Writing Exam (Schrijven): A2, B1 and B2 Format and Practice

The Dutch writing exam is called Schrijven. If your route says A2, you write 4 short tasks with pen and paper in 40 minutes. If your route says B1 or B2, you take Staatsexamen NT2 Schrijven on a computer for 100 minutes. Before you practise, check Mijn Inburgering, your DUO letter, or your PIP from the gemeente so you do not prepare for the wrong level.

• Start with your route: Mijn Inburgering, your DUO letters, and your PIP are more important than a random online exam list.
• A2 Schrijven: 40 minutes, pen and paper, 4 practical tasks such as a form or a short letter.
• B1 Schrijven: Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I, 100 minutes on a computer, with sentence tasks and short practical writing.
• B2 Schrijven: Staatsexamen NT2 Programma II, 100 minutes on a computer, with more complex short and medium-length writing tasks.
• Dictionary: for B1/B2 writing, only the paper Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2) is allowed.
• Results: A2 results come within 8 weeks. B1/B2 results follow the NT2 exam schedule and are shown through DUO/Mijn DUO.

Do not choose A2, B1, or B2 only because a friend took that exam. The Dutch government uses different routes. Under Wet inburgering 2021, your PIP from the gemeente says the route and level. Under older obligations, Mijn Inburgering and DUO letters show which exams you must take.

If you are still unsure, read which Dutch exam do you need and A2 vs B1 levels before booking anything. The A1 basisexamen abroad is different: it has reading, speaking, and knowledge of Dutch society, but not a separate writing exam.

The name Schrijven is the same, but the exam is not the same at every level. This table gives the simple difference before you open the deeper guides.

Writing exams test useful Dutch, not beautiful essays. A passing answer usually answers every bullet, uses the right tone, and is easy for the reader to understand.

The public pages explain the result process more clearly than the detailed A2 writing rubric. For study, focus on what assessors can see: did you complete the task, is the message understandable, and does your Dutch fit the level?

• Use official practice early. Try the DUO A2 writing PDFs or the NT2 practice environment before you make a study plan.
• Practise the real text type. A form, complaint, invitation, report, or proposal each needs a different tone.
• Write shorter but complete answers. Many weak answers fail because they miss a bullet, not because every sentence has a small grammar mistake.
• Get feedback from a person or tool. Writing is hard to judge alone. Ask whether your message is clear, polite, and complete.
• For B1/B2, practise typing Dutch. Learn accents, punctuation, paragraphs, and the computer flow before exam day.
• Do not depend on the dictionary. The NT2 dictionary can help with one word, but looking up many words uses too much time.

Use this article as the map. When you know your level, move to the level guide and practise with tasks that match your exam.

• For A2 forms, short letters, notes, and sample tasks, read the A2 writing exam guide.
• For B1 Programma I task types and a full practice set, read B1 writing task types.
• For B2 Programma II format, strategy, and practice, read the B2 writing guide.
• For extra B2 prompts after the guide, use NT2 B2 writing exercises.
• For downloadable practice, use A2 writing practice, B1 writing practice, or B2 writing practice.

• Open Mijn Inburgering, your DUO letter, or your PIP and write down the exact level: A2, B1, or B2.
• Make one official practice task before you study more grammar. This shows whether the problem is vocabulary, time, handwriting, typing, or task understanding.
• Choose the matching deeper guide above and practise one text type at a time.
• For B1/B2, register through DUO/Mijn DUO only when you can finish practice tasks within the time limit.
• If illness, disability, dyslexia, or another limitation affects writing or typing, check adapted-exam options before booking.