How the A2 speaking exam works
The A2 Spreken exam runs on a computer at a DUO exam location. You wear a headset with a microphone. There's no live examiner and no conversation partner. You see a short video or pictures, hear a question, and answer out loud in Dutch.
Since 1 March 2025, the Dutch A2 speaking exam has 16 questions in four parts of four. DUO removed the old multiple-choice part, so every answer is your own spoken Dutch. You have about one minute per answer, and the exam takes 35 minutes.
| Part | Questions | What you see | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-4 | a short video of one person | answer a question about your own life |
| 2 | 5-8 | one picture | say what you see, then answer the follow-up |
| 3 | 9-12 | two pictures | choose one and explain why |
| 4 | 13-16 | three pictures | say something about all three |
Most questions have two parts. First comes the main question. Then comes a follow-up that often starts with Vertel ook ... (also say ...). Skip it and the answer counts as incomplete.
A2 speaking exam questions with model answers
These A2 speaking exam questions are based on DUO's own practice exams. Each model answer is short on purpose: three or four simple sentences fit the minute and the A2 level. The Dutch stays in Dutch; the English meaning is under it.
Part 1: video question
Vraag: Waar koopt u meestal brood? Vertel ook waarom.
Where do you usually buy bread? Also say why.
Model answer: Ik koop meestal brood bij de bakker. Het brood is daar vers en lekker. De bakker is ook dicht bij mijn huis.
I usually buy bread at the bakery. The bread there is fresh and tasty. The bakery is also close to my home.
Vraag: Gaat u weleens naar de apotheek? Vertel ook wanneer.
Do you ever go to the pharmacy? Also say when.
Model answer: Ja, ik ga soms naar de apotheek. Ik ga daarheen als ik medicijnen nodig heb. Bijvoorbeeld als de huisarts mij een recept geeft.
Yes, I sometimes go to the pharmacy. I go there when I need medicine. For example, when the GP gives me a prescription.
Part 2: one picture
Vraag: Nora wacht bij de huisarts. Wat ziet u? Vertel ook waarom Nora daar is.
Nora is waiting at the GP. What do you see? Also say why Nora is there.
Model answer: Ik zie een vrouw in de wachtkamer van de huisarts. Zij zit op een stoel en wacht. Ik denk dat Nora ziek is. Misschien heeft ze een afspraak met de dokter.
I see a woman in the GP's waiting room. She is sitting on a chair and waiting. I think Nora is ill. Maybe she has an appointment with the doctor.
Vraag: Wat doet de man? Vertel ook wat u van zelfscannen vindt.
What is the man doing? Also say what you think of self-scanning.
Model answer: De man is in de supermarkt. Hij scant zijn boodschappen zelf. Ik vind zelfscannen handig, want het gaat snel. Maar soms werkt de scanner niet goed.
The man is in the supermarket. He scans his groceries himself. I find self-scanning handy, because it is quick. But sometimes the scanner does not work well.
Part 3: two pictures
Vraag: Welke jas koopt u liever? Vertel ook wanneer u die draagt.
Which coat would you rather buy? Also say when you wear it.
Model answer: Ik koop liever de warme winterjas. Ik draag die jas in de winter, als het koud is. Ik ga vaak met de fiets, daarom is een warme jas goed voor mij.
I would rather buy the warm winter coat. I wear that coat in winter, when it is cold. I often go by bike, so a warm coat is good for me.
Vraag: Waar eet u liever? Vertel ook waarom.
Where would you rather eat? Also say why.
Model answer (pictures of eating at home and in a restaurant): Ik eet liever thuis. Thuis is het eten goedkoper en gezonder. Ik kook ook graag samen met mijn familie.
I would rather eat at home. At home the food is cheaper and healthier. I also like cooking together with my family.
Part 4: three pictures
Vraag: Vertel wat Jamal doet. Vertel iets over alle plaatjes.
Say what Jamal is doing. Say something about all the pictures.
Model answer: Eerst loopt Jamal naar het station. Daarna stapt hij in de trein. Ten slotte zit hij in de trein en reist hij naar zijn werk.
First Jamal walks to the station. Then he gets on the train. Finally he sits on the train and travels to work.
All four questions in Part 4 use this same instruction; only the person and the pictures change. The pictures are not always a story in time order. Sometimes they show three things one person does, so describe each picture in turn.
Why these model answers work
Each answer does exactly what the question asks. The bread answer names a place and gives a reason. The Nora answer first describes the picture, then guesses why she is there.
The coat answer picks one coat before it explains. The Jamal answer reaches all three pictures.
The answers also stay simple. Short sentences with en, maar, want, omdat, eerst and daarna are easy to say without long pauses.
That matters for the score. Assessors listen to your recording later and score each answer on six criteria, 12 points per question. Answering the question (adequaatheid) is worth the most: 3 points.
Words, grammar, fluency and pronunciation are worth 2 points each. Linking ideas is worth 1. DUO does not publish a pass mark for Spreken. Our guide on how the speaking exam works explains the six criteria.
Common mistakes in A2 speaking practice
- Skipping the follow-up. If the question says Vertel ook waarom, an answer without a reason is incomplete.
- A memorised answer that does not fit. A prepared story about your family does not answer a question about a coat.
- Long silence. A short pause is fine. Saying nothing for a long time costs more than a small grammar mistake.
- Grammar that is too hard. A long sentence that breaks in the middle is worse than two clean short ones.
- Stopping at picture 1. In Part 4, many candidates run out of time before the third picture.
How to practise with these questions
Say every answer out loud and record it; reading answers in your head does not train speaking. Then listen back and check two things: did you answer both parts, and would a stranger understand you?
Use one frame for most questions: a direct answer, one detail, then the follow-up. For three pictures, give each picture one sentence first and add detail only if you have time.
DUO has three free Spreken practice exams in the current format; they do not work in Safari. For sentence frames per part, see the A2 speaking sentence templates. You can practise all four question types, with feedback on each answer, in our A2 speaking practice.