How the Spreken exam works
You will know what happens in the A2 and B1 speaking exams, how answers are recorded and rated, and how to handle the timer.
A2 and B17 minLesson 1 of 6
After this lesson you can
- Describe the parts of the A2 and B1 speaking exams
- Understand that answers are recorded and rated later
- Prepare a routine for the moment the recording starts
No examiner in the room
Both speaking exams are taken on a computer with a headset. You see a video or pictures, you hear a question, and you record your answer. Nobody reacts to you while you speak. Trained assessors listen to the recordings afterwards and rate them.
That has two consequences:
- Nobody will help you. If you stop talking, there is just silence on the recording.
- Only what is recorded counts. Thinking of a great answer does not score; saying it does.
A2: four parts, about 35 minutes
| Part | What you see | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A short video: someone in a daily situation asks you something | Answer the question as if you are in that situation |
| 2 | One picture | Answer a question about it: describe, explain, or say what you do or would do |
| 3 | Two pictures | Choose one and say why |
| 4 | Three pictures that tell a story | Tell the story |
The questions are short and everyday: work, shopping, the doctor, the weekend, school, transport, the neighbours.
B1: two parts, about 25 minutes
The B1 speaking exam is part of Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I.
| Part | Tasks | Time per task |
|---|---|---|
| Deel 1 | 8 short tasks: react to a situation, ask something, give information | about 20 seconds to speak |
| Deel 2 | 8 longer tasks: give your opinion, advice, compare, explain how something works | about 15 seconds to prepare, then about 30 seconds to speak |
Twenty seconds is two or three sentences. Thirty seconds is four to six. That is less than most people expect, so get to the point quickly.
What the assessors listen for
- Did you do the task? If the question asks for a reason, give one. If it asks you to choose, choose.
- Is it understandable? Accent is fine. Unclear words that hide your meaning are not.
- Vocabulary and grammar that fit the level.
- Connected speech: sentences linked with en, maar, omdat, want, daarna, not single words.
- The right tone: u to the doctor or a stranger, je to a friend or colleague.
The moment the recording starts
Most points are lost in the first three seconds: people hesitate, say eh… for a long time, or start with a sentence they cannot finish. Build a routine:
- Listen to the whole question. Catch the question word: wat, waarom, waar, wanneer, hoe, welke.
- Start with the answer. Reuse words from the question: Wat doe je in het weekend? → In het weekend…
- Add a reason or detail (next lesson).
- Stop when you are done. You do not have to fill every second with noise, but a one-word answer is too short.
Using a little filler (well)
Natural Dutch speakers use short fillers too. These buy you a second without sounding stuck:
- Nou, …
- Even denken…
- Dat is een goede vraag.
- Ik denk eigenlijk dat…
Use one, not five. Then answer.
No dictionary
Dictionaries are not allowed in the speaking exam. If you forget a word, describe it: dat ding waarmee je het gras kort maakt (a lawnmower), or use a simpler word: de dokter instead of de huisarts still works.
How to practise
- Out loud, always. Silent practice does not train your mouth.
- Use a timer: 20 seconds and 30 seconds. Learn what those feel like.
- Record yourself on your phone and listen back. Did you answer the question in the first sentence?
- Use the official practice exams on inburgeren.nl (A2) and oefenexamensnt2.nl (B1) to get used to the screens.
Useful Dutch
- de koptelefoonheadphones / headset
- opnemento record
- de opnamethe recording
- de vraagthe question
- het plaatje / de afbeeldingthe picture
- Nou, …Well, … (natural filler)
- Even denken…Let me think…
- Ik weet het woord niet, maar …I don't know the word, but …
- dat ding waarmee je …that thing you use to …
Worked example
A2 part 1: a video question
Catch the question word (wat) and the time (gisteravond), so the answer is in the past. Start with the answer and reuse the question's words: 'Gisteravond heb ik met mijn zus gekookt. We hebben soep gemaakt. Daarna hebben we een film gekeken. Het was gezellig!' Four short sentences, all in the perfectum, informal tone because it is a colleague. That comfortably answers the question.
Common mistakes
- Waiting several seconds before starting, as if an examiner will help.
- Answering with one word or one short sentence.
- Answering a past-tense question in the present tense.
- Using u to a friend in the video, or je to a doctor.
Check yourself
Answer all three to mark this lesson as done.
1. How long do you have to speak for a Deel 2 task in the B1 exam?
2. In A2 part 3 you see two pictures. What must you do?
3. Who rates your speaking answers?