What a B1 speaking task looks like
Spreken in the B1 staatsexamen (Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I) has 16 recorded tasks. You hear each task through a headset, see it on the screen and answer into a microphone.
- Deel 1 (tasks 1-8): short answers, often one or two sentences, with 20 seconds to speak. If there is a picture or text, you first get 5 seconds to look at it.
- Deel 2 (tasks 9-16): longer answers, with 15 seconds to prepare and 30 seconds to speak.
Most tasks set up a situation in a few sentences. Often a friend, colleague or boss speaks first. Then the task asks for one speaking action, such as advice, a request, a choice with reasons, a description or a short story. In recent papers, about half of the tasks had a picture, and Deel 2 often had a row of three.
Worked examples with the answer explained
We wrote these examples to match the official B1 task types, timing and level. We did not copy them from an exam.
Example 1: Deel 1, give advice
Task: Uw vriend slaapt de laatste tijd slecht. Hij vraagt u om advies. Wat kan hij doen?
Your friend has been sleeping badly lately. He asks for your advice. What can he do?
Good answer: Je kunt 's avonds je telefoon wegleggen en elke dag om dezelfde tijd naar bed gaan.
You can put your phone away in the evening and go to bed at the same time every day.
Why it works: it gives two concrete pieces of advice in one sentence, well within 20 seconds.
Example 2: Deel 1, ask for help
Task: U staat op het station. De kaartjesautomaat doet het niet en uw trein vertrekt over vijf minuten. Er staat een medewerker vlakbij. Vraag om hulp.
You are at the station. The ticket machine is not working and your train leaves in five minutes. A staff member is nearby. Ask for help.
Good answer: Sorry, kunt u mij helpen? De automaat doet het niet en mijn trein vertrekt over vijf minuten.
Excuse me, can you help me? The machine is not working and my train leaves in five minutes.
Why it works: it asks for help directly, explains the problem and uses u for a stranger.
Example 3: Deel 2, choose and give reasons
Task: U wilt een cursus Nederlands volgen. U kunt kiezen tussen een cursus op dinsdagavond en een cursus op zaterdagochtend. Vertel wat u kiest en geef minstens twee redenen.
You want to take a Dutch course. You can choose between Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. Say which you choose and give at least two reasons.
Good answer: Ik kies voor de zaterdagochtend. Ten eerste werk ik doordeweeks tot zes uur, dus op dinsdagavond ben ik vaak moe. Ten tweede kan mijn partner op zaterdag op de kinderen passen. Dan kan ik rustig naar de les.
I choose Saturday morning. First, I work until six on weekdays, so on Tuesday evening I am often tired. Second, my partner can look after the children on Saturday. Then I can go to class without stress.
Why it works: a clear choice in the first sentence, then two separate reasons, each marked with ten eerste and ten tweede.
Example 4: Deel 2, use all the pictures
Task: Kijk naar de drie plaatjes. Vertel wat er gisteren is gebeurd. Gebruik hierbij alle plaatjes.
Look at the three pictures. Tell what happened yesterday. Use all the pictures.
Picture 1: a boy cycles to school. Picture 2: it rains hard and he waits under a bus shelter. Picture 3: he arrives at school, wet.
Good answer: Gisteren fietste de jongen naar school. Onderweg begon het heel hard te regenen, dus hij wachtte even in een bushokje. Daarna fietste hij verder. Hij kwam op tijd aan, maar hij was helemaal nat.
Yesterday the boy cycled to school. On the way it started to rain very hard, so he waited in a bus shelter for a while. Then he cycled on. He arrived on time, but he was completely wet.
Why it works: it uses all three pictures in order and links them with onderweg, dus and daarna, so it is one story.
Example 5: Deel 2, persuade with reasons
Task: Uw huisgenoot wil een hond nemen. U vindt dat geen goed idee. Overtuig hem en geef twee redenen.
Your housemate wants to get a dog. You think that is a bad idea. Persuade him and give two reasons.
Good answer: Ik snap dat je honden leuk vindt, maar ik denk dat het geen goed idee is. Ten eerste werken we allebei de hele dag, dus de hond is veel alleen. Bovendien is ons huis te klein en we hebben geen tuin. Misschien kun je eerst een keer op de hond van de buren passen?
I understand you like dogs, but I don't think it is a good idea. First, we both work all day, so the dog would be alone a lot. Also, our house is too small and we have no garden. Maybe you can look after the neighbours' dog first?
Why it works: it persuades rather than just describes, gives two clear reasons and ends with a suggestion.
Where candidates lose points
Most lost points come from doing the wrong speaking action, not from one grammar mistake. If the task asks for advice, give advice. If it asks for two reasons, give two. If you describe when the task asks you to instruct, assessors cap your content score at 1 point.
Stopping early also costs points. On a two-reason task, one clear reason that lasts until the beep still gets full content points. One quick reason and then silence does not. Reading the task aloud from the screen caps your content and grammar scores at 1 point.
You do not need perfect Dutch. Mistakes with de or het, plurals and diminutives count as small errors. Wrong verb forms, broken word order and vague word choice cost more. In Deel 2, assessors also score your pronunciation and pace.
Staatsexamen NT2 spreken oefenen at home
Good nt2 spreken practice copies the real exam: a task you hear once, a picture, a timer and your own spoken answer.
- Start with the official Facet practice portal, which uses the same exam player.
- Train Deel 1 and Deel 2 separately, because 20 and 30 seconds feel different.
- Practise three-picture stories every week until eerst, daarna and tot slot come by themselves.
- Record yourself and check one thing first: did you do the right speaking action?
- Repeat reason tasks until two reasons feel automatic.
For the format and scoring, read how Staatsexamen NT2 Spreken works. For timed tasks with feedback, try our B1 speaking practice.