A2 Reading Exam Summary: How to Find Answers in the Text
This A2 Lezen (reading) guide shows you how to read practical Dutch texts without translating every word. Read the question first, find the relevant part, compare the options, and keep time to check difficult answers.
- Fact
- 65 minutes (official)
See how one question works
The official practice exams tell you to read the question before the text. The question gives you a clear reading job. In this example, you need to find what Rayan must do when Wednesday is impossible.
Tekst 1: Afspraak voor onderhoud
Rayan krijgt een bericht van de woningbeheerder.
Beste Rayan, de monteur komt op woensdag 14 oktober tussen 13.00 en 15.00 uur. Er moet iemand thuis zijn om de deur open te doen.
Kunt u woensdag niet? Bel ons dan vóór maandag 12 oktober. U kunt de afspraak niet via e-mail veranderen.
Vraag 1
Rayan kan woensdag niet thuis zijn. Wat moet hij doen?
“Kunt u woensdag niet? Bel ons dan vóór maandag 12 oktober.”Why C is correct
- The question asks what Rayan must do if Wednesday does not work.
- Look for woensdag (Wednesday), then read the sentences around it.
- The message says to call before Monday. The e-mail option contradicts the final sentence.
What happens in the exam
You take A2 Lezen on a computer. DUO says that you read Dutch texts, answer questions, and have 65 minutes. The official practice exams include everyday material such as e-mails, notices, information pages, schedules, and tables.
A text can have several questions. A question may ask for a date, price, action, reason, or rule. It may also ask why the writer sent the whole text or which option fits a person's situation. Use DUO's practice exams at least once on a desktop computer so the screen feels familiar.
The DUO format page below gives the exam format and time. It does not give a fixed raw pass score. Use your practice results to choose what to review, and check DUO for current exam rules.
Use the 65 minutes flexibly
Move steadily through the questions you can answer. If one question keeps you stuck, choose your best answer, continue, and return before you finish. Try during practice to reach the last question with about five minutes left. You can then fill any blank and review the answers you were unsure about.
Five minutes is a useful practice goal, not a DUO rule. Adjust it after a few practice rounds. DUO sets the total time at 65 minutes; it does not require the same time for every question.
Read the question before you read closely
Read the question first and decide what you need: a person, action, time, place, price, reason, or condition. This keeps you from translating a whole text when the answer is in one sentence or table cell.
Next, preview the title, sender, headings, and layout. Skim means reading quickly for the topic and structure. An e-mail may give a reason first and a request at the end. A schedule may put days in rows and times in columns. Skimming helps you choose where to look; understanding every word is not the goal.
Then scan for a name, date, number, amount, or important word from the question. Scanning means moving your eyes through the text to find that detail. The text may use a related word instead of the same word. When you find a match, read the full sentence and the sentence before or after it. Nearby words often give a deadline, exception, or reason that changes the answer.
Skimming and scanning are tools for reaching the right part of the text. The goal is to choose the answer supported by the words you read. Slow down when small words set a condition.
Compare every option with the text
Read all the options after you find the relevant part. Ask what is different between them: the person, day, time, place, action, or reason. Check each difference against the exact sentence or table cells. An option can repeat a true word from the text and still answer the wrong question.
For a question about the purpose of the whole text, look at the title, opening, repeated idea, and final request. A single true detail is too narrow if the question asks why the writer sent the whole message. For a best-match question, check every detail in the person's situation before you choose.
Notice the small words that change the answer
| Dutch word | Meaning | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| vóór / na | before / after | Which side of the time or date applies? |
| vanaf / tot en met | from / through and including | Does the named day belong inside the period? |
| uiterlijk | at the latest | What is the last allowed moment? |
| alleen / behalve | only / except | Which option is included or excluded? |
| moet / mag / kan | must / may / can | Is the action required, allowed, or possible? |
| niet / geen | not / no | Which statement does the text cancel? |
For a table, check the row and column headings together
Turn every detail in the question into a check. Noor is an adult, wants Thursday, and can start after 18.00. Find a row that meets all three points, then read across the Tijd (time) and Voor wie (for whom) columns before you choose.
Tekst 2: Activiteiten in Zwembad De Kade
Noor zoekt een activiteit op donderdagavond.
| Activiteit | Tijd | Voor wie |
|---|---|---|
| Ouder-kind zwemmen | woensdag 09.00–10.00 uur | ouders met kinderen tot 4 jaar |
| Aquafit | dinsdag 19.00–20.00 uur | volwassenen |
| Banenzwemmen | donderdag 18.30–20.30 uur | vanaf 16 jaar |
Vraag 2
Noor is 30 jaar en kan alleen op donderdag na 18.00 uur. Welke activiteit past bij haar?
Why B is correct
Read across the Banenzwemmen row. The Tijd (time) cell says donderdag 18.30–20.30 uur, and the Voor wie (for whom) cell says vanaf 16 jaar. Noor is 30, so B meets every part of the question. Aquafit is for adults, but it takes place on Tuesday.
Fix the mistakes that cost answers
- If you start translating every word, pause and read the question again.
- If an answer feels logical, find the sentence or cells that support it.
- If one detail matches, check the other details before you choose.
- If two options look close, say exactly how they differ and check that difference in the text.
- If you are stuck, continue and return before you finish.
Before you submit
- I answered every question.
- I checked uncertain answers against the exact sentence or table cells.
- I read small words such as vóór, uiterlijk, alleen, and niet carefully.
- I checked every part of a question about a person, date, time, price, or rule.
- I changed an answer only because the text supports another option.
Check current DUO information
Checked 23 August 2026. DUO currently says that A2 Lezen is computer-based and lasts 65 minutes. Check the current format at https://inburgeren.nl/examen-doen/inhoud-taalexamens-a2-b1-b2.jsp and try the official practice exams at https://inburgeren.nl/examen-doen/oefenen.jsp.
Inburgering.org wrote the examples in this summary. DUO remains the source for current exam rules.
Practise this skill in the app
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