assessment, the result is binding. This means that you need to achieve a certain score on one or more components to be admitted to the pre-master's programme. The faculty determines the conditions for passing the assessment.

  View the list of components per faculty here or click on your faculty/programme below to view the binding components:

  • Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (Human Movement Sciences)
  • Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (Pedagogical Sciences)
  • School of Social Sciences

• Results

  You will receive the results within one to two weeks after the assessment. You will receive your report from NOA, the organization that conducts the assessment. The relevant faculty will inform you of the results by email. Please contact the admission committee of your faculty if you have any questions. As the result is binding (except for communication sciences), only a positive result gives access to the pre-master's programme. A result of the pre-master's assessment only gives access to the pre-master's track of that particular academic year.

• Preparation tips

  To prepare for the pre-master's exam, you can go through certain mathematics textbooks or read articles in English. For example, you can practise with vwo final exam books. Above all, go through the document 'Content and example VU pre-master's assessment' to get an idea of the content of the individual parts and the type of questions. SSW students can go through the'Information content VU Pre-master's Assessment for SSW'.

  Preparation tips arithmetic skills and mathematics
  Have you not had arithmetic skills and mathematics at final level vwo or have you had the material for a long time? Then we recommend that you consult vwo-level high school textbooks that cover the indicated topics (such as Number and Space). You will also find the recommended books in the sample assessment. The test is designed so that you do not need a calculator.
  
  To prepare for the assessment, you can use the following tips: Preparation Pre-master's Assessment Mathematics.

  Preparation tips text comprehension and reading skills English language
  Have you not had text comprehension and reading skills English language at final level vwo or have you had the material for a long time? Then we advise you to read as many English texts and articles from newspapers and books as possible. You can also take the English text and the questions about it from the sample assessment.

• Function limitation

  Students who wish to make use of extra time on the basis of a functional limitation (such as dyslexia) should indicate this when completing their application. On vu.nl when answering the additional questions for admission, you have the option to add a medical declaration. On the basis of this declaration, it will be assessed whether you qualify for extra time. You will be given a maximum of ten minutes extra time per section and a maximum of 30 minutes extra time in total.

• Frequently asked questions

  For whom is participation in the pre-master's assessment mandatory?
  The assessment is mandatory if you want to do a master's degree at the VU with your bachelor's degree at one of the following faculties:

  • Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (FGB) for the programmes Human Movement Sciences and Pedagogical Sciences
  • School of Social Sciences (SSW)

  If you want to do a programme at another faculty, the assessment is not necessary. Check the programme page of your programme for specific information.

  Why a pre-master's assessment?
  On the one hand, it provides information to students: It gives insight into which competences and skills are needed to successfully complete the (pre-)master. In addition, it provides insight into whether you have sufficient affinity with an academic programme.

  On the other hand, the pre-master's assessment is relevant to faculties as it provides insight into capacities and skills of the prospective student. The admission advice is based on this, which is binding for all programmes except the pre-master's in Communication Studies, for this programme the advice is advisory.

  What are the costs of the pre-master's assessment?
  There are no costs associated with the pre-master's assessment.

  Why is the result of the assessment binding for admission (except communication sciences)?
  The pre-master's assessment provides insight into students' abilities and skills. The result of the pre-master's assessment is therefore a good predictor for the student's success in the (pre-)master's programme. To limit student drop-out during the academic year, the pre-master's assessment is used and the result is binding; this does not apply to the pre-master's in Communication Studies.

  Are exemptions possible for one or more components of the assessment?
  No, this is not possible.

  If you have registered for more than one programme and you have taken the assessment, can you still register for another programme later?
  That depends on which programme you want to take part in, because the assessment is not the same for all programmes and each programme uses its own standards for the outcome of the assessment. Which components are compulsory for each study can be found in this document. If in doubt, contact the faculty of the programme you would like to take (contact information can be found on the programme page) or studentenbalie@vu.nl.

  If I take part in the SSW assessment, for example, but ultimately want to apply for a pre-master's programme at FGB, will the admission results also apply to that faculty?
  The content of the assessment differs per programme. So you cannot simply take the assessment for one faculty and apply for another. You can find which components are compulsory for each study in this document. When in doubt, contact the faculty of the programme you would like to do (contact information can be found on the programme page) or studentenbalie@vu.nl.

  If you only have your hbo-propedeuse, can you take part in the assessment?
  No. A premaster at the VU is only open to students with a hbo certificate (bachelor's degree) of 240 ECTS and a (satisfactorily) completed assessment.

  If I fail the assessment, can I retake it?
  There is no retake option within 1 year. The following year, you will have to take another assessment.

  How many times can you take part in an assessment?
  Only once a year. You can retake the assessment the following year if you did not pass it the first time.

  How long will a successfully completed assessment remain valid?
  The result of a pre-master's assessment in summer 2025 is only valid for enrolment in academic year 2025-2026. Taking the result of the pre-master's assessment with you to another academic year is not possible.

  What kind of questions can I expect on the assessment?
  All questions are multiple-choice.

  Are you allowed to use scrap paper at the assessment?
  Use of scrap paper is allowed throughout the assessment. This will be provided to everyone prior to the assessment.

  Are you allowed to use a calculator in the Mathematics and Statistics section?
  No, you are not allowed to use a calculator when completing the assignments.

  Are you allowed to use a dictionary?
  No, use of a dictionary is not allowed throughout the assessment.

  If you have not had any maths at college, do you have to catch up on this knowledge?
  The entrance requirement is that you master maths at final exam level vwo. If you estimate that you do not have enough knowledge of mathematics, you can prepare yourself by proofreading mathematics books.