The writing exam (schrijven) has a quiet reputation as the one you can prepare your way through, and that reputation is deserved. Unlike the speaking exam, you get time to think, plan, and correct before you hand anything in. Unlike a real conversation, the tasks are predictable: you know roughly what kinds of things you will be asked to write before you walk in. In my teaching, the students who treat schrijven as a set of repeatable patterns, rather than a fresh creative challenge each time, are the ones who stop worrying about it.
This guide covers the verified format of the writing exam, the reusable building blocks that do most of the work for you, a step-by-step approach for each task type, and the small mistakes that quietly cost people easy points. It separates what is officially set by DUO from what is my practical advice as a teacher, so you can tell the two apart.
Quick answer. The A2 inburgering writing exam has four tasks and lasts about 40 minutes, done on pen and paper. You fill in a form, write a short note or message, write a few sentences on a familiar topic, and write a short email or letter. On the B1-route the exam moves to a computer with more time for longer texts. The single biggest lever on your score is answering every part of each task in clear, correct sentences, and never leaving a form field blank. Always confirm the current format with DUO.
First: do you sit the A2 or the B1 writing exam?
This decides everything else, so settle it before you prepare. Under the old law, the writing exam is at A2. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 (the new law, in force since 2022), most people follow the B1-route and write at B1, which asks for longer, more structured texts. A smaller group follows other routes with different requirements. If you are unsure which applies to you, read our guide on A2 or B1 for the inburgering and confirm your personal obligation with DUO or your municipality.
One point that often causes confusion: the level for naturalisation (becoming a Dutch citizen) is still A2 in 2026. A move to B1 for naturalisation has been discussed as a bill but is not in force. So your inburgering route and your naturalisation requirement are two separate things, and they can sit at different levels.
Inburgering writing exam format (schrijven)
Official requirement (A2). Based on the DUO and inburgeren.nl practice materials, the A2 writing exam looks like this:
- Four writing tasks in total.
- A time limit of about 40 minutes.
- Done with pen and paper.
- Everyday, practical situations: calling in sick, making an appointment, replying to a note, or writing a short message to a colleague or neighbour.
The four A2 tasks generally cover: filling in a form with personal details, writing a short note or message, writing a few sentences on a familiar topic (work, family, your neighbourhood, food), and writing a short email or letter such as a request, complaint, or apology. Task order and exact wording vary between versions of the exam.
Official requirement (B1-route). The B1 writing exam is taken on a computer and gives you more time, commonly around 100 minutes, for a smaller number of longer, more structured texts. Think of a formal email to an employer or the gemeente, an informal message, and a short piece where you explain or give reasons for something. The building blocks below still apply, you just use more of them and connect them into fuller paragraphs.
Formats and timings are updated from time to time, so treat the numbers above as current-but-check. Confirm the exact task count, timing, and method on the official DUO inburgeren practice page before your exam date. The writing exam is one of several parts, alongside reading (lezen), listening (luisteren), speaking (spreken), and knowledge of Dutch society (KNM). Our complete guide to the inburgering exam shows how they fit together.
What the writing exam actually tests
At A2, the writing exam is not looking for elegant, complex Dutch. It rewards clear, correct, simple communication. Can a Dutch reader understand your message immediately, with the right opening, the right information, and a polite close? That is the whole game.
Examiners look at whether your text is understandable, plus your grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and whether you actually did what the task asked. DUO does not publish a single fixed pass percentage for schrijven, so ignore any specific number you see quoted online, including here, as gospel. What matters in practice is well established: answer every part of every task in correct sentences, and fill in every field. Confirm current scoring with DUO.
Short and correct beats long and tangled, every time. Three clean sentences that answer the task will score better than a paragraph full of ambitious grammar and mistakes. Give the task exactly what it asks for, in Dutch you fully control.
Writing is easy to practise, but hard to correct alone. A teacher spots the spelling and word-order habits you cannot see yourself. Book a free intake call and we will review a sample of your Dutch writing together, or work through it in a focused one-to-one lesson.
