← Back to Home

Speaking Exam Guide

100% speaking, no multiple choice. You talk to a computer — 16 tasks, 35 minutes. Your voice is recorded and graded later.

Click any speaker icon to listen

Exam Format: 4 Task Types

A Questions 1–4: Video Response ~20 sec

Watch a short video. Answer a question about what you saw.

B Questions 5–8: Image + Opinion ~20 sec

See one image. Describe it AND give your opinion.

C Questions 9–12: Choose Between 2 Images ~20 sec

See two images. Pick one and explain why.

D Questions 13–16: 3-Image Story ~30 sec

See three images in order. Tell the story step by step.


5 Golden Rules to Pass

  1. Always full sentences. "Fietsen" = fail. "Ik fiets elke dag" = pass.
  2. Simple is better. Short, correct > long, messy. A2 expects simple.
  3. 2–3 sentences per task. Not too little, not too much.
  4. Use connectors. en, maar, want, ook, daarna.
  5. Don't re-record. First answer is usually best. Re-recording wastes time.

DO

  • Speak clearly at normal speed
  • Use full sentences, even short ones
  • Use simple words you know well
  • Pause briefly before speaking
  • Submit your first recording
  • Stay calm — small mistakes are fine

DON'T

  • Don't answer with one word
  • Don't try complex grammar
  • Don't re-record unless you said nothing
  • Don't speak too fast or too slow
  • Don't stay silent — say anything
  • Don't worry about your accent

3 Super-Simple Patterns (All You Need)

These 3 patterns cover ALL 16 questions. Learn the blue words by heart. Swap the orange words.

The secret: Every question = DESCRIBE + ADD. Describe what you see, then add one more thing (opinion, choice, or next step). That's it.

Pattern 1: DESCRIBE (use for EVERY question)

Works for: Q1-16. This is your base for everything.

Ik zie PERSON. Hij/Zij VERB.

That's it. "Ik zie een man. Hij kookt." = valid A2 answer. Now add from Pattern 2 or 3.

Variations (all equally good):

De man VERB.

Er is een PERSON.

Ik zie PERSON in PLACE.

Pattern 2: OPINION (add after Pattern 1)

Use for: Q5-8 (image + opinion) and Q9-12 (choose)

Ik vind dit OPINION.

Optional: add "want" + reason. But even without "want", this scores points.

For choosing (Q9-12), just change to:

Ik kies OPTION. Want REASON.

Pattern 3: SEQUENCE (for stories)

Use for: Q13-16 (3 images)

Eerst SENTENCE. Dan SENTENCE. Dan SENTENCE.

"Dan" twice is fine! Simpler than "daarna" / "ten slotte". Use those only if you're comfortable.

How to Combine (Cheat Sheet)

Question TypeFormulaExample
Q1-4 Video Pattern 1 + Pattern 1 Ik zie een vrouw. Zij kookt.
Q5-8 Image Pattern 1 + Pattern 2 Ik zie een man. Hij fietst. Ik vind dit gezond.
Q9-12 Choose Pattern 2 (choose version) Ik kies de fiets. Want het is gezond.
Q13-16 Story Pattern 3 Eerst kookt hij. Dan eet hij. Dan wast hij af.

Word Swap Tables (Learn 5 from Each)

You don't need many words. 5 from each group = you can describe any image.

PERSON

DutchEnglishDutchEnglish
een mana maneen vrouwa woman
een kinda childeen gezina family
mensenpeopleeen meisjea girl

VERB (hij/zij form — use these directly)

DutchEnglishDutchEnglish
kooktcookseeteats
werktworksfietstcycles
looptwalkspraattalks
leestreadswachtwaits
zitsitsspeeltplays
kooptbuysdrinktdrinks
slaaptsleepsbetaaltpays

PLACE

DutchEnglishDutchEnglish
thuisat homein de winkelin the shop
op straaton the streetin het parkin the park
op schoolat schoolop kantoorat the office
buitenoutsidein de keukenin the kitchen

OPINION + REASON

Pick any opinion. If you add "want", pick any reason. They don't need to be from the same row.

Ik vind dit...EnglishWant het is...English
leuknicegezondhealthy
niet leuknot nicelekkertasty
goedgoodgoedkoopcheap
mooibeautifulsnelfast
gezelligcozymakkelijkeasy

Sample Situations (Simplified Answers)

Notice how SHORT these are. This is enough to pass. Click Listen to hear them.

Type A: Video Response (Q1–4)

Formula: Ik zie [person]. Hij/Zij [verb].

Video: A woman at the supermarket putting fruit in her basket

Ik zie een vrouw. Zij koopt fruit in de winkel.

I see a woman. She buys fruit in the shop.

Video: A man cycling to work in the morning

Ik zie een man. Hij fietst. Het is ochtend.

I see a man. He cycles. It's morning.

Video: Children playing in a park

Ik zie kinderen in het park. Ze spelen buiten.

I see children in the park. They play outside.

Video: Someone at a bakery buying bread

Een man koopt brood. Hij betaalt in de winkel.

A man buys bread. He pays in the shop.

Video: A doctor talking to a patient

Ik zie een dokter. Hij praat met een man.

I see a doctor. He talks with a man.

Type B: Image + Opinion (Q5–8)

Formula: Ik zie [person]. Hij/Zij [verb]. Ik vind dit [opinion].

