A2Writing
Inburgering A2 Writing Exam Examples and Guide
Practice A2 inburgering writing exam examples with form, email, note, and short-text models, 40-minute DUO format, sentence patterns, and common mistakes.
Looking for inburgering A2 writing exam examples? Start with the official facts: DUO says the A2 writing exam is taken with pen and paper, has 4 assignments, and lasts 40 minutes.
The examples below are not copied from a real exam. They are safe practice models for everyday A2 writing: forms, short notes, simple emails, and short practical texts. Good A2 writing is complete, readable, and easy to understand.
Questions this guide answers
- How long is the A2 writing exam?
- What are the four writing assignments likely to test?
- What do A2 writing exam example answers look like?
- How do I write a form, email, note, or short text without making it too complicated?
- Why should I practice handwriting, not only typing?
- How do I check if my answer is complete enough?
- What should I do if I make a grammar or spelling mistake?
Official structure
- Skill
- Writing / Schrijven
- Level
- A2
- Format
- Pen-and-paper exam, according to DUO.
- Tasks
- 4 writing assignments.
- Duration
- 40 minutes.
- Official practice
- DUO provides A2 writing practice exam PDFs.
Current A2 writing task types to practise
| Task type | What to do | Simple model answer |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Fill in personal details and give short practical answers. | Ik wil mij inschrijven voor de cursus Nederlands op maandagavond. |
| Email or message | Use a greeting, explain the situation, make a request, and close politely. | Beste mevrouw, ik kan morgen niet komen. Kan ik een nieuwe afspraak maken? |
| Short note | Say who, what, when, and why in a few clear sentences. | Hoi Sam, ik kom vandaag later. De bus is te laat. Ik ben er om tien uur. |
| Free short text | Write a few simple sentences about a familiar topic. | In het weekend ga ik vaak naar het park. Ik wandel daar met mijn familie. |
40-minute writing plan
| Time | Action | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 minutes | Look quickly at all 4 assignments. | You know which task needs the most attention. |
| 3-12 minutes | Complete the form or shortest task first. | It is usually practical and helps you start calmly. |
| 12-35 minutes | Write the three longer answers with short sentences. | You leave enough time for every instruction. |
| 35-40 minutes | Check names, dates, times, spelling, and missing points. | Small missing details can make a good answer incomplete. |
Useful A2 writing sentence patterns
| Need | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Start an email | Beste meneer/mevrouw ..., | Beste mevrouw Jansen, |
| Explain why you write | Ik schrijf u, omdat ... | Ik schrijf u, omdat ik een vraag heb. |
| Say you cannot come | Ik kan niet komen, want ... | Ik kan morgen niet komen, want ik ben ziek. |
| Ask for something | Kunt u ...? | Kunt u mij terugbellen? |
| Close politely | Met vriendelijke groet, ... | Met vriendelijke groet, Sara |
A2 writing examples
Mini example: email
Beste mevrouw Jansen, Ik kan morgen niet naar de afspraak komen. Mijn dochter is ziek. Kan ik een nieuwe afspraak maken op vrijdag? Met vriendelijke groet, Sara
Why this answer works
| Part | What the answer does |
|---|---|
| Greeting | It starts politely with Beste mevrouw Jansen. |
| Problem | It explains that Sara cannot come tomorrow. |
| Reason | It gives a simple reason: her daughter is sick. |
| Request | It asks for a new appointment on Friday. |
| Closing | It ends politely with Met vriendelijke groet. |
More model answers for common A2 writing tasks
| Task | Simple answer | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Form: reason for a course | Ik wil beter Nederlands leren. Ik wil ook beter praten met mijn buren. | It gives a clear reason in two simple sentences. |
| Note: you are late | Hoi Peter, ik kom vandaag later. Mijn trein heeft vertraging. Ik ben er om half elf. | It says the problem, reason, and new time. |
| Email: change an appointment | Beste meneer De Vries, ik kan vrijdag niet komen. Kan ik maandag om tien uur komen? Met vriendelijke groet, Lina | It uses greeting, problem, request, and closing. |
| Short text: weekend | Zaterdag ga ik naar de markt. Ik koop fruit en brood. Daarna drink ik koffie met mijn vriend. | It answers a familiar topic with simple complete sentences. |
Writing checklist
- Write clearly enough for someone else to read.
- Answer every bullet or instruction.
- Use simple sentences you know well.
- Include dates, times, names, or reasons when asked.
- Leave a minute to check spelling and word order.
Quick answers to common writing worries
| Question | Short answer | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Is the A2 writing exam on computer? | DUO says the A2 writing exam is with pen and paper. | Practise handwriting short answers, not only typing. |
| Do spelling mistakes fail me? | Small mistakes are normal at A2. The text still needs to be readable and understandable. | Check names, dates, verbs, and common words. |
| How long should my answer be? | Write enough to answer every instruction. Short complete sentences are better than a long unclear text. | Use 3-6 simple sentences for short messages when the task allows it. |
| Can I cross out a mistake? | In paper practice, make corrections clear and readable. | Write slowly enough that another person can read your final answer. |
Scoring and result
DUO sends the official result after the exam. In practice, focus on task completion, clarity, readable handwriting, simple correct sentences, and including every requested detail.
Practice under paper conditions
Because this part is written by hand, practice with a pen at least sometimes. Time yourself, leave space between answers, and make names, dates, and numbers easy to read.
Common writing mistakes to avoid
- Answering only one part when the task asks for two details.
- Forgetting a greeting or closing in an email task.
- Writing long sentences that create avoidable word-order mistakes.
- Leaving out the requested date, time, reason, or contact information.
- Practicing only by typing even though the official writing part is on paper.
Check before finishing
- Did you answer all parts of the question?
- Did you write the date or time if the task asks for it?
- Did you use a greeting and closing for an email or letter?
- Are your sentences short enough to avoid mistakes?
- Can another person understand your message quickly?