Exam part
The inburgering writing exam: how it works.
In the writing exam you do short writing tasks. Think of an email, a note or a form.
At A2 you write with pen and paper, in 40 minutes. At B1 it is an exam of the Staatsexamen NT2. That takes 100 minutes.
What it looks like
At A2 you get a paper with four tasks. The start of your text is often already there, such as the greeting of an email. You write the rest.
In the DUO practice exams you could make up details in almost every task: 11 of the 12. So you do not have to write about yourself.
Writing at A2 and at B1
These are two different exams, by two different exam makers. Which one you take depends on your law and your route.
Writing A2
Four short tasks in 40 minutes, on paper. Each of the three DUO practice exams had an email, a form and a short piece for a neighbourhood paper.
Writing B1
This is the writing exam of the Staatsexamen NT2, programme I. It takes 100 minutes. The exams from 2023 to 2025 had 8 short and 4 longer tasks.
Not sure which level you take? Read about the inburgering exam a2.
What the exams show
The Inburgeringscursus.nl team counted the writing tasks. For A2 the DUO practice exams, for B1 the Staatsexamen NT2 exams. We do not put the levels side by side.
12
out of 12
A2: the start of your text is already given
0
out of 12
A2: tasks in formal language, such as “Geachte”
23
out of 36
B1: the task is an email
20
out of 47
B1: points for an answer that fits the task. Spelling is worth 4.
A2: three DUO practice exams, 12 tasks. B1: the exams of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
How this was counted is in the Dutch exam research by Inburgeringscursus.nl.
How to approach it
- 1
Do exactly what it says
An email task often lists points you must mention. At A2 that was so in 10 of the 12 tasks. Put all of them in your text.
- 2
A fitting answer counts most
At B1, 20 of the 47 points went to an answer that fits the task. Spelling was only 4 points. A small spelling mistake is not a big deal.
- 3
Keep it simple
Short, clear sentences beat long sentences with mistakes. At A2 not one task was formal. Write in a normal, friendly way.
- 4
Watch your time at B1
The 8 short tasks together are worth far fewer points than the 4 longer ones. Spend most of your time on the longer tasks.
Where it goes wrong
Forgetting a point
You write a nice email, but you forget one point from the task. Then you lose points. Tick off the points when you are done.
One point with two questions
Sometimes one point holds two things. For example: say why and give two reasons. So read every point very carefully.
Writing beside the task
Does your text not fit the task? Then at B1 even good grammar earns no more points. That is in the marking model.
How it is marked
For A2 DUO publishes no marking model and no pass mark. You only hear whether you passed.
At B1 two assessors mark your work. With a score of 500 or higher you pass. In the exams from 2023 to 2025 that was about 25 or 26 points out of 47 or 48.
Failed? Then you retake this part. You pay € 50 again.
Try a question
The task: your neighbour looked after your cat. Write her a short message. Thank her and invite her for coffee. Name a day. Which message does everything?
Writing · A2
Which message does everything the task asks?
The first message thanks her, invites her and names a day. The second forgets the invitation. The third does not thank her and names no day.
Questions about writing
How long does the writing exam take?
At A2 it takes 40 minutes. At B1 it takes 100 minutes.
Do I write on paper or on a computer?
At A2 you write with pen and paper.
Does spelling count?
At B1 it does, but only a little: 4 of the 47 points. A fitting answer was 20 points. For A2 DUO does not publish how it counts.
Can I make things up?
Often you can. In the DUO practice exams for A2 that was allowed in 11 of the 12 tasks. Check what the task says.
When do I get my Writing A2 result?
Normally within 8 weeks. Since 31 July 2026 it takes up to 16 weeks. Is your deadline close? Then you get 6 extra months automatically.