Math in vmbo
vmbo (voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, pre-vocational secondary education) is one of the levels of Dutch secondary school. Its math exam, wiskunde, has one syllabus for three tracks (leerwegen): the basic vocational track BB (basisberoepsgerichte leerweg), the advanced vocational track KB (kaderberoepsgerichte leerweg) and the combined and theoretical track GT (gemengde en theoretische leerweg).
This page lists what that syllabus says about the central exam of 2027, unit by unit, in plain English. It is a map rather than a textbook: each line summarises one part of the syllabus, and where Wiskundehulp has a page on that part, the line links to it. Where the tracks differ, the line says so.
A Dutch exam has two parts. The centraal examen (CE) is the central written exam that this syllabus describes. The schoolexamen (SE) is made up of tests set by your own school. In all three tracks, units WI/K/3 to WI/K/6 are part of the central exam; in GT, the extra requirements (WI/V/1) and ‘skills in combination’ (WI/V/4) are added. The syllabus itself states: “Deze syllabus geldt voor het examenjaar 2027” (this syllabus applies to exam year 2027). You can read the official Dutch text in the syllabus wiskunde vmbo 2027 on Examenblad.nl.
What changes per track
Most of the exam is the same in BB, KB and GT. The table collects the parts of the syllabus where a track adds something. It is taken from the unit descriptions further down this page.
| Part of the syllabus | BB | KB | GT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear relationships (4.1) | yes | yes | yes |
| Exponential, square-root, power and periodic relationships, and y = a/x (4.1) | no | yes | yes |
| y = b · gᵗ, doubling time and half-life, compound interest (4.1) | no | no | yes |
| Scientific notation (5.4) | no | yes | yes |
| Pythagorean theorem; sine, cosine and tangent (6.3) | no | yes | yes |
| Angles and distances in 2D and 3D shapes (6.2) | no | no | yes |
| Extra requirements WI/V/1 in the central exam | no | no | yes |
Of the 32 parts below, 17 have their own page on Wiskundehulp. All formulas are together on the formulas page.
Exam unit WI/K/3 · Learning skills in mathematics
Central exam in BB, KB and GT (in GT this unit is called ‘Skills in mathematics’). These skills are tested together with the other exam units.
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WI/K/3 Skills. Turning information from a situation into a mathematical model, judging and using information, choosing a suitable way to calculate, calculating efficiently and checking results critically, drawing conclusions and using mathematical language.
Exam unit WI/K/4 · Algebraic relationships
Central exam in BB, KB and GT. In GT the extra requirements (WI/V/1) are part of the central exam as well.
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4.1 Knowing, recognising and using relationships. BB: linear relationships with a table, a graph and a formula in words. KB and GT: also exponential relationships, square-root relationships, power relationships, relationships of the form y = a/x and periodic relationships. GT also: y = ax + b, y = b · gᵗ, doubling time and half-life, compound interest, and amplitude, period and frequency.
On Wiskundehulp: linear relationships (BB, KB, GT), exponential relationships (KB, GT) (practice: exponential relationships (KB, GT)). Not on Wiskundehulp yet: square-root and power relationships (KB, GT), relationships of the form y = a/x (KB, GT), periodic relationships (KB, GT). -
4.2 Tables. Making, reading, comparing and interpreting tables: spotting patterns, finding the largest and smallest values and drawing conclusions about the situation.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: tables for relationships. -
4.3 Graphs. Drawing, reading, interpreting and comparing graphs: describing where a graph rises and falls, reading off minimums and maximums, and finding and explaining the intersection of two graphs.
On Wiskundehulp: viewing the graph of a formula. Not on Wiskundehulp yet: reading and comparing graphs. -
4.4 Working with formulas (in words). Checking whether a formula, possibly one written in words, fits a situation and which variables depend on each other.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: formulas for a situation. -
4.5 Calculating with formulas (in words). Substituting a number into a formula and working out the result, and checking whether two formulas describe the same relationship.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: calculating with formulas. -
4.6 Representations. Linking a table, a graph, a formula and a description in words, and deciding which values make sense in the situation.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: linking table, graph and formula.
Exam unit WI/K/5 · Calculating, measuring and estimating
Central exam in BB, KB and GT.
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5.1 Practical calculation in everyday situations. Estimating, calculating with common units such as length, volume, money and speed, using prefixes such as kilo- and milli-, and rounding sensibly.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: units and rounding. -
5.2 Using a calculator. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with a calculator, and calculating or approximating fractions, percentages, powers and roots.
On Wiskundehulp: the calculator, powers and roots, percentages (practice: percentages), fractions (practice: fractions). -
5.3 Measuring and estimating. Using common units and reference measures, estimating results in advance, reading scales, and saying something about order of magnitude and precision.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: estimating and order of magnitude. -
5.4 Basic techniques. Calculating with fractions and negative numbers, comparing ratios and converting them into a fraction, a decimal or a percentage, using a ratio table and applying the order of operations. KB and GT also: scientific notation.
On Wiskundehulp: fractions (practice: fractions), ratios and percentages (practice: ratios and percentages), order of operations. Not on Wiskundehulp yet: negative numbers, scientific notation (KB, GT).
Exam unit WI/K/6 · Geometry
Central exam in BB, KB and GT.
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6.1 Representing objects. Reading and making floor plans, maps, views, nets and cross-sections, and describing situations with figures, coordinates, or direction and distance.
Not on Wiskundehulp yet: views, nets and maps. -
6.2 Estimating, measuring and calculating. Calculating lengths with a scale, the area and perimeter of a triangle, rectangle and circle, the volume of a cube and a cuboid, and the volume of other solids with a given formula. GT also: calculating angles and distances in 2D and 3D shapes.
On Wiskundehulp: scale, area of a triangle, rectangle and circle, volume of a cube, cone and sphere, volume of a cylinder, volume of a cuboid, prism and pyramid. Not on Wiskundehulp yet: angles and distances in 3D (GT). -
6.3 Reasoning and drawing. Reasoning with parallel lines, enlarging and reducing, symmetry and properties of angles, and drawing with a ruler, protractor and compass. KB and GT also: sine, cosine and tangent, and the Pythagorean theorem.
On Wiskundehulp: Pythagorean theorem (KB, GT) (practice: Pythagorean theorem (KB, GT)), sine, cosine and tangent (KB, GT) (practice: sine, cosine and tangent (KB, GT)). Not on Wiskundehulp yet: angles, symmetry and enlarging.
School exam only
In every track, WI/K/1 Orientation on learning and work, WI/K/2 Basic skills, WI/K/7 Information processing and statistics, and WI/K/8 Integrated mathematical activities belong to the school exam only; in GT, WI/V/2 and WI/V/3 do as well. What they contain is not in this syllabus but in the guidance documents from SLO.
Where to start
These pages cover parts of the central exam in every track: percentages, fractions, scale, area and volume. Each one shows every step of the calculation, so you can compare it with your own working. Not sure which page fits your homework question? Ask a question with the numbers in it.
In KB and GT, add the Pythagorean theorem, sine, cosine and tangent and exponential growth. Moving on to havo after vmbo? The map for math B on havo and the guide to the difference between math A and B help you choose.