The building blocks that carry you through
Because the tasks are predictable, you can walk in with a small toolkit of phrases already prepared. This is the highest-leverage prep you can do: memorise these until they are automatic, and a large part of every task is already written before you read the prompt. Match the register to the reader, formal u for officials, employers, and strangers, informal je for friends and close colleagues, and keep it consistent throughout.
| Function | Formal (u) | Informal (je) |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Geachte heer/mevrouw, / Beste ..., | Hoi ..., / Hallo ..., |
| Opening line | Ik schrijf u omdat ... / Bedankt voor uw bericht. | Ik schrijf je omdat ... / Bedankt voor je bericht. |
| Making a request | Zou u ... kunnen ...? / Ik wil graag ... | Kun je ...? / Ik wil graag ... |
| Making an appointment | Ik wil graag een afspraak maken op ... om ... uur. | Zullen we afspreken op ... om ... uur? |
| Apologising / cancelling | Het spijt me, maar ik kan niet komen omdat ... | Sorry, ik kan niet komen, want ... |
| Complaint | Ik ben niet tevreden over ... omdat ... | Ik vind het vervelend dat ... |
| Calling in sick | Ik ben ziek en kan vandaag niet werken. | Ik ben ziek, ik kom vandaag niet. |
| Closing / next step | Ik hoor graag van u. / Alvast bedankt. | Ik hoor het graag. / Bedankt alvast! |
| Sign-off | Met vriendelijke groet, [naam] | Groetjes, [naam] |
Connectors tie your sentences together and make simple Dutch read like real Dutch: en (and), maar (but), want (because, keeps normal word order), omdat (because, sends the verb to the end), daarom (that is why), and dus (so). Two of these per short text is plenty.
Form-filling vocabulary is pure free points if you know the labels: voornaam (first name), achternaam (surname), geboortedatum (date of birth), geboorteplaats (place of birth), adres, postcode, woonplaats (town), telefoonnummer, e-mailadres, nationaliteit, datum, and handtekening (signature). Learn these cold.
A step-by-step approach for each task
The same routine works for every writing task. It takes ten seconds to run through and it prevents the most expensive mistake, missing part of the prompt.
- 1. Read the prompt twice and underline every instruction. Prompts often bury two or three separate requests in one paragraph ("say you cannot come, explain why, and suggest a new day"). Each underlined point must appear in your answer.
- 2. Decide the register. Is the reader an official or employer (u) or a friend (je)? Pick your greeting and sign-off from the table above accordingly.
- 3. Write the frame first. Greeting, then one sentence per underlined point, then closing line and sign-off. The structure is done before you worry about wording.
- 4. Fill in the content in short, controlled sentences. One idea per sentence. Verb in second position. If you are not sure a sentence is correct, simplify it until you are.
- 5. Check against the prompt, then for spelling and word order. Did you answer every underlined point? Are the verbs in the right place? Are high-frequency words spelled right?
For the form task specifically: fill in every field. A blank field scores nothing, and an empty box is the easiest point to lose in the whole exam. If a field does not apply, a short entry like "geen" (none) is safer than leaving it empty, unless the instructions say otherwise.
How points are lost: the mistakes checklist
Most lost points are avoidable, and they come from the same short list every time. Before you hand anything in, check for these:
- Not answering the full task. If the prompt asks three things, answer all three. Missing one is the most common and most expensive mistake in schrijven.
- Blank form fields. Every empty box is a point you gave away for free. Fill them all.
- Wrong or mixed register. Starting formal with "u" and slipping into "je" halfway through reads as an error. Pick one and hold it.
- Reaching for complex grammar. Ambitious sentences invite mistakes. Stay inside Dutch you fully control.
- Word-order slips, especially forgetting the verb in second position, and sending the verb to the end after omdat but not after want.