Image: A family eating dinner together at a table

Ik zie een gezin. Ze eten samen. Ik vind dit gezellig.

I see a family. They eat together. I think this is cozy.

Image: A person jogging in a park

Ik zie een man. Hij rent in het park. Ik vind dit goed want het is gezond.

I see a man. He runs in the park. I think this is good because it's healthy.

Image: A messy kitchen with dirty dishes

Ik zie een keuken. Het is niet schoon. Ik vind dit niet leuk.

I see a kitchen. It's not clean. I don't like this.

Image: An old man reading a book on a bench

Ik zie een man. Hij leest een boek buiten. Ik vind dit mooi.

I see a man. He reads a book outside. I think this is beautiful.

Image: A busy market with people buying vegetables

Ik zie mensen op de markt. Ze kopen groenten. Ik vind dit leuk.

I see people at the market. They buy vegetables. I like this.

Type C: Choose Between 2 Images (Q9–12)

Formula: Ik kies [X]. Want het is [reason].

Image 1: Cooking at home   Image 2: Eating at a restaurant

Ik kies thuis koken. Want het is goedkoop en gezond.

I choose cooking at home. Because it's cheap and healthy.

Image 1: Taking the bus   Image 2: Riding a bicycle

Ik kies de fiets. Want het is gezond en snel.

I choose the bicycle. Because it's healthy and fast.

Image 1: Reading a book   Image 2: Watching TV

Ik kies een boek lezen. Want ik vind lezen leuk.

I choose reading a book. Because I find reading nice.

Image 1: Working in an office   Image 2: Working from home

Ik kies thuis werken. Want het is rustig.

I choose working from home. Because it's quiet.

Image 1: Summer vacation at the beach   Image 2: Winter vacation in the mountains

Ik kies de zomer. Want het is warm en leuk.

I choose summer. Because it's warm and nice.

Type D: 3-Image Story (Q13–16)

Formula: Eerst [sentence]. Dan [sentence]. Dan [sentence].

1: Woman wakes up   2: She makes breakfast   3: She leaves for work

Eerst is de vrouw thuis. Dan maakt ze eten. Dan gaat ze naar haar werk.

First the woman is at home. Then she makes food. Then she goes to her work.

1: Man at home, feels sick   2: He calls the doctor   3: He sits in the waiting room

Eerst is de man ziek. Dan belt hij de dokter. Dan wacht hij.

First the man is sick. Then he calls the doctor. Then he waits.

1: Woman enters a shop   2: She tries on clothes   3: She pays at the counter

Eerst gaat de vrouw naar een winkel. Dan koopt ze kleren. Dan betaalt ze.

First the woman goes to a shop. Then she buys clothes. Then she pays.

1: Friends meet at a café   2: They order coffee   3: They talk and laugh

Eerst zijn er twee mensen in een café. Dan drinken ze koffie. Dan praten ze samen.

First there are two people in a café. Then they drink coffee. Then they talk together.

1: Man looks at a recipe   2: He cooks in the kitchen   3: He serves dinner to his family

Eerst leest de man een boek. Dan kookt hij. Dan eet het gezin samen.

First the man reads a book. Then he cooks. Then the family eats together.

1: It starts raining   2: A woman opens an umbrella   3: She walks to the bus stop

Eerst regent het. Dan pakt de vrouw een paraplu. Dan loopt ze naar de bus.

First it rains. Then the woman takes an umbrella. Then she walks to the bus.


Connector Words

These glue your sentences together. Use 1–2 per answer.

DutchEnglishExample
enandIk werk en ik studeer.
maarbutHet is koud, maar ik ga toch fietsen.
wantbecauseIk kies de bus want het regent.
ookalsoIk kook ook graag.
daaromthereforeHet is laat, daarom ga ik slapen.
zoalssuch asIk eet fruit, zoals appels.

Exam Day

  1. Computer + headphones + mic. No human examiner.
  2. Noisy room. Other candidates are also speaking. Practice with background noise.
  3. Video/image on screen → hear question → record your answer.
  4. You can re-record but don't — first answer is usually better.
  5. 35 minutes for 16 tasks. Timer on screen.
  6. Graded later on: Can you communicate? Is it understandable?
They grade: Clarity, vocabulary, basic grammar, task completion.
They DON'T grade: Accent, perfect grammar, advanced vocabulary.
Simple + clear = pass.

How to Practice (15 min/day)

  1. Pick any photo (Google Images: "people shopping", "family dinner", etc.)
  2. Set a timer: 20 seconds
  3. Describe it in 2–3 Dutch sentences using the templates above
  4. Record yourself on your phone
  5. Listen back — could you understand yourself?
  6. Repeat with a different image

Quick Reference Card

Screenshot This

TaskSay this
Video (1–4) Ik zie [person]. Hij/Zij [verb].
Image (5–8) Ik zie [person]. Hij/Zij [verb]. Ik vind dit [opinion].
2 Images (9–12) Ik kies [X]. Want het is [reason].
3 Images (13–16) Eerst [X]. Dan [Y]. Dan [Z].
Exam tomorrow? Go to the Speaking Cheat Sheet — 120+ sentences sorted by priority with audio. Read, listen, repeat!
Speaking Cheat Sheet (120+ sentences) Practice with Flashcards Take Quiz