Speaking in the A2 exam

The speaking part takes about 12 minutes. You do it in a pair with another candidate, on the same day as the written part. It has two tasks worth 20 points in total. Your answers are recorded.

Task 1

About 6–7 minutes. The task is based on an everyday topic; in the Harno booklet it is “Pere ja sugulased” (family and relatives). First you say what is in a picture, then you answer the examiner’s questions. Phrases for describing a picture:

Pildil on …: In the picture there is …
Pildil ma näen …: In the picture I can see …
Vasakul / paremal / keskel on …: On the left / on the right / in the middle there is …
Nad istuvad / söövad / räägivad.: They are sitting / eating / talking.
Minu arvates on see …: I think this is …
Tundub, et neil on hea tuju.: They seem to be in a good mood.

Sample examiner questions

The questions are from the Harno booklet.

Kui suur on teie pere?: How big is your family?
Kes on teie pereliikmed?: Who is in your family?
Mida te koos perega nädalavahetusel teete?: What do you do with your family at the weekend?
Kus teie sugulased elavad?: Where do your relatives live?
Kui sageli te oma sugulastega kohtute?: How often do you see your relatives?
Mida sugulased teile tavaliselt kingivad?: What do your relatives usually give you?

Sample answer to “Mida te koos perega nädalavahetusel teete?”

Laupäeval käime tavaliselt poes ja koristame kodu. Pühapäeval sõidame vahel maale, sest seal elab minu ema. Suvel käime koos ujumas.

Translation

On Saturday we usually go shopping and clean the house. On Sunday we sometimes drive to the countryside, because my mother lives there. In summer we go swimming together.

Task 2

About 5–6 minutes. The candidates get a card with a topic and pictures (ideekaart) and ask each other questions. The booklet has two examples. “Söök”: what your partner eats and when. “Igapäevane elu”: what they do at the shop, at a service point, at the health centre and how often. You need to both ask and answer. Question words:

Mida sa … ?: What do you …?
Millal? / Mis kell?: When? / What time?
Kui tihti? / Kui sageli?: How often?
Kus? Kellega? Miks?: Where? With whom? Why?
Kas sa … ?: Do you …? (a yes/no question)
Aga sina?: And you?

Sample dialogue for the “Söök” card

A: Mida sa hommikul sööd? B: Tavaliselt söön putru ja joon kohvi. Aga sina? A: Mina söön võileiba. Kus sa lõunat sööd? B: Tööl, sööklas. Seal on soe toit odav. A: Kas sa sööd tihti magustoitu? B: Ei, ainult pühapäeviti. Siis küpsetan perega kooki.

Translation

A: What do you eat in the morning? B: Usually porridge, and I drink coffee. And you? A: I have a sandwich. Where do you have lunch? B: At work, in the canteen. The hot food there is cheap. A: Do you often have dessert? B: No, only on Sundays. Then I bake a cake with my family.

If you did not understand or do not know a word

Vabandust, ma ei saanud aru.: Sorry, I didn’t understand.
Kas te saate korrata?: Could you repeat that?
Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.: Please speak more slowly.
Mida see sõna tähendab?: What does this word mean?
Ma ei mäleta, kuidas see eesti keeles on.: I can’t remember how to say it in Estonian.
Hetkeke, ma mõtlen.: Just a moment, let me think.

Tips

Answer with two or three sentences, not a single word.
Do not memorise a monologue: the questions may not match the text you prepared.
In task 2, ask your partner about every point on the card and answer their questions.
Practise out loud and record yourself on your phone.
If you make a mistake, do not stop; keep talking.

Exam details are taken from Harno materials in September 2026. Rules can change, so check them on the Harno website before your exam.