What Actually Happens on Sproochentest Day? A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
You’ve practiced your Luxembourgish. You’ve worked through interview questions. You’ve described pictures.
But there’s another question that can create a surprising amount of anxiety:
What actually happens when you show up for the Sproochentest?
Where do you go? What can you take inside? What does the listening test look like? How do you choose your interview theme and picture?
I took the Sproochentest at INLL Glacis in July 2026, and this is what the process looked like for me—from walking through the doors to collecting my belongings afterward.
A Note About This Walkthrough
The official test format described here is based on current information published by the Institut national des langues Luxembourg (INLL).
The logistical details—where I waited, the lockers, the testing rooms, how my choices were presented and what happened during my assessment—are from my personal experience at INLL Glacis in July 2026.
Procedures can change and individual sessions may vary.
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Keep reading for my step-by-step walkthrough of what test day looked like.
The Basic Sproochentest Structure
The Sproochentest has two compulsory components.
Speaking — A2 level
The speaking assessment lasts approximately 10 minutes:
about 5 minutes for an interview on one of two themes
about 5 minutes describing one of three pictures
Listening comprehension — B1 level
The listening assessment lasts approximately 35 minutes and is completed on a tablet.
INLL describes three types of listening texts: a radio message, a conversation about an everyday topic, and an exchange or presentation on a defined topic.
Both assessments take place during the same half-day session.
Arriving at INLL Glacis
I arrived about 30 minutes early.
At Glacis, the signage was easy to follow. I entered through the double doors, followed a sign directing Sproochentest candidates to the left, continued down the hallway and reached the locker area.
A staff member was there directing candidates to put their belongings into lockers.
During my session, I could keep:
my passport
a bottle of water
tissues
No watch.
My phone, bag and other belongings went into the locker.
Check the instructions for your own session, since procedures can change.
Checking In—and Waiting
After putting my belongings away, I entered the check-in area.
There was a desk on the left and chairs on the right. Staff found my name on the candidate list, and I signed in.
It was busy. Every chair was occupied, with additional candidates waiting around the seating area.
And this is worth knowing:
There can be a lot of waiting.
The published test times don't necessarily tell you how long you'll actually be at INLL.
My Listening Test Came First
Staff called us by name and took us into the listening room.
The room had wooden divided workstations, almost like individual cubicles. Headphones were already at the desks.
We received paperwork, our identification was checked, and tablets were distributed. We logged in, and staff gave instructions in Luxembourgish.
One thing I remember very clearly:
I did not control the pace.
I couldn't pause the assessment, replay something whenever I wanted, or decide when to advance. The test progressed automatically.
I remember hearing each recording twice, which is also consistent with INLL's published sample listening instructions.
I don't remember confidently enough whether I saw the questions before each recording to describe that part from memory. For the exact listening sequence, I recommend using INLL's current sample materials rather than relying on anyone's recollection—including mine.
When the assessment ended, we waited until everyone had finished. Staff collected the tablets and paperwork, and we returned to the waiting area.
Then I waited to be called again.
Then Came the Speaking Assessment
When my name was called, staff checked that I had my passport and specifically verified that I wasn't wearing a watch.
An examiner walked me down the hallway to the testing room.
She sat behind a desk, and I sat directly across from her. A second person sat perpendicular to us behind another desk and appeared to be handling the audio or recording equipment.
The examiner gave a short introduction in Luxembourgish.
And I'll be candid:
I didn't catch all of it.
I was nervous. But missing part of that introduction didn't prevent me from understanding what happened next.
Choosing My Interview Theme
There were two pieces of paper face down on the table.
The examiner turned them over.
My choices were:
Wanter — Winter
and
Liesen — Reading
I chose Liesen.
She acknowledged my choice—something along the lines of confirming that I had chosen Liesen—and we went straight into the questions.
There wasn't a separate preparation period.
The Questions Changed Direction
From where I was sitting, I could see that the examiner had a question sheet in front of her.
I couldn't read the individual questions, but the layout looked similar to structured Sproochentest theme sheets I have seen since taking the test.
My impression was that she worked her way down the prepared questions.
And those questions didn't stay in one place.
With Liesen, for example, I was asked questions along the lines of:
What did you read today?
→ something recent
What books did you read in school?
→ moving into the past
What book do you want to read next?
→ moving toward the future
The theme remained reading, but the direction of the questions changed.
