Read the question, then find the evidence
For A2 Lezen, read the context line and question before the text. Find the sentence or table cell that answers the question, then check each option against it. Read the whole passage when the question asks about its purpose. You have 65 minutes on a computer and need about 18 of 25 correct to pass.
A2 Lezen exam time and pass mark
You have 65 minutes to read texts and answer questions on a computer. DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab) confirms the time and computer format. Its format page gives no fixed question count or raw pass mark.
You need about 18 of 25 correct to pass. DUO gives you the official result.
Start with DUO’s official A2 practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab). The A2 Lezen exam guide explains the format and includes 25 original multiple-choice practice questions. Use the same benchmark for that set: about 18 correct.
Four steps to find the answer
Use these four steps for emails, letters, schedules, leaflets, notices and work rules. Follow the same order for each text. Focus on the words needed to answer the question.
- Read the context line to identify who receives the text. Identify the type of text.
- Read the question to decide what to find: a time, person, place, reason, amount or action.
- Scan the text for that information. Look for names, dates, prices, times, headings and action words. For a table, find the row and column that match the question.
- Check each answer option against the sentence or table cell you found. Reject an option with extra information or more cases than the text allows. Reject an option that changes the meaning of “only”, “before” or “after”.
A question about a reason or the purpose of a text may need more than one sentence. Read the relevant passage in full before you choose.
Clues for each question type
Match the question type in the first column to the clues in the second. A time question points you to dates, times and words such as before or after.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Question asks | Scan for |
|---|---|
| When? | Dates, times, before, after, from, until |
| Who? | Names, jobs, roles such as docent (teacher), baas (boss), portier (doorman) or assistente (assistant) |
| What must someone do? | moet (must), neem mee (bring), meld u aan (register), bel (call), betaal (pay), stuur (send), haal op (collect) |
| Why? | omdat (because), daarom (therefore), de reden (the reason), want (because) |
| How much or which option? | The right table row, price, weight, floor, subscription or time period |
Small words that change the answer
Check small Dutch words before choosing an answer. They can change the time, person or action that the question asks about.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Dutch words and meanings | What to check |
|---|---|
| uiterlijk (no later than), voor (before), na (after) | Check whether the answer is before, at or after the stated time. |
| vanaf (from) | Find the starting time or date. |
| tot (until), tot en met (up to and including) | tot gives an end point. tot en met includes the last day. |
| alleen (only), behalve (except) | alleen limits the people, days or places. behalve leaves a case out. |
| niet (not), geen (no or not any), hoeft niet (does not have to) | niet and geen make the statement negative. hoeft niet means an action is optional. |
| als (if), wanneer (when) | These words can give a time or a condition. For a condition, check whether it applies to the situation in the question. |
Worked example: what to bring to class
This original practice example asks you to find one item in a message from a teacher. Read the Dutch text and choose an answer before checking the explanation.
Context (situation): Milan volgt een taalcursus. Hij krijgt een bericht van zijn docent.
Tekst (text):
Beste cursisten, vrijdag 12 juni is lokaal 4 gesloten. De les Nederlands gaat wel door. We zitten in kamer 2 van de bibliotheek. Neem uw werkboek mee. U hoeft geen laptop mee te nemen. Kunt u niet komen? Mail docent Sara vóór donderdag 18.00 uur.
Vraag (question): Wat moet Milan meenemen naar de les? (What must Milan bring to class?)
A. een laptop (a laptop)
B. zijn werkboek (his workbook)
C. een e-mail voor Sara (an email for Sara)
The question asks what Milan must bring. Look for meenemen (to bring) or neem mee (bring). The evidence is “Neem uw werkboek mee” (Bring your workbook). Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because the message says he does not have to bring a laptop. The instruction to email Sara applies if he cannot come; it does not say to bring an email.
Wrong answers to check for
Check for these five mistakes when you compare an option with the text:
- The option repeats a word from the text but changes the rule, deadline or person.
- The option is true, but it answers a different question.
- The text says something is optional, but the option says it is required.
- The option uses the wrong table row or column, such as ground floor instead of second floor.
- The option fits everyday experience, but the text gives a different rule.
Time for answering and checking
Try this timing plan during practice. For the 25 questions in the A2 Lezen exam guide, 65 minutes gives an average of 2 minutes and 36 seconds per question. You can spend 30 seconds on a simple practice question and 4 minutes on one that needs more reading.
- Use about 50 to 55 minutes to answer the questions once.
- Spend extra time only when you are close to finding the sentence that answers it.
- Use the final 5 to 10 minutes to check deadlines, negative words and table rows.
- After practice, write the sentence or table cell that proves each answer you got wrong.
After a few minutes without evidence, note the question number. Choose your best answer and continue. Return to those questions before you finish the practice session.
Official practice and extra exercises
Choose Lezen on DUO’s official practice page. DUO recommends using a desktop computer.
For extra practice from Inburgering.org, read the A2 reading strategy summary before a timed session. Use the A2 reading practice workbook for more original questions.
Your next practice session
If finding answers takes too long, practise the four steps without a timer first. If you finish within 65 minutes, check whether the text supports each answer. Before another timed session, review the words or table labels that led to mistakes. An option that repeats a word from the text still needs to answer the question.
Official Sources
- Taalexamens (language exams): A2 Lezen format (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO confirms that A2 Lezen is taken on a computer and lasts 65 minutes. This page gives no fixed question count or raw pass mark.
- Oefenen (practice): official A2 exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO lists A2 Lezen practice exams and recommends using a desktop computer.
- Taaladvies.net (Dutch language advice website): als (if) and wanneer (when) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Both als and wanneer can express a time or a condition. Their meaning depends on the context.
- Uitslag examen (exam result): your official result (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO explains how you receive your official A2 exam result.