Introduction
The NLTV A2 exam tests your ability to use everyday Vietnamese across a range of familiar situations. At this level, you are expected to understand and produce vocabulary related to daily routines, personal relationships, shopping, travel, health, and more. Building a strong thematic vocabulary base is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as A2 exam tasks consistently draw from the same core topic areas. This guide organizes the most important A2 vocabulary by theme so you can study systematically and identify gaps before exam day.
Exam Format
| Section | Duration | Questions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | ~20 min | 15-20 | Short dialogues, announcements |
| Reading | ~30 min | 15-20 | Signs, messages, short passages |
| Writing | ~20 min | 10-15 | Fill-in-blanks, short sentences |
| Speaking | ~10 min | 5-8 | Self-intro, daily topics |
What You Need to Know
Grammar Points for A2
- Comparison with hơn / nhất — comparing two or more things (nhanh hơn, đắt nhất)
- Past tense marker đã — indicating a completed action (Tôi đã ăn sáng)
- Future marker sẽ — expressing plans or intentions (Tôi sẽ đi học)
- Continuous aspect đang — describing an action in progress (Cô ấy đang nấu ăn)
- Modal verbs có thể / phải / nên — expressing ability, obligation, and advice
- Resultative complement with được — showing a successful outcome (Tôi mua được vé)
- Question words bao nhiêu / bao lâu / bao xa — asking about quantity, duration, distance
- Connectors nhưng / vì / nên / hoặc — linking clauses with contrast, reason, result, or choice
- Classifiers cái / con / quyển / chiếc — noun classifiers required before counted objects
Essential Vocabulary Topics
- Family & Relationships (ông, bà, anh, chị, em, bạn bè, hàng xóm)
- Food & Drink (cơm, phở, rau, thịt, cà phê, nước, ăn sáng, đặt món)
- Shopping & Money (giá, trả tiền, đắt, rẻ, chợ, siêu thị, mặc cả)
- Health & Body (đau, sốt, bệnh viện, thuốc, bác sĩ, tay, chân, đầu)
- Transportation & Directions (xe máy, xe buýt, taxi, rẽ trái, đi thẳng, bến xe)
- Work & Study (công việc, văn phòng, trường học, bài tập, thi, lương)
- Time & Daily Routines (buổi sáng, thức dậy, đi làm, về nhà, cuối tuần)
- Weather & Seasons (nóng, lạnh, mưa, nắng, mùa hè, mùa đông)
Sample Questions
Listening Sample
A: Chị ơi, hôm nay chợ có bán rau cải không?
B: Có chứ! Hôm nay rau tươi lắm, mà giá cũng rẻ đấy.
Question: What does person B say about the vegetables?
- A. The vegetables are sold out today.
- B. The vegetables are fresh and cheap today.
- C. The vegetables are expensive today.
Answer
Answer: B. The vegetables are fresh and cheap today. Explanation: Person B says "rau tươi lắm" (very fresh vegetables) and "giá cũng rẻ" (price is also cheap), so option B is correct.
Reading Sample
Read the following note left by a roommate:
Anh ơi, em đi siêu thị mua đồ ăn. Em sẽ về lúc 5 giờ chiều. Anh nhớ mua thêm nước nhé!
Question: What time will the roommate return?
- A. 3:00 PM
- B. 5:00 PM
- C. 7:00 PM
Answer
Answer: B. 5:00 PM Explanation: The note says "Em sẽ về lúc 5 giờ chiều," which means "I will return at 5 PM."
Writing Sample
Fill in the blank with the correct word:
Tôi bị _____ đầu nên không đi làm được hôm nay.
(Options: đau / vui / khỏe)
Answer
Answer: đau Explanation: "Đau đầu" means "headache." The sentence means "I have a headache so I couldn't go to work today." The context (not being able to go to work) confirms a health problem, making "đau" the correct choice.
Study Tips
- Study vocabulary in thematic clusters rather than random lists — your brain retains words better when they share a context, and A2 exam topics consistently fall within the same themes.
- For each new word, write a sample sentence using a grammar pattern you already know (e.g., use đang + verb or sẽ + verb) so you practice grammar and vocabulary simultaneously.
- Use flashcard spaced repetition (apps like Anki) with audio — hearing Vietnamese pronunciation alongside the written word is especially important for distinguishing similar-sounding vocabulary.
- Review vocabulary from reading signs, menus, and short messages, since these are the exact text types used in the A2 Reading section.