I had to recognize what each question was asking and adjust my answer accordingly.
That distinction matters.
I don't think of the Sproochentest speaking portion as simply having an open-ended conversation about a familiar topic. In my experience, it felt like a structured oral interview.
The examiner asked a question, I answered it, and she moved to the next one.
She was also encouraging while I spoke—nodding and smiling as I answered—which made the experience less intimidating.
The Examiner Managed the Clock
The examiner set a timer for the interview.
I wasn't watching the time or deciding when we should move on. I simply answered the questions.
When the timer went off, she stopped the interview portion.
There wasn't an obvious “final question.” Time was up, so we moved to the next part.
Choosing a Picture
After a short transition in Luxembourgish that I don't remember clearly, the examiner placed the picture choices in front of me.
I selected one.
I recognized many items in the picture because I had practiced describing similar ones.
It showed grandparents and children together. Some were playing a game, while others were sitting on a couch.
My recollection is that I had about a minute to look at the picture before I began, although I'm less certain about the exact amount of time.
I don't remember receiving a distinct cue to start. I looked at the picture and then began describing it.
I Kept Describing Until She Stopped Me
Once I started, I spoke continuously.
The examiner didn't turn the picture description into a series of questions or redirect me. I described what I could see and kept going.
A timer was running again.
Eventually, the examiner interrupted me because the allotted time had ended.
I didn't need to decide that I had reached the perfect ending to my description. I communicated what I could until that portion of the assessment was over.
That was my experience—not a rule that every candidate should expect to speak continuously until stopped.
And Then It Was Over
The examiner said a few things in Luxembourgish.
At that point, I was pretty rattled and honestly don't remember what she said.
She handed me a card with a QR code for providing feedback about the testing process.
Then I walked out on my own, returned to the lockers, collected my belongings and left.
There was no immediate discussion of my performance.
I went home and waited for my result.
What I Wish I Had Known Before Test Day
Looking back, a few things would have made the process feel much less mysterious.
You may not understand every Luxembourgish instruction.
I didn't.
Expect some waiting.
The test durations aren't necessarily the amount of time you'll spend at INLL.
The speaking assessment moves quickly.
I chose my theme and went straight into the questions.
Listen for the direction of each question—not just the theme.
A theme like Liesen can move from what you did today, to what you did years ago, to what you want to do next. The topic may stay the same while the answer you need to give changes.
The examiner manages the timing.
In my assessment, I concentrated on answering and describing while the examiner handled the clock and transitions.
Feeling rattled doesn't tell you how you performed.
I walked out replaying everything in my head.
I passed.
Prepare for the Test You Will Actually Take
You don't know which two themes will be turned over in front of you.
You don't know exactly which questions will be on the examiner's sheet.
And you don't know which pictures you'll have to choose from.
So preparation can't just be about memorizing answers to predicted questions.
Practice recognizing where the question is taking you:
Now? Past? Future? Opinion? Explanation?
Then answer what was actually asked, use the Luxembourgish you have available, add a relevant detail when you can, and be ready for the next question to take you somewhere different.
That's the kind of flexibility you can take with you no matter which pieces of paper get turned over on test day.
Ready to Practice Before Test Day?
Knowing what happens when you walk into the room can remove some of the uncertainty.
The next step is practicing what happens after those two theme choices are turned over.
GPS Luxembourgish practice materials are designed to help you prepare for the structured interview: recognizing where a question is taking you, answering it directly, handling changes between present, past and future, and practicing picture descriptions without relying on a memorized script.
Start with The GPS Method Guide if you want to understand the GPS Method and develop a repeatable approach to unfamiliar questions.
Choose the Question Decoder Flashcards if you want to practice past, present, and future questions.
Choose the GPS Method Workbook if you want structured exercises to practice using that approach out loud.
Choose an Interview Collection if you want complete written interview simulations with primary questions and follow-ups.
Choose an Individual Theme if you want additional focused practice on one Sproochentest theme.
Sproochentest Season Discount
Use code TESTDAY for 15% off GPS Luxembourgish digital practice materials through September 20, 2026.
Prepare for the questions you can't predict—not just the ones you've already practiced.
Official information: For current Sproochentest requirements, sample materials and assessment information, always check the Institut national des langues Luxembourg directly.
GPS Luxembourgish is an independent preparation resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by INLL. This article describes one candidate's personal test-day experience alongside publicly available INLL information. Procedures and assessment materials may change.
