Answer every part of the question
For A2 Spreken, answer the whole question in short Dutch sentences. Include the extra instruction after Vertel ook… (also say…) and the picture details the task asks for. A missing, unintelligible or unrelated answer scores zero. If you make a word mistake, correct it briefly and continue. Use the checks below to review your next recording.
A2 Spreken is a computer exam with films and questions. The whole exam lasts 35 minutes, according to DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab). For the full format, see the A2 Spreken exam guide.
Six speaking mistakes and what to try
Use the last column to change each habit in your next practice recording. Check the question for the details to include.
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| Mistake | Effect | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Long silence | A missing answer gives the examiner no speech to assess. | Start with a sentence that fits the question: Ik zie… (I see…) or Ik kies… (I choose…). |
| Only one word | A single word may leave out a requested action or reason. | For a question about a bus, try full sentences: Ik zie een bus. De bus is vol. (I see a bus. The bus is full.) |
| Missing “Vertel ook…” | You leave part of the question unanswered. | Listen for the extra instruction: why, when, what you think or what someone should do. |
| Ignoring the picture | Your answer may miss the details the question asks for. | Give the number of visible details the task asks for. Add your opinion if requested. |
| Grammar that is too difficult | Searching for a difficult sentence can lead to stops and restarts. | Use short present-tense sentences. Join ideas with words such as en (and) or maar (but). |
| Speaking too fast | A listener may struggle to understand individual words. | Slow down enough to say each word clearly and finish each sentence. |
Scoring checks for your recording
Start by checking whether you answered the question. The DUO assessment model (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) gives zero for a missing, unintelligible or unrelated answer. All other criteria then receive zero too. An incomplete or partly unclear answer can receive one point for answering the task.
The A2 speaking exam has 16 exercises. Each exercise can earn up to 12 points, for a maximum total of 192 points (16 × 12). This is the maximum available score, not the pass mark.
Some grammar mistakes and an accent can still earn points. Use these four checks to review your recording:
- Check the task: answer the main question and every extra instruction.
- Check the links between ideas: use en, maar, want (because) or omdat (because) where they fit.
- Check pauses: the model allows some pauses and rewording. An answer that is not fluent at all, with many long pauses or repeated restarts, receives zero for fluency.
- Check pronunciation: the model allows an accent and occasional mispronounced words. The listener still needs to understand your answer.
For practice, ask: Waar doet u huiswerk? Vertel ook waarom. (Where do you do homework? Also say why.) Slaapkamer (bedroom) gives a place but leaves out the reason. A fuller answer is: Ik maak graag huiswerk op mijn slaapkamer, want het is daar rustig. (I like to do homework in my bedroom because it is quiet there.)
Phrases for corrections, conclusions and reasons
If you notice a word mistake while recording, we suggest correcting that word briefly. Then finish the answer. Choose a phrase that fits what you need to say:
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Phrase | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ik bedoel… (I mean…) | To correct a word. | Ik ga maandag. Ik bedoel dinsdag. (I am going on Monday. I mean Tuesday.) |
| Dus… (so…) | To give a conclusion. | De bus is vol. Dus ik neem de trein. (The bus is full. So I take the train.) |
| Dat vind ik, omdat… (That is what I think, because…) | To give a reason for an opinion. | Dat vind ik, omdat de bus vol is. (That is what I think, because the bus is full.) |
A brief correction can keep your answer understandable. Repeated restarts can reduce your fluency score.
Practice for your next recording
If the computer format is new to you, start with DUO’s official A2 speaking practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab). DUO says its speaking practice exams do not work in Safari. Use another browser.
If your recording misses a reason or picture detail, practise the same question again with that detail. If your words are hard to understand, record the answer more slowly. Finish the task before adding harder grammar.
For extra free practice, use our summary or workbook below. The workbook uses a one-minute speaking limit for its practice recordings. Follow the instructions on the exam screen for the real exam.
- Free A2 speaking summary — answer frames and a checklist for reviewing recordings.
- Free A2 speaking practice workbook — picture tasks for one-minute practice recordings.
- A2 Spreken exam guide — the full exam format and more practice.
Official Sources
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website) — Taalexamens (language exams) (External site, opens in a new tab) - A2 speaking is a computer exam with films and questions; the whole exam lasts 35 minutes.
- Inburgeren.nl — Oefenen (practice) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official A2 speaking practice exams and advice on which browser to use.
- Beoordelingsmodel Spreken A2 (A2 speaking assessment model) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Scoring criteria for spoken answers, including incomplete answers, grammar, pauses and pronunciation; version 10 August 2026.