A2 Writing Exam Summary PDF

Overview

Schrijven A2 is practical and short: 40 minutes, 4 tasks, usually one form plus three short pieces (email, free writing, note) scored out of 37 points. The exam rewards clear answers that hit every bullet, not long sentences or fancy vocabulary.

The writing exam lasts 40 minutes and normally has 4 tasks.
One task is a form. The other tasks are usually emails, free writing, short messages, or a note.
Correspondence, free-writing, and note tasks can receive up to 10 points each.
A form task can receive up to 7 points.
A full practice set is scored out of 37 points.
Clear Dutch that answers the assignment is more important than long or difficult sentences.

Task types

Formulier

Fill in a practical form with personal details, tick boxes, and one or two short open questions. Max points: 7. The usual mistake is either leaving fields blank or burning ten minutes perfecting the open answers — the form is worth fewer points than the writing tasks. Fill every required field with short clear answers and move on.

sportschool inschrijven
schadeformulier
melding bij de gemeente

Fill in every required field.
Invent realistic details when the task says you may.
Use short clear answers for open questions.
Check spelling in names, places, phone numbers, and email addresses.

E-mail

Write a short practical email to a person you know — a colleague, teacher, boss, or fellow student — usually to arrange or change something. Max points: 10. The classic slip is answering one bullet well and quietly skipping another, or finishing without a closing line. Treat each bullet as a separate sentence and always end with a sign-off and your name.

afspraak verzetten
boek lenen
vrije dag vragen

Start with a simple greeting.
Explain why you write.
Answer every bullet in the task.
End with a short closing and your name.

Vrij schrijven

Write at least three full sentences about a familiar topic, often for a local newspaper, course, or community board. Max points: 10. Learners often turn this into a list of keywords or a single long run-on sentence — both lose marks on grammar and structure. Use the prompt questions as a plan and keep each sentence personal, simple, and complete.

een feest
kleren
weekend

Write at least three full sentences.
Use the prompt questions as a plan.
Keep the topic personal and concrete.
Use simple connectors such as en, maar, want, and omdat.

Briefje of bericht

Leave a short note or message with practical instructions for someone else, often a colleague or family member. Max points: 10. The common mistake is writing only commands as keywords (deur dicht, kleren ophangen) instead of full sentences. Write each action as one complete polite sentence and include the greeting and ending whenever the task provides them.

bericht voor collega
korte mededeling
taken doorgeven

Write who the message is for.
Give each action in a complete sentence.
Use polite, direct language.
Do not forget the greeting or ending if the task provides one.

Timing plan

Time	What you do	Why
0-3 min	Scan all tasks	Mark the form, the easiest task, and any task with many bullet points.
3-10 min	Finish the form	Fill in every field first. The form is worth fewer points, so do not spend too long.
10-34 min	Write the 10-point tasks	Spend about 8 minutes per email, short text, or note. Answer every bullet before improving style.
34-40 min	Check and repair	Check greetings, dates, word order, spelling, and whether every assignment point is answered.

Rubric

Different rubrics per task type: longer tasks (email, free writing, note) score 10 points across five criteria; the form scores 7 across three. Adequaatheid is the gatekeeper on both — a zero there drags every other criterion to zero too, so answering the actual task always comes before polishing the language.

Correspondence, free writing, and notes — 10 points

Score	What it means
Adequaatheid/begrijpelijkheid 0-3	The answer matches the task and the reader can understand it.
Grammatica 0-2	Sentences are grammatically clear enough for A2.
Spelling 0-2	Common words, names, dates, and endings are spelled well enough.
Woordgebruik 0-2	Vocabulary is practical, appropriate, and not too repetitive.
Coherentie 0-1	The text hangs together with simple connectors such as en, maar, want, and omdat.

If adequaatheid/begrijpelijkheid scores 0, all other criteria automatically score 0.

Formulier — 7 points

Score	What it means
Adequaatheid/begrijpelijkheid 0-3	The form is filled in correctly and the answers match the form questions.
Spelling 0-2	Personal details and short answers are spelled clearly.
Woordgebruik 0-2	The words are appropriate for the form and the situation.

