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Spreken · A2 · B1 · Exam tips · 7 min read

How to prepare for the Dutch speaking exam when you're nervous

For many people the speaking exam is the scariest part of the inburgeringsexamen or the Staatsexamen NT2. You know the words, but when you have to speak, your mind goes blank. That is completely normal. The good news is that nerves get smaller with the right kind of practice, and that a few simple habits keep you talking even when you feel stressed.

The speaking exam is usually taken on a computer: you see or hear a situation and record your answer into a microphone. Check the current format for your own exam on inburgeren.nl or staatsexamensnt2.nl, so that nothing on the day is a surprise. Knowing exactly what will happen is the first step to feeling calmer.

1. Practise out loud, not in your head

Many learners prepare for speaking by reading and thinking. But speaking is a physical skill: your mouth needs to get used to the Dutch sounds and your brain needs to get used to building sentences fast. Ten minutes of speaking out loud every day does more than an hour of silent study. Talk to yourself while you cook, describe what you see on the way to work, or answer practice questions out loud.

2. Record yourself and listen back

In the exam you talk to a computer, so practise the same way. Use your phone to record your answers. The first recordings will feel strange, but after a week your own voice in Dutch stops being scary. Listen back and ask yourself two questions: did I answer the question, and would a Dutch person understand me? Those two things matter much more than a perfect accent.

3. Use a simple answer plan

Nerves are worst when you don't know how to start. Give every answer the same shape, so that you always know your next step.

• Answer the question directly in one sentence.
• Give a reason with want or omdat.
• Add one example or detail.

Ik ga liever met de fiets naar mijn werk.(1. The answer)

Ik vind het fijn, want ik ben dan buiten.(2. A reason)

Bijvoorbeeld als het mooi weer is, fiets ik door het park.(3. An example)

Three sentences is a complete answer for many questions. If you have more time, add a second reason. If you feel stuck, the plan tells you what to say next.

4. Learn a few rescue phrases

Everyone forgets a word sometimes, even native speakers. The trick is to keep going instead of going silent. Learn these phrases by heart, so they come out automatically when you need time to think.

Even denken ...(Let me think ...)

Hoe zeg je dat ...(How do you say that ...)

Ik bedoel ...(I mean ...)

Dat is een goede vraag.(That is a good question.)

Ik weet het woord niet, maar het is een ding om ... mee te ...(I don't know the word, but it's a thing you use to ...)

The last one is very useful. If you forget the word schaar (scissors), say "het is een ding om papier mee te knippen". You still show the examiner that you can communicate, and that is what the exam tests.

5. Prepare the topics that always come back

Speaking tasks are about daily life: your family, your work or study, your house and neighbourhood, hobbies, shopping, health, transport and plans for the future. Prepare three or four sentences about yourself for each topic. You won't get the exact question you prepared, but you will have words and sentences ready that fit.

6. Know how to give your opinion

Many questions ask what you think or what you prefer. These phrases make it easy. Watch the word order: after dat and omdat the verb goes to the end, and after Volgens mij the verb comes right next.

Ik vind dat ...(I think that ... (verb at the end after dat))

Volgens mij is dat een goed idee.(In my opinion that is a good idea. (verb right after volgens mij))

Ik ben het daarmee eens, want ...(I agree with that, because ...)

Ik ben het daar niet mee eens, omdat ...(I don't agree with that, because ...)

7. On the day itself

• Sleep well and eat something before the exam. A tired brain finds words more slowly.
• Arrive early, so you don't start the exam out of breath.
• Before you answer, breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. One breath is enough.
• Speak a little slower than normal. It sounds calmer and gives you time to build your sentence.
• Made a mistake? Correct it if it's quick, otherwise just continue. One mistake doesn't make you fail.
• Don't worry about your accent. Being understood is what counts.

Nerves go down with repetition

The more often you have answered a question out loud, the less scary the real exam is. That's why practising in the exam situation itself helps so much. In our trainer you hear the situation, record your answer, and get feedback on your answer in plain English.