Answer every point in the writing task
For A2 Schrijven, answer every point in the task with clear Dutch. Give the details requested, such as a reason, a date or an action. You have 40 minutes for four assignments on paper. You need about 65% of the points to pass. Use the samples below to check your own answers against each task.
These four original practice examples show how to write an e-mail, fill in a form and write short texts.
A2 Schrijven tasks and pass mark
DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab) gives you four A2 Schrijven assignments. You complete them with pen and paper in 40 minutes. Tasks include short messages and forms.
You need about 65% of the points to pass. For the full exam format and scoring guidance, see the A2 Schrijven exam guide.
The three official DUO A2 Schrijven practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) each contain one form and three short texts. The short texts include e-mails, texts on everyday topics and a note. Use those exams to see the task instructions.
For your writing practice, check all of these details:
- Write complete sentences for e-mails, notes and short texts.
- On forms, fill every required field clearly. Check names, dates, postcodes, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
- Link ideas with familiar words: en (and), maar (but), want (because), omdat (because) and daarom (therefore).
Using the sample answers
Use each sample in this order. Keep your sentences simple. Check that another person can understand your message.
- Read the task.
- Mark every detail it asks for.
- Write your own answer before reading the sample.
- Compare your answer with the sample and its explanation.
- Check that your answer includes every requested detail.
Check the row for your task type. The rows follow the order of the four samples below. Follow the instructions in your assignment.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Task type | What to include |
|---|---|
| State why you are writing. Give the reason. Make a clear request or proposal. | |
| Form | Fill every required field and use short sentences for open questions. |
| Short text | Write at least the number of complete sentences that the task asks for. |
| Note | Tell the other person exactly what to do or what happened. |
Sample 1: E-mail to change an appointment
Practice task: you cannot meet a classmate at the library tomorrow. Write an e-mail to explain why. Suggest a new day and time.
The e-mail says you cannot meet tomorrow. It gives a reason and suggests a new day and time. The greeting and closing make it polite.
Sample 2: Form with short answers
Practice task: fill in a form to join an activity at a community centre. Fill every required field. For an open question that asks for one detail, one clear sentence can be enough.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Veld (field) | Voorbeeldantwoord (sample answer) |
|---|---|
| Voor- en achternaam (first name and surname) | Maria Costa |
| Adres (address) | Parkstraat 18 |
| Postcode en woonplaats (postcode and town or city) | 3012 AB Rotterdam |
| Telefoonnummer (phone number) | 06 12345678 |
| maria.costa@example.com | |
| Welke activiteit kiest u? (Which activity do you choose?) | Taalcafé op dinsdagavond (language café on Tuesday evenings) |
| Waarom kiest u deze activiteit? (Why do you choose this activity?) | Ik wil beter Nederlands spreken met buren. (I want to speak better Dutch with neighbours.) |
| Hoe is uw gezondheid? (How is your health?) | Mijn gezondheid is goed. (My health is good.) |
The form includes all the requested personal details. The postcode has four digits and two letters. The answers name an activity and explain the choice. Another answer describes the writer’s health.
If you need to fill in a form for a real job application, see the job application guide.
Sample 3: Short text about your neighbourhood
Practice task: write at least three sentences about a place you like in your neighbourhood.
The text has three complete sentences about one place. It gives the location. It says who goes there. It explains what the writer likes about the park. The word en joins two ideas.
Sample 4: Note to a colleague
Practice task: leave a note for Lina, your colleague in a clothes shop. Give her three things to do today: open the shop, put the new trousers on the rack and call you at 15:00.
The note gives all three requested actions: open the shop, put the trousers on the rack and call at 15:00. It also has a greeting, a thank-you and a closing.
Writing practice that fits your answers
If your answer misses a detail, rewrite that task before moving on. If you can cover every point, try an official DUO practice exam on paper with a 40-minute timer. Check each answer against its own task: names, reasons and dates change between assignments.
For more practice after the official exams, use these resources:
- Free A2 writing workbook — extra practice from Inburgering.org.
- A2 writing summary — a checklist for your next answer.
- Free timed A2 writing mock exam — another practice session from Inburgering.org.
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- DUO: A2, B1 and B2 language exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Confirms that A2 Schrijven takes 40 minutes and has four assignments completed with pen and paper.
- DUO: official practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Lists the three official A2 Schrijven practice exams used to check the task types in these original examples.
- DUO: A2 Schrijven assessment for short texts (External site, opens in a new tab) - Assesses task completion, clarity, grammar, spelling, word use and connections between ideas.
- DUO: A2 Schrijven assessment for forms (External site, opens in a new tab) - Assesses task completion, clarity, spelling and word use in forms.
- CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Statistics Netherlands): postcode format (External site, opens in a new tab) - Confirms that a Dutch postcode has four digits and two letters.