Inburgering writing A2 practice: how the exam works

Inburgering writing A2 practice works best when you know the format: 40 minutes, pen and paper, 4 writing tasks. Start with free DUO Writing practice PDFs, then train short emails, forms and notes in blocks that fit work and family life.

You can speak Dutch in the shop. Reading goes okay too. But writing a short email — or filling a form with full sentences — suddenly feels harder. That is why Writing (Schrijven) on the Dutch integration exam feels stressful.

The good news: A2 Writing is not a “beautiful essay”. It is clear, practical text someone else can understand. Once you know the format and how to practise, it gets calmer.

Below: what the inburgering Writing exam at A2 includes according to DUO, task types, how to do A2 writing practice, and where to start free — at DUO and on Inbu. Prefer Dutch? See the Dutch version.

What is the A2 Writing exam?

Writing is one of the language exams in the civic integration (inburgering) path. Which exams you need depends on your situation. Check Mijn Inburgering — or, under the 2021 Integration Act, your personal plan (PIP) with the municipality.

According to the official information on inburgeren.nl, for Writing A2:

• You take the exam with pen and paper.
• You get 4 writing tasks.
• You write, for example, a short letter, or you fill in a form.
• The exam lasts 40 minutes.

That looks manageable — and in design it is. The challenge is details: every requested point, full sentences, and readable handwriting under time pressure.

Tip: do not confuse A2 Writing with the Staatsexamen Nt2 (B1/B2). Those writing exams last 100 minutes according to DUO and belong to a different track. This article is about A2.

Why pen and paper?

Of the five inburgering parts, Writing A2 is the one you do by hand. If you only type in practice, exam day feels different. Practise at least a few times with a pen and a 40-minute timer.

How do results work?

For A2 language exams, DUO says: result within 8 weeks by letter, also in Mijn Inburgering. The exact pass mark is not clearly published. Treat practice scores as training feedback, not an official scale.

Which writing tasks can you expect?

DUO states publicly: 4 tasks, for example a short letter or a form. In the official Writing A2 practice exams (PDFs) you see four tasks per test. Typical forms:

Task type	What you often do	What to watch
Email or short letter	Reschedule, ask, apologise, request	Greeting, all bullets, closing, full sentences
Form	Sign up, report, fill in details	Complete fields; short sentences for “why?”
Short note / message	Instruction or info for a colleague, neighbour, housemate	Who–what–when; polite and clear
Short free text	e.g. weekend, party, hobby for a neighbourhood paper	A few full sentences; all requested points

This is not an official “always exactly these four types” list. It is a realistic practice direction from DUO’s examples. Train: read the task → count the points → write short and complete.

Writing exam examples (practice models)

Below are original practice models — not copies of an official exam. They show what short, clear A2 answers look like.

Example email (rescheduling)

Beste mevrouw Jansen,
Ik kan morgen niet naar de afspraak komen. Mijn kind is ziek. Kan ik vrijdag om tien uur komen?
Met vriendelijke groet,
Sara

Why this works: greeting, problem, reason, new suggestion, closing — and short sentences.

Example note

Hoi Peter,
Ik kom vandaag later. De bus heeft vertraging. Ik ben er om half elf.
Groetjes, Lina

Example short text

In het weekend ga ik graag naar de markt. Ik koop fruit en brood. Daarna drink ik koffie met mijn vriend.

Example form (explanation field)

Ik wil beter Nederlands leren. Ik wil ook makkelijker praten met mijn buren.

On a form, fill fields first. For open questions, write full sentences — unless the field asks for one word or a choice.

How do you use the 40 minutes wisely?

You do not have much time. A simple plan helps:

Time	Action
0–3 min	Read all 4 tasks. Mark the requested points.
3–12 min	Start with the form or the shortest task.
12–35 min	Write the other texts: short, complete sentences.
35–40 min	Check: missing points, names, dates, spelling, greeting/closing.

Better three short sentences that cover everything than one long tangled sentence.

How do you prepare when you have little time?

You need a steady rhythm, not a full-time course. This plan fits busy people in the Netherlands.

Four-week plan (realistic)

Week 1 — Get to know the format

• Download one official DUO Writing A2 practice exam (PDF) via inburgeren.nl – Practice.
• Write answers on paper (blue pen if you want to mirror the format).
• Timer: 40 minutes. Note afterwards: time, spelling, or missing points?
• Then 10–15 minutes on Inbu Writing.

Week 2 — Email and form

• Practise 3× 15 minutes: one email + one form.
• Focus on greeting/closing and “why?” in full sentences.

Week 3 — Notes, free text, and pace

• Practise notes (who–what–when) and short texts.
• Do one 40-minute session on paper.
• Check your level with the level test or a set on Inbu.

Week 4 — Exam-day simulation

• One more DUO practice exam at a quiet moment.
• Train only your weakest type 2× 15 minutes.
• Book your slot when you know the format — not when everything is “perfect”.

What do you do on a busy day? (10 minutes)

1. Pick one task type (email, form, or note).
2. Read the bullets and count them.
3. Write by hand (or type first, but also write with a pen sometimes).
4. Check: every point answered? Greeting/closing?
5. Note one error pattern (e.g. want/omdat, verb, u/je).

Short sessions add up. Five × 10 minutes weekly beats one long binge.

Common mistakes on Writing A2

These traps show up again and again — even if you already speak decent Dutch.

1. Not answering every point — Checklist the bullets first.
2. No full sentences — Emails/notes often say: Schrijf in hele zinnen.
3. Forgetting greeting or closing — Usually Beste … and Met vriendelijke groet.
4. Sentences that are too long — Short and correct beats long and tangled.
5. Mixing register — Pick u or je and stick to it.
6. Only practising typing — Real exam is pen and paper.
7. No time to check — Missing bullets cost more than one spelling slip.

Practical tips: how to practise smarter

1. Always start with the official DUO practice exams

DUO offers three free A2 Writing practice exams as PDFs on inburgeren.nl – Practice:

• Practice exam A2 Writing 1
• Practice exam A2 Writing 2
• Practice exam A2 Writing 3

Best way to feel how a real task booklet roughly works. (Real exams are confidential; do not share real exam questions.)

2. Then practise repeatedly (with feedback)

Official practice exams are limited. For repetition, AI feedback, and more writing exam examples, continue on Inbu: Writing A2, plus Reading, Listening, Speaking, and KNM.

3. Learn a few fixed sentence patterns

You do not need literature. A small pattern set helps a lot:

• Beste meneer/mevrouw …,
• Ik schrijf u, omdat …
• Ik kan niet komen, want …
• Kunt u …? / Kan ik …?
• Met vriendelijke groet,
• Hallo …, / Groetjes, (for an informal note)

4. Extra free resources (supplement)

DUO also mentions netinnederland.nl and oefenen.nl. Useful as a supplement — not instead of writing on paper.

5. Check that you are doing the right exam

Unsure between A2 and another track? Check Mijn Inburgering, or the exam hub and level test.

Also see Listening A2 and Reading A2.

6. On exam day

Read Exam rules and your invitation letter. Practically: arrive on time, bring ID, write clearly, and answer every requested point first.

Start practising today

You do not need Writing “perfect” first. You need the format and purposeful practice.

1. First take a free DUO Writing practice exam (PDF, on paper).
2. Then practise short and often on Inbu — with AI feedback on your texts, in lunch-break blocks.
3. Optionally check your starting point with the free level test.

Ready to begin? Go to Writing practice on Inbu. Overview of all parts: exam hub. Upgrade later if you like — see pricing; starting is free.