A2 Spreken exam: practise your answers

A2 Spreken tests whether you can speak and understand Dutch. You take it at a computer, watch short films and answer questions. The whole exam lasts 35 minutes, according to DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab).

Start with DUO’s official A2 speaking practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) to try the computer format. DUO lists three speaking practice exams. They do not work in Safari, so use another browser.

The practice set on this page covers four formats: video-style questions, one-picture descriptions, two-picture choices and three-picture sequences. Some ask about your own life. Others ask you to describe a scene or choose between two options. See A2 speaking question types for the instructions and answer pattern for each practice format.

For the wider exam requirements, see the inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) guide. To compare speaking at A2, B1 and B2, use the Dutch speaking exams guide.

The listed fee for A2 Spreken (External site, opens in a new tab) is €50 in October 2026. Some attempts are free. The integration exam costs and fees guide explains who qualifies.

Check which exams and level you need in Mijn Inburgering (My Integration, DUO’s online portal). DUO’s exam registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) explains how to choose a date and place there. If you cannot log in, use the registration form on that page. A place can take more than six weeks, so check availability before choosing your study schedule.

You use DigiD (digital identity) to log in. If you need to set it up first, use the Get and use DigiD guide.

For your practice recording, set a one-minute limit. Start with the answer, then add the details the question asks for. The three steps below are a practice plan; the question decides how many sentences you need.

1. Answer the question in your first sentence.
2. Describe a visible detail or give an example in your next sentence.
3. Add the requested reason, opinion, time or place.

These four sample answers show the plan for different practice formats:

• Video question: Ja, ik kook vaak thuis. Ik maak graag soep en rijst. Dat is goedkoop, en ik kan eten meenemen naar mijn werk. (Yes, I often cook at home. I like making soup and rice. That is cheap, and I can take food to work.)
• One picture: De vrouw staat bij de tramhalte. Ze heeft een paraplu, want het regent. Misschien gaat ze naar haar werk. (The woman is at the tram stop. She has an umbrella because it is raining. Perhaps she is going to work.)
• Two pictures: Ik kies plaatje 2. Ik studeer liever in de bibliotheek, want het is rustig. In een café is er te veel lawaai. (I choose picture 2. I prefer studying in the library because it is quiet. There is too much noise in a café.)
• Three pictures: Eerst koopt hij een kaartje. Daarna wacht hij op het perron. Op het laatste plaatje zit hij in de trein. (First he buys a ticket. Then he waits on the platform. In the last picture, he is sitting in the train.)

See the A2 speaking sample answers for more complete examples before you record your own.

An answer that is missing, cannot be understood or does not answer the question gets 0 in every area. Check answer fit and clarity before scoring the other areas. The table uses six areas and point ranges from DUO’s A2 speaking assessment model (External site, opens in a new tab), dated 10 August 2026, with our practice checks in the last column.

The maximum scores add to 12 per answer, or 192 for our 16 exercises. Use your total to compare repeated attempts. Your self-score does not predict an official result or give an official pass mark.

An answer can earn grammar points even when it contains mistakes. Your answer can receive full pronunciation points despite an accent or an occasional mispronounced word. Even an inexperienced listener must be able to understand it easily. DUO’s assessment model sets these criteria.

These exercises use written scripts and scene descriptions. They are original practice material. They contain no playable films or pictures. Imagine the scene, or ask someone to read the video script aloud. Use the scene details in your answer.

The set has four video-style questions, four one-picture questions, four two-picture choices and four three-picture sequences. These are practice groups, rather than an official count or division of exam parts.

Answer the speaker’s question about your own life and include the extra detail requested.

• Question 1. Video: A woman stands in a small bakery with shelves of bread behind her.

  Script: Ik koop op zaterdag brood bij de bakker. Waar koopt u meestal brood? Vertel ook waarom. (I buy bread at the bakery on Saturdays. Where do you usually buy bread? Also say why.)

• Question 2. Video: A man stands in the hallway of a language school and holds a notebook.

  Script: Ik oefen Nederlands met een klasgenoot. Met wie oefent u Nederlands? Vertel ook wat u samen doet. (I practise Dutch with a classmate. Who do you practise Dutch with? Also say what you do together.)

• Question 3. Video: A woman stands at a pharmacy counter with a small paper bag.

  Script: Ik haal mijn medicijnen bij de apotheek. Gaat u weleens naar de apotheek? Vertel ook wanneer. (I collect my medicine at the pharmacy. Do you ever go to the pharmacy? Also say when.)

• Question 4. Video: A man stands in an apartment stairwell and holds a closed trash bag.

  Script: Ik breng het afval op maandagavond weg. Wanneer brengt u afval weg? Vertel ook hoe u dat doet. (I take out the rubbish on Monday evenings. When do you take out rubbish? Also say how you do that.)

Use the A2 speaking picture questions guide to practise identifying people, actions and reasons before trying the one-, two- and three-picture tasks below.

• Question 5.

  Text: Nora wacht bij de huisarts. (Nora is waiting at the doctor’s surgery.)

  Picture: A quiet waiting room with chairs, a reception desk, and a woman holding an appointment card.

  Question: Wat ziet u? Vertel ook waarom Nora daar is. (What do you see? Also say why Nora is there.)

• Question 6.

  Text: Kijk naar het plaatje. (Look at the picture.)

