Dutch civic integration exam A2 Speaking: what the exam looks like

Updated on 18 October 2026. Sources: inburgeren.nl, DUO's assessment model for A2 Speaking and the official practice exams.

You take the A2 Speaking exam (in Dutch: Spreken) on a computer, with a headset. There is no examiner in front of you: you watch videos and pictures and you record your answer. The exam takes 35 minutes. Since 1 March 2025 it has 16 questions in 4 parts. The old multiple-choice part is gone.

In short

• 16 speaking questions, in 4 parts of 4 questions.
• 35 minutes in total. You divide that time yourself: there is no fixed thinking time and no beep per question.
• You start the recording for each question yourself.
• After the exam, assessors listen to your answers.
• You register in Mijn Inburgering with your DigiD. Do it in good time: according to inburgeren.nl it can take more than 6 weeks before you can take the exam.
• You get the result by letter and in Mijn Inburgering. Normally that is within 8 weeks, but for Speaking A2 and Writing A2 DUO has reported since 31 July 2026 that marking takes up to 16 weeks (inburgeren.nl). If you are close to the end of your integration period and still waiting for that result, you automatically get a 6-month extension.
• You can choose another date or cancel up to 1 week before the exam. Then you get your money back.

Part 1: a question about yourself

You watch a video. Someone tells you something about themselves and then asks you a question, often in two parts. For example: Ik koop brood op zaterdag bij de bakker. Waar koopt u meestal brood? Vertel ook waarom. (I buy bread on Saturday at the bakery. Where do you usually buy bread? Also tell us why.)

Answer both parts of the question. A good answer is for example: Ik koop meestal brood bij de supermarkt, want die is dicht bij mijn huis. Op zaterdag ga ik soms naar de markt. (I usually buy bread at the supermarket, because it is close to my house. On Saturday I sometimes go to the market.)

Part 2: one picture

You see one picture. You say what is happening, or you name three things you see. Sometimes the task also asks what you think. The instruction says: Gebruik het plaatje (use the picture). So talk about what you see, not about yourself.

For example: Ik zie een man in de keuken. Hij snijdt groente en er staat een pan op het vuur. Ik denk dat hij soep maakt. (I see a man in the kitchen. He is cutting vegetables and there is a pan on the stove. I think he is making soup.)

Part 3: two pictures, one choice

You see two pictures and choose one. Then you explain why. So don't describe both pictures in detail. Say which picture you choose and give a reason.

For example: Ik kies de fiets, want ik fiets elke dag naar mijn werk. De bus vind ik te duur. (I choose the bike, because I cycle to work every day. I think the bus is too expensive.)

Part 4: three pictures

You see three pictures and say something about each one. Sometimes they tell a short story together. Then words like eerst (first), daarna (then) and ten slotte (finally) help. Sometimes they are three separate situations. Either way, say at least one sentence per picture.

For example: Eerst staat de vrouw op. Daarna drinkt ze koffie in de keuken. Ten slotte fietst ze naar haar werk. (First the woman gets up. Then she drinks coffee in the kitchen. Finally she cycles to work.)

How is your answer marked?

DUO marks every question with the assessment model for A2 Speaking. Per question there are points for six things:

• Content and comprehensibility (0 to 3 points): do you answer the question, and can people understand it?
• Vocabulary (0 to 2 points)
• Grammar (0 to 2 points)
• Fluency (0 to 2 points)
• Coherence (0 to 1 point): do your sentences fit together?
• Pronunciation (0 to 2 points): an accent is no problem, as long as you are easy to understand.

DUO does not publish how many points you need to pass.

Three tips that make the biggest difference

1. Say two or three sentences per question. Your answer, a detail and a reason, joined with en (and), maar (but), want (because) or omdat (because). Longer is not needed. One word is too little.
2. Answer the whole question. In part 1 the question often has two parts: Waar...? Vertel ook waarom. (Where...? Also tell us why.) If you forget the second part, you miss points for content.
3. Practise with the real practice exams. DUO has three free practice exams for Speaking on inburgeren.nl. They do not work in Safari. Use a computer if you can.

Do you still need to choose which exam you need? Read the difference between the NT2 state exam and the civic integration exam.

Want to practise A2 Speaking with a teacher? At Braials you practise exactly these four parts in private lessons, with feedback on every answer.