Exam tip: reading long texts at B2

Budget 15 minutes per text. Six texts in 100 minutes leaves a few minutes to check. Note the clock time when you start each text.

Read in three rounds.

1. Orientation (1 min): title, subtitle, source line, first and last paragraph. Ask: what kind of text is this, and who is it for? Is it informing (uiteenzetting), reflecting (beschouwing) or persuading (betoog)?
2. Questions (1 min): read all the questions, not the options yet. Underline the key word in each.
3. Targeted reading: find the paragraph each question points to and read that part carefully. Most questions follow the order of the text.

Paragraph questions. The first sentence of a paragraph usually says what it does. Then look at the signal word: doordat, daardoor (cause/effect), maar, toch, echter (contrast), bijvoorbeeld (example), ten eerste, daarnaast (list), kortom, dus (conclusion).

Conclusion questions. Test each option against the text: can you put your finger on the sentence that supports it? Cross out options that go further than the text (alle, altijd), that give someone else's view, or that are true but not mentioned.

Dictionary. Look up a word only when a question depends on it, and first try to guess from the sentence. Two lookups per text is a good limit.

Never leave a question empty. If you're stuck after two minutes, choose the best option, mark it and come back if there's time.

• Component: Lezen. Task type: long study, professional and opinion texts; structure, meaning and conclusion questions.
• What the real task looks like: about 6 texts and 36 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes. The texts are in a printed booklet; you answer on the computer. A paper dictionary (Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2) is allowed. Texts are at HBO or university level: reports, articles from professional magazines, study texts, opinion pieces, official information.
• Question types (as described on staatsexamensnt2.nl):

1. topic, origin and target group: Wat is het onderwerp? Waar komt de tekst vandaan? Voor wie is de tekst bedoeld?
2. meaning of a word, phrase or sentence in context;
3. relationships between parts of the text: Wat is de functie van alinea 3?
4. finding specific information;
5. conclusions and the writer's opinion.

• Most common mistakes:

1. Choosing an answer that is true in real life but not in the text.
2. Choosing an absolute answer (altijd, nooit, alle, helemaal) when the text is careful (vaak, waarschijnlijk, de meeste).
3. Mixing up the writer's opinion with an opinion the writer quotes or refutes.
4. Reading every word and looking up every unknown word, then running out of time.
5. Missing small signal words (toch, echter, niet alleen … maar ook) that turn the meaning around.