Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal, Examen I (NT2-I)

This is an examination for candidates up to intermediate level, and was first set by the Ministry of Education in 1992. It qualifies successful candidates for entrance to various forms of education and training as well as commerce and industry.

There are four components:

Reading

Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to deal with a large variety of texts such as they may encounter in real life. They must be able to skim and scan the text, establish the main line of argument, define key points, etc. Texts are taken from a wide range of work-related material including manuals, notices, advertisements, forms, and magazine and newspaper articles.

The exam has about eight texts and approximately forty items. The exam has to be completed within a limited time span (hundred minutes). All the items are multiple choice. Candidates are allowed to use a dictionary.

Writing

Candidates are expected to demonstrate various writing skills. There are approximately fourteen tasks. The first tasks require the candidate tocomplete sentences, short texts, letters and forms and to construct a short written paragraph from a number of given sentences. The remaining tasks require the candidate to produce a short letter and a piece of descriptive writing (50 words).

Listening

Candidates must be able to understand a variety of texts. They are expected to understand the gist of a text, pick out specific information, follow a line of argument and distinguish main points from secondary ones. Texts are taken from a wide range of sources including public announcements, conversations, speeches, interviews, advertisements, instructions, and lectures.

There are three sections. Each section has one or two texts with questions. After a introduction the candidates listen to a passage of text. Every passage has one item. All items are multiple choice. There are approximately forty items in each exam.

Speaking

Candidates are expected to perform twenty tasks in a variety of settings. The first twelve require short responses, ranging from one or two words to one or two sentences. The remaining eight tasks require somewhat longer responses. Candidates need to refer to pictures and short texts in carrying out the tasks.

Results

The tests for the different skills are equated using a Rasch calibrated item bank. Marks for the tests are then put on to an interval scale. There is a pass mark for each of the four tests and a separate certificate is awarded to successful candidates for each test. Candidates who gain all four certificates are entitled to the Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal I diploma.