  Picture: A man scans vegetables and milk at a supermarket self-checkout machine.

  Question: Wat doet de man? Vertel ook wat u van zelfscannen vindt. (What is the man doing? Also say what you think of using a self-checkout.)

• Question 7.

  Text: Dit is Rami. (This is Rami.)

  Picture: A man in an orange safety vest cleans a park path with a litter picker and a large bag.

  Question: Vertel wat over Rami. Noem drie dingen. (Say something about Rami. Name three things.)

• Question 8.

  Text: Lisa is in de keuken. (Lisa is in the kitchen.)

  Picture: A woman reads a recipe on a tablet while vegetables and a pan are on the counter.

  Question: Wat doet Lisa? Vertel ook wat u graag kookt. (What is Lisa doing? Also say what you like to cook.)

Choose one of the two scenes and include the extra detail the question asks for, such as why you prefer it or when you wear it.

• Question 9.

  Text: U wilt ontspannen na het werk. (You want to relax after work.) Picture 1: A person walks on a green forest path. Picture 2: A person swims in an indoor swimming pool.

  Question: Wat doet u liever? Vertel ook waarom. (What do you prefer doing? Also say why.)

  Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes. (Choose one of the pictures.)

• Question 10.

  Text: U koopt een jas voor de winter. (You are buying a coat for the winter.) Picture 1: A long warm coat on a hanger. Picture 2: A light rain jacket with a hood.

  Question: Welke jas koopt u liever? Vertel ook wanneer u die draagt. (Which coat would you prefer to buy? Also say when you wear it.)

  Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.

• Question 11.

  Text: U gaat met familie eten. (You are going to eat with your family.) Picture 1: A table in a pancake restaurant with plates and drinks. Picture 2: A dining table at home with soup, rice, and salad.

  Question: Waar eet u liever? Vertel ook waarom. (Where do you prefer eating? Also say why.)

  Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.

• Question 12.

  Text: U zoekt een plek om te studeren. (You are looking for a place to study.) Picture 1: A busy café with cups, laptops, and people talking. Picture 2: A quiet library desk with books and a laptop.

  Question: Waar studeert u liever? Vertel ook waarom. (Where do you prefer studying? Also say why.)

  Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.

Describe every scene in order. You can use eerst (first) and daarna (then) to connect the actions.

• Question 13.

  Text: Jamal gaat met de trein. (Jamal is taking the train.) Picture 1: Jamal buys a train ticket at a machine. Picture 2: He waits on a platform with a small bag. Picture 3: He sits by the window in the train.

  Question: Vertel wat Jamal doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes. (Say what Jamal is doing. Say something about every picture.)

• Question 14.

  Text: Anika wast haar kleding. (Anika is washing her clothes.) Picture 1: Anika sorts light and dark clothes. Picture 2: She puts detergent in the washing machine. Picture 3: She hangs clean clothes on a drying rack.

  Question: Vertel wat Anika doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes. (Say what Anika is doing. Say something about every picture.)

• Question 15.

  Text: Pedro zoekt werk. (Pedro is looking for work.) Picture 1: Pedro reads job vacancies on a laptop. Picture 2: He writes a CV (a document listing his work and education) at a desk. Picture 3: He shakes hands at a job interview.

  Question: Vertel wat Pedro doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes. (Say what Pedro is doing. Say something about every picture.)

• Question 16.

  Text: Hassan gaat naar de markt. (Hassan is going to the market.) Picture 1: Hassan writes a shopping list at home. Picture 2: He buys vegetables from a market stall. Picture 3: He cooks dinner with the vegetables.

  Question: Vertel wat Hassan doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes. (Say what Hassan is doing. Say something about every picture.)

For the original exercises on this page, follow this recording routine:

1. Set a one-minute timer for each answer.
2. Record all 16 answers once, without restarting an answer.
3. Listen back to each recording.
4. Score each answer with the practice table.
5. Record the same question again, adding one missing picture detail or a reason with want or omdat.

For extra free practice from Inburgering.org, use the A2 speaking summary. It gives picture tasks, answer plans, phrases for correcting yourself and timing reminders. The A2 speaking practice workbook has a printable 16-question set with example answers and self-checks.

Check whether your recording covers the whole question before you correct individual words. These four checks help you choose what to change:

• Use sentences to describe objects.
• Answer every instruction: if the question asks why, when or what you think, include that detail before you stop.
• Use the scene details: in picture tasks, describe the visible person, action or object.
• Speak at a pace you can control: pronounce each word clearly and avoid repeatedly starting the same sentence again.

The words fiets (bike), tas (bag) and trein (train) only name things. Use them in sentences: Ik zie een fiets. De man zet zijn tas in de trein. (I see a bike. The man puts his bag in the train.)

Compare weak and improved responses in A2 speaking common mistakes. Use those examples to repair incomplete, off-topic or overcomplicated answers.

If the computer format is new to you, start with DUO’s official practice exams. If your recording misses part of a question, practise that question again before adding more difficult words. Use your self-score to compare recordings; use DUO’s result to check whether you passed.

If you still need an exam date, check availability in Mijn Inburgering while you practise. A place can take more than six weeks. Keep the one-minute limit for these exercises separate from the official exam instructions.

Continue with one of these pages:

• A2 speaking sample answers
• Free A2 speaking mock exam
• A2 exam registration in Mijn Inburgering