- Spelling of high-frequency words. Everyday words that appear in almost every text are worth getting perfect: ben, heb, kan, gaan, willen, days of the week, and numbers. English speakers in particular trip on Dutch spelling patterns, which we cover in common mistakes English speakers make in Dutch.
- No greeting or sign-off. These are free, expected points. Never skip them.
A prep plan that actually works
Make your practice look exactly like the exam, and do it under the real time limit at least a few times before the day.
- Memorise the building blocks first. Spend your early sessions drilling the greetings, sign-offs, and sentence frames in the table until you can write them without thinking. This is the fastest single improvement you can make.
- Write the real task types. A short sick note to work, a message to make a doctor's appointment, a few sentences about your neighbourhood, and a short email of complaint or apology. Rotate through them.
- Use the official DUO practice material. The inburgeren.nl practice page shows you what a real prompt and a good answer look like. Nothing beats the official examples for calibration.
- Practise on paper, by hand, if you are sitting A2. Writing Dutch by hand is slower than typing and you want no surprises with time.
- Get your writing corrected. This is where progress speeds up, because you finally stop repeating the same invisible mistakes. Self-correction has a ceiling; you cannot spot the errors you do not know are errors.
Here is the efficient part: writing and speaking use almost the same building blocks. The frames you prepare for schrijven also serve you in the speaking exam, so training them together is a shortcut, not double work. For the full picture of every exam part and the smartest order to prepare them, start with our guide to the Dutch integration exam and how to pass it faster. If you want structured help built around your deadline, our inburgering course and one-to-one lessons are designed exactly for this.
Model answers you can copy the pattern from
The single most useful thing you can study before the exam is a correct answer to each task type. Below are three worked examples, one per common task, each written in simple A2 Dutch and annotated so you can see exactly why it works. Do not memorise the content word for word, because your prompt will be different. Memorise the shape: the greeting, the order of information, the closing, and the register.
Model answer 1: filling in a form. The prompt gives you a form with labelled fields and asks for your personal details. There is nothing to invent here, which is why it is the easiest set of points in the whole exam. Fill in every line.
| Field (Dutch) | Your entry (example) |
|---|---|
| Voornaam | Maria |
| Achternaam | Santos |
| Geboortedatum | 12-03-1990 |
| Geboorteplaats | Lissabon |
| Nationaliteit | Portugees |
| Adres | Kerkstraat 12 |
| Postcode | 1011 AB |
| Woonplaats | Amsterdam |
| Telefoonnummer | 06 12345678 |
| E-mailadres | maria.santos@email.nl |
| Datum | 13-07-2026 |
| Handtekening | M. Santos |
Why it works: the date is written in the Dutch order (day, month, year); the nationality is given as an adjective (Portugees, not Portugal); no field is left blank. If a field genuinely does not apply to you, write geen (none) rather than leaving an empty box, unless the instructions tell you otherwise.
Model answer 2: a short informal note (je). The prompt asks you to leave a note for your neighbour asking them to water your plants while you are away. This is informal, so you use je, a relaxed greeting, and a friendly close.
Hoi Anna,
Ik ga volgende week op vakantie naar Spanje. Kun je mijn planten water geven? Ik ben van maandag tot en met vrijdag weg. De sleutel ligt bij mijn zus. Bedankt alvast!
Groetjes,
Sofia
Why it works: the greeting Hoi Anna and the sign-off Groetjes match the informal register; every part of the prompt is answered (the request, when, and where the key is); the sentences are short, and each verb sits in the correct position. Notice Kun je ... ? for the request and the natural phrase water geven (to water).
Model answer 3: a short formal email, calling in sick (u). The prompt asks you to email your manager to say you are ill and cannot come to work. This is formal, so you use u, a formal greeting with the surname, and a formal sign-off.
