A2 Speaking Exam (Spreken): Format, Scoring, and Practice

The A2 Speaking exam, called Spreken, is a computer exam where you listen, watch short prompts, and record spoken Dutch answers. DUO currently describes the A2 Spreken exam as 35 minutes. For practice, train with 16 short answers: four video-style questions, four questions with one picture, four choice questions with two pictures, and four sequence questions with three pictures.

This page explains the format, gives a simple answer structure, and includes a full original practice set. They are new exam-style exercises with similar everyday topics, length, and complexity.

• Official format: DUO says A2 Spreken is done on a computer, includes films, asks you to answer questions, and lasts 35 minutes.
• Practice rhythm: Use one minute per answer. Start speaking quickly, then add one or two details.
• Question types: Train video questions, one-picture descriptions, two-picture choices, and three-picture story or sequence prompts.
• Self-scoring: The practice rubric below uses 12 points per question and 192 points for 16 questions. Treat 129/192 as a study target, not as a public guarantee of the official pass mark.

In the A2 language exam, you speak into a microphone at a computer. You may see a video, one picture, two pictures, or three pictures. The task tells you what to answer. Some questions ask about your own life. Other questions ask you to describe what you see or choose between pictures.

You register for A2 language exams through Mijn Inburgering when that applies to your route. If you want the broader speaking overview for A2, B1, and B2, read the general Spreken exam guide.

Do not wait for a perfect sentence. Use a simple three-part answer. In the first sentence, answer the question directly. In the second sentence, describe a visible detail or give a clear example. In the third sentence, add a reason, opinion, time, place, or extra detail.

• Video question: Ja, ik kook vaak thuis. Ik maak graag soep en rijst. Dat is goedkoop, en ik kan eten meenemen naar mijn werk.
• One picture: De vrouw staat bij de tramhalte. Ze heeft een paraplu, want het regent. Misschien gaat ze naar haar werk.
• Two pictures: Ik kies plaatje 2. Ik studeer liever in de bibliotheek, want het is rustig. In een cafe is er te veel lawaai.
• Three pictures: Eerst koopt hij een kaartje. Daarna wacht hij op het perron. Op het laatste plaatje zit hij in de trein.

Use this rubric after each recording. If the answer does not answer the task at all, score execution as 0 and stop: the other categories should also be 0 for that question.

Set a timer for one minute per answer. For video prompts, imagine the person asks you the script aloud. For picture prompts, use the picture information in your answer. These exercises are original practice material.

• Vraag 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.
• Vraag 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.
• Vraag 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.
• Vraag 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.

• Vraag 5. Text: Nora wacht bij de huisarts. 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.
• Vraag 6. Text: Kijk naar het plaatje. 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.
• Vraag 7. Text: Dit 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.
• Vraag 8. Text: Lisa is in de keuken. 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.

• Vraag 9. Text: U wilt ontspannen na het werk. 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. Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.
• Vraag 10. Text: U koopt een jas voor de 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. Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.
• Vraag 11. Text: U gaat met familie eten. 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. Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.
• Vraag 12. Text: U zoekt een plek om te studeren. Picture 1: A busy cafe 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. Instruction: Kies een van de plaatjes.

• Vraag 13. Text: Jamal gaat met de trein. 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.
• Vraag 14. Text: Anika wast haar kleding. 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.
• Vraag 15. Text: Pedro zoekt werk. Picture 1: Pedro reads job vacancies on a laptop. Picture 2: He writes a CV at a desk. Picture 3: He shakes hands at a job interview. Question: Vertel wat Pedro doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes.
• Vraag 16. Text: Hassan gaat naar de markt. 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.

• Record all 16 prompts once without stopping. Then listen back and score each answer with the rubric.
• Practise the same prompt again, but add one extra detail from the picture or one reason with want or omdat.
• Use the free A2 speaking summary for answer frames, repair phrases, and timing reminders.
• Download the free A2 speaking practice workbook when you want a printable 16-question set with example answers and self-checks.

• Only naming objects: Instead of only saying fiets, tas, trein, make full sentences: Ik zie een fiets. De man zet zijn tas in de trein.
• Ignoring half of the question: If the prompt asks why, when, or what you think, add that detail before you stop.
• Forgetting the pictures: In picture tasks, name visible things. That shows you understood the task.
• Speaking too fast: A slower clear answer usually scores better than a rushed answer with many corrections.