A2 Speaking Exam Summary PDF
Download a concise A2 speaking exam summary with the 36-minute format, four question types, 1-minute answer strategy, scoring rubric, repair phrases, and model answer patterns.
- Speaking
- Summary
- 36 minutes
- 16 questions
- Study target: 129/192 points (about 67%)
Exam format
What happens in Spreken A2
- The practice format uses 16 questions in 4 parts.
- Each answer has a 1-minute recording window.
- Part 1 has video-style prompts where a person asks a question.
- Part 2 uses one picture per question.
- Part 3 uses two pictures; you choose one picture.
- Part 4 uses three pictures; you say something about every picture.
Use 129/192 points as a practical pass target. That is about 67% and should be confirmed against official information before publication.
Question types
Four prompt types
Vragen met een video
4 questions
You see a person in an everyday situation. The person asks a short question. Answer the question and add the requested detail.
- Listen for the main question word: hoe, waar, wanneer, wat, or waarom.
- Answer personally: Ik ga ..., Ik doe ..., Ik vind ...
- Add one reason, example, or habit.
Vragen met 1 plaatje
4 questions
You answer a question about one picture. Use visible details from the picture and add your own idea when the prompt asks for it.
- Name the person or place first.
- Say two visible details from the picture.
- Add a reason, opinion, or frequency.
Vragen met 2 plaatjes
4 questions
You choose one of two pictures and explain your choice.
- Start with: Ik kies plaatje 1/2.
- Say why that choice fits you.
- Do not describe both pictures unless it helps your answer.
Vragen met 3 plaatjes
4 questions
You use all three pictures. Usually you describe a sequence or three related objects.
- Use order words: eerst, daarna, ten slotte.
- Say at least one clear sentence for each picture.
- Use pronouns such as hij, zij, die, and dat to keep the answer connected.
Timer
One-minute answer plan
0-5 sec
Choose your first sentence
Start with a direct answer: Ik kies ..., Ik zie ..., Hij gaat ..., Zij doet ...
5-40 sec
Give the required information
Answer every part of the question. For picture tasks, mention the picture details clearly.
40-55 sec
Add a reason or example
Use want, omdat, ook, maar, daarna, or bijvoorbeeld to add structure.
55-60 sec
Finish simply
End with a short sentence. Do not start a new idea at the last second.
Scoring
12-point speaking rubric
If execution of the exercise scores 0, all other aspects for that question automatically score 0.
Execution of the exercise
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The response is missing, not intelligible, or not an answer to the question. |
| 1 | The response is imaginable, but incomplete, not fully logical, or not fully clear. |
| 2 | The response is understandable and answers the question adequately. |
| 3 | The response is clear and answers the question very well. |
Vocabulary
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Vocabulary is too limited for a complete understandable answer. |
| 1 | Vocabulary is simple, standard, and connected to the question. |
| 2 | Vocabulary fits the question well and has useful variation. |
Grammar
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The answer contains many grammar mistakes. |
| 1 | The answer contains several grammar mistakes, but the meaning is mostly clear. |
| 2 | The answer contains hardly any grammar mistakes for A2. |
Fluency
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The answer is not fluent and has many long pauses or restarts. |
| 1 | The answer is reasonably fluent, with some pauses and reformulations. |
| 2 | The answer is fluent enough; pauses only occur in longer sentences. |
Clearness and structure
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The answer has no clear structure. |
| 1 | The answer has some structure through simple links such as en, maar, want, omdat, hij, zij, die, or dat. |
Pronunciation
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | The answer is only understandable with effort by an experienced listener. |
| 1 | The answer is reasonably understandable to an experienced listener without effort. |
| 2 | The answer is understandable, also to an inexperienced listener, despite an accent or occasional pronunciation mistakes. |
Answer support
A2 answer frames
Personal habit
- Ik ... meestal ...
- Ik doe dat ... keer per week.
- Ik vind dat fijn, want ...
Picture description
- Op het plaatje zie ik ...
- Hij/Zij is aan het ...
- Ik denk dat ..., omdat ...
Choice between two pictures
- Ik kies plaatje ...
- Dat past beter bij mij, want ...
- Ik doe dit liever omdat ...
Three-picture sequence
- Eerst ...
- Daarna ...
- Ten slotte ...
Repair phrases
- Sorry, ik bedoel ...
- Ik zeg het anders.
- Even denken.
- Dat woord weet ik niet, maar ...
- Ik kan ook zeggen dat ...
Common mistakes
- Only naming objects and not answering the question.
- Forgetting to explain why in choice questions.
- Using only one picture in a three-picture task.
- Stopping after one short sentence while there is still time.
- Trying to use long B1-style sentences and losing control of word order.
Examples
Short model answers
Video prompt
Hoe gaat u meestal naar uw werk of school? Vertel ook waarom.
Ik ga meestal met de fiets naar mijn werk. Dat is goedkoop en gezond. Mijn werk is niet ver van mijn huis, dus ik ben snel daar. Als het hard regent, neem ik de bus.
One picture
Wat doet de vrouw? Vertel ook wanneer u dit doet.
De vrouw doet de was. Ze stopt kleren in de wasmachine en heeft een mand naast zich. Ik doe de was meestal op zaterdag, want dan heb ik tijd.
Two pictures
Welke sport doet u liever? Vertel ook waarom.
Ik kies zwemmen. Ik vind water fijn en zwemmen is goed voor mijn rug. Ik kan het alleen doen, maar ook met mijn kinderen. Fitness vind ik ook goed, maar minder leuk.
Three pictures
Vertel wat Ruben doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes.
Eerst pompt Ruben zijn band op, want de band is zacht. Daarna controleert hij de lampen van zijn fiets. Ten slotte zet hij de fiets op slot. Nu kan hij veilig weggaan.
Final speaking checklist
- I answered the main question in the first sentence.
- I used the picture or all pictures when the task asked for them.
- I gave a reason, example, opinion, or frequency.
- I used short A2 sentences that I can pronounce clearly.
- I repaired mistakes and kept speaking.