How to Pass the A2 Speaking Exam (Spreken): Tips, Examples & Practice

The speaking exam is the part most people worry about. But at A2 level, the bar is not perfection. It is clear, simple communication. If you can say what you mean in short Dutch sentences, you can pass.

What the A2 Speaking Exam Looks Like

The exam lasts about 20 minutes. You sit at a computer, wear headphones, and speak into a microphone. There is no person sitting across from you, which actually makes it less stressful once you get used to it.

You will do several short tasks:

• Repeating sentences you hear through the headphones
• Answering questions about daily topics like work, family, or health
• Describing a picture or situation in a few sentences
• Reacting to a scenario, for example making an appointment or reporting a problem

Each task is short. You get a few seconds to prepare and then a set time to respond. The key is to start speaking quickly and keep going, even if your answer is not perfect.

What the Examiner Listens For

Your answers are evaluated on four things:

1. Vocabulary — Do you use words that fit the topic?
2. Pronunciation — Can a Dutch listener understand what you are saying?
3. Fluency — Do you speak with a reasonable pace, without very long silences?
4. Task completion — Did you actually answer what was asked?

Notice what is not on this list: complex grammar. At A2, short and clear beats long and messy. Ik ga naar de dokter want ik ben ziek is a perfectly good answer.

Phrases You Should Know by Heart

You cannot bring notes into the exam, so the most important preparation is having ready-made phrases that you can use without thinking. These cover most exam situations:

Describing what you see: Op de foto zie ik…, Er zijn… mensen/kinderen, De man/vrouw draagt…

Responding to questions: Ik denk dat…, Dat vind ik een goed idee, Ja, dat klopt / Nee, dat is niet zo

Daily situations: Ik wil graag een afspraak maken, Wanneer kan ik langskomen?, Ik heb een probleem met…, Kunt u mij helpen?

Buying time: Kunt u dat herhalen, alstublieft?, Ik begrijp het niet helemaal

Practice saying each phrase out loud until it feels automatic. If you hesitate on a phrase during the exam, it costs you fluency points.

How to Practice Speaking at Home

Many learners think they need a conversation partner to practice speaking. You do not. The exam itself is solo — you speak into a microphone — so solo practice is actually the closest simulation.

Talk to yourself in Dutch

Pick a daily moment — cooking, showering, walking — and describe what you see or do. Keep it simple: Ik maak nu het ontbijt. Het weer is vandaag slecht. Ik ga straks naar de supermarkt. This builds the habit of producing Dutch out loud, which is very different from reading it silently.

Describe pictures out loud

Find any picture on your phone or in a magazine and describe it in 4-5 sentences. Who is in the picture? Where are they? What are they doing? This is exactly what the exam asks you to do, so every picture you practice with is direct preparation.

Record yourself and listen back

Use your phone to record 30-second answers. When you listen back, pay attention to long silences, words you stumble on, and unclear pronunciation. This feedback loop is more effective than just speaking into the air, because you hear what the examiner will hear.

Practice with a timer

Give yourself 30 seconds per question. The exam gives limited response time, so practicing under time pressure teaches you to start speaking immediately instead of overthinking your answer.

Example Answers for Common Tasks

Describe your daily routine

Ik sta om 7 uur op. Ik douche en ontbijt. Dan breng ik mijn kinderen naar school. Daarna ga ik naar mijn cursus Nederlands.

Use time words to give your answer structure: eerst, dan, daarna, ‘s avonds. This makes even a simple answer sound organized.

Make an appointment by phone

Goedemorgen, ik wil graag een afspraak maken bij de huisarts. Ik heb al twee dagen buikpijn. Kan ik deze week komen?

State who you are calling, why, and what you need. Three sentences is enough.

Describe a picture

Op de foto zie ik een vrouw in een supermarkt. Ze heeft een mandje met groente. Ik denk dat ze boodschappen doet.

Start with Op de foto zie ik… and add 2-3 details. Do not try to describe everything — pick the most obvious things.

Give your opinion

Ik vind sporten belangrijk. Het is goed voor je gezondheid. Ik ga twee keer per week naar de sportschool.

The formula is simple: opinion + reason + personal example. This works for almost any opinion question.

Mistakes That Cost Points

The most common reason people lose points is not grammar errors — it is silence. If you say nothing, you score zero on that task. Even a short, imperfect answer scores something.

Other costly mistakes:

• Switching to English when you get stuck. Stay in Dutch. Use simpler words instead.
• Speaking too fast. Slow, clear Dutch scores better than rushed, unclear Dutch. The microphone picks up everything, so pace yourself.
• Not answering the actual question. Listen carefully. If the question asks about your work, do not talk about your family.
• One-word answers. Ja or Nee alone is never enough. Always add at least one sentence: Ja, ik vind dat belangrijk, want…

On Exam Day

Speak clearly and at a steady pace. If you do not understand a question, say Kunt u dat herhalen? — it is better than guessing. Do not leave any task blank. Take a short breath before each answer to stay calm and collect your thoughts.

The speaking exam rewards consistent daily practice more than last-minute cramming. Even 10 minutes of speaking out loud per day builds the muscle memory you need. Start today, and by exam day the words will come naturally.

Related Guides

• A2 Vocabulary List for Inburgering
• 12 Common Inburgering Mistakes
• Exam Day Checklist