Inburgering Exam A2 Speaking (Spreken) Preparation

The speaking section of the Inburgering A2 exam is designed to test your ability to communicate in Dutch. DUO explains it is a computer-based exam where you watch videos and answer questions by speaking. The exam lasts 35 minutes.

Type of questions

Short video prompts

You will watch short video situations where someone asks you a question. You answer clearly and concisely by speaking aloud. The goal is communication: simple, correct sentences are enough.

Describe what you see

A common speaking pattern is: say what you see, what is happening, and one short detail. Example: "Op de video zie ik een man in de supermarkt. Hij koopt brood. Hij betaalt bij de kassa."

Tips for the speaking exam

Here are some tips for you to help you to be more prepared for the exam

Simple Sentences

In the speaking section of the Inburgering exam, it’s best to use short, simple sentences. This approach minimizes the risk of making mistakes, especially when you’re under pressure. Simple sentences are not only easier to construct, but they also help ensure that your responses are clear and easy to understand.

Be Correct, Not True

Your responses don’t need to be factually accurate, but they do need to be grammatically correct and directly related to the question. For example, if asked about your hobbies, you can say “Mijn hobby is sport,” even if it’s not true, as long as the sentence is correct and answers the question.

Examples

Complex: "Na het wakker worden, maak ik in de ochtend een ontbijt met eieren, toast en sinaasappelsap."

Simple: "Ik maak ontbijt in de ochtend. Ik eet eieren en toast."

Complex: "Mijn favoriete hobby is postzegels verzamelen, maar ik weet niet hoe ik dat in het Nederlands moet uitleggen."

Simple: "Mijn hobby is sport."

Reuse key words

A useful strategy when answering questions in the Inburgering exam is to reuse words and phrases from the question itself. This not only helps you stay relevant but also ensures that your answer is grammatically correct and clear.

Examples

Question: In Nederland regent het vaak. Wat vindt u daarvan? Vertel ook hoe het weer in uw land is.

Answer: Ik vind dat normaal. In mijn land regent het ook vaak.

Question: Ik ga vaak naar de supermarkt. Waar doet u meestal uw boodschappen? Vertel ook hoe vaak u boodschappen doet.

Answer: Ik ga ook vaak naar de supermarkt. Ik doe twee keer per week boodschappen."

Want to practice the speaking exam?

UseDutch can help you practice for the speaking exam with exam-style prompts and guided practice.

• Start from zero: follow a simple roadmap from A0 to A2 (vocabulary + grammar + daily practice).

• Exam-style prompts: practice questions designed to feel similar to the exam, so answering becomes automatic.

• Practice tools: reuse safe sentence patterns and train under time pressure.

Sources

• DUO (inburgeren.nl): Taalexamens A2 (Spreken format + duration)
• DUO (inburgeren.nl): Oefenen (practice exams A2)