Basic Strategy: Read the Question First — Listening A2

In the listening exam, the 25-second pre-read window before each audio is where you do your real work. Use this time to read the question and the three options. Do not wait for the speaker to start talking before you look at the screen.

Look at the first word of the question to set your listening target. If the question starts with Waarom (Why), you are listening for a reason. You can prepare your brain to catch signal words like omdat or want (because). If the question is about Wanneer (When), you know you can safely ignore names and locations, and instead focus strictly on days, dates, or times.

By knowing exactly what you need before the audio plays, you avoid the trap of trying to translate every single word in your head. You just wait for the specific piece of information that answers the question.