If adequaatheid/begrijpelijkheid scores 0, spelling and woordgebruik automatically score 0.

Sentence patterns

Start an email: Hallo Amber, / Beste meneer Jansen, / Ik schrijf u, omdat ik een vraag heb. / Ik stuur deze e-mail, omdat ik niet kan komen.

Give a reason: Ik kan niet komen, want ik ben ziek. / Ik wil graag ruilen, omdat mijn dochter jarig is. / Ik heb het boek snel nodig voor mijn toets. / Ik moet naar de dokter.

Ask or propose: Kunnen wij vrijdag om 10.00 uur afspreken? / Kunt u mij alstublieft een nieuwe datum geven? / Mag ik het boek tot maandag lenen? / Kan ik op dinsdag werken?

Write a note: Hallo Fariha, wil je straks de winkel stofzuigen? / Hang de kleren alstublieft aan het rek. / Doe de deur op slot als je klaar bent. / Alvast bedankt!

Common mistakes

Writing only keywords instead of complete sentences.
Forgetting one bullet point from the assignment.
Spending too much time on the 7-point form.
Using a greeting but no closing in an email.
Writing a reason that is not clear to the reader.
Making the answer too long and creating extra grammar mistakes.

Sample answers

Opgave 1: Afspraak verzetten

Email task — move an appointment, give a reason, and propose a new time.

U hebt morgen een afspraak met Amber. U kunt niet komen en wilt een nieuwe afspraak maken.

Schrijf dat u de afspraak wilt verzetten. Schrijf waarom u niet kunt komen. Stel een nieuwe datum of tijd voor.

Self-check

I say that I want to move the appointment.
I give a clear reason.
I suggest a new date or time.
I use a greeting and a closing.

Example answer

Hallo Amber,

Ik wil onze afspraak van morgen graag verzetten. Ik kan niet komen, want ik moet naar de dokter. Kunnen wij vrijdag om 10.00 uur afspreken?

Groeten, Samira

Opgave 2: Een feest beschrijven

Free-writing task — at least three full sentences about a yearly celebration.

Schrijf minstens drie hele zinnen over een feest dat u elk jaar viert.

Waarom viert u dit feest? Wie komen er op het feest? Wat doet u op het feest?

Self-check

I write at least three full sentences.
I answer why, who, and what.
I use simple linking words like en and want.

Example answer

Ik vier elk jaar mijn verjaardag. Mijn familie en mijn vrienden komen bij mij thuis. Wij eten taart, drinken koffie en praten met elkaar. Ik vind dit feest heel gezellig.

Opgave 3: Briefje voor een collega

Note task — leave a colleague three clear instructions.

Schrijf een kort briefje voor een collega met drie dingen die zij in de winkel moet doen.

Stofzuig de winkel. Hang de kleren aan het rek. Doe de deur op slot.

Self-check

I name all three tasks.
I use clear, short instructions.
I use a greeting and a closing.

Example answer

Hallo Fariha,

Wil je straks de winkel stofzuigen? Hang ook de kleren aan het rek. Doe daarna de deur op slot.

Alvast bedankt! Groeten, Samira

Final checklist

I answered every bullet in the task.
I used complete sentences for emails, notes, and free writing.
My form has no empty required fields.
My email has a greeting and ending.
My reason is clear.
My dates, names, and times are easy to read.
I used simple connectors where useful.
I checked spelling and word order before finishing.

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A2 Writing Exam Summary PDF

Practise this skill in the app

Overview

Task types

Formulier

E-mail

Vrij schrijven

Briefje of bericht

Timing plan

Rubric

Correspondence, free writing, and notes — 10 points

Formulier — 7 points

Sentence patterns

Common mistakes

Sample answers

Opgave 1: Afspraak verzetten

Opgave 2: Een feest beschrijven

Opgave 3: Briefje voor een collega

Final checklist