Geachte heer De Vries,
Ik schrijf u omdat ik vandaag ziek ben. Ik heb koorts en kan niet naar mijn werk komen. Ik hoop dat ik morgen weer beter ben. Als het langer duurt, bel ik u.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Ahmed Hassan
Why it works: Geachte heer De Vries is the correct formal opening with a surname; the whole message stays in u; the reason is given clearly with omdat (which sends the verb ben to the end); and it closes with the standard formal sign-off Met vriendelijke groet. A request for an appointment follows the same shape: Geachte mevrouw Jansen, Ik wil graag een afspraak maken om mijn paspoort te verlengen. Kunt u mij laten weten wanneer dit mogelijk is?
An expanded phrase bank for formal and informal writing
The table earlier covers the essentials. Here is a wider set so you can handle whatever the prompt throws at you. Learn a few options in each row, match them to your reader (u or je), and keep the register consistent from greeting to sign-off.
| Function | Formal (u) | Informal (je) |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing yourself | Mijn naam is ... / Ik ben ... en ik woon in ... | Ik ben ... / Ik heet ... |
| Asking for information | Kunt u mij meer informatie geven over ...? | Kun je me meer vertellen over ...? |
| Giving a reason | Dat komt omdat ... / De reden is dat ... | Dat komt doordat ... / Want ... |
| Thanking | Hartelijk dank voor uw hulp. / Bij voorbaat dank. | Bedankt voor je hulp! / Dank je wel. |
| Apologising | Mijn excuses voor het ongemak. | Sorry voor het gedoe. |
| Making a complaint | Ik ben niet tevreden, want ... / Ik wil een klacht indienen over ... | Ik baal ervan dat ... / Ik vind het niet fijn dat ... |
| Confirming | Ik bevestig hierbij onze afspraak op ... | Is goed, tot dan! |
| Suggesting an alternative | Zou ... ook mogelijk zijn? / Kan het ook op ...? | Kan het ook op ...? / Zullen we ... doen? |
| Asking someone to reply | Ik hoor graag van u. / Graag uw reactie. | Laat je het me weten? / Hoor ik het van je? |
Dutch spelling rules that quietly cost points
Spelling is scored, and a handful of patterns catch almost every learner. You do not need grammar theory; you need to recognise these four traps and slow down when you hit them.
- Double vowels for long sounds. Dutch uses a double vowel to keep a long sound in a closed syllable: maan (moon) versus man (man), boom (tree), zee (sea). When a word gets an ending and the syllable opens, one vowel is enough: maan becomes manen, and the verb stem maak (from maken) keeps the double aa because the syllable is closed: ik maak.
- -d or -t at the end of a word. A final d sounds like a t, so hond (dog) sounds like "hont" but is written with a d. Test it by making the word longer: honden shows the d. For verbs in the present tense, hij wordt and hij vindt keep the stem plus t even when it sounds like one t.
- ei versus ij. These two spellings sound identical, so there is no rule that hears the difference; you simply have to learn which word uses which. Common ij words: wij, zijn, tijd, vrij. Common ei words: trein, klein, eind, reis.
- Present-tense verb endings. The pattern is stem for ik, stem plus t for jij/u/hij/zij/het, and the full infinitive for wij/jullie/zij: ik werk, jij werkt, hij werkt, wij werken. One catch: when jij comes after the verb (a question or inversion), the t disappears: werk jij? and ga jij mee?
English speakers hit some of these harder than others, and a few extra traps (like translating word for word) are covered in common mistakes English speakers make in Dutch.
Je or u: choosing the right register
Dutch has two words for "you", and choosing wrongly is one of the few mistakes that a marker notices instantly. The safe rule: use u for anyone official or unfamiliar (the gemeente, an employer you do not know well, a landlord, a doctor's office, a company) and je for friends, family, and colleagues you are on relaxed terms with. When in doubt, choose u; it is never rude, while je to an official can read as too casual.
Two practical points. First, whichever you pick, stay consistent. The most common register error is starting with u and slipping into je (or the possessive uw into je/jouw) halfway through. Second, the verb has to follow your choice: u takes the same verb form as hij/zij (Kunt u ...?), while je takes stem plus t (Kun je ...?). Prompts usually tell you who the reader is; if they say "your manager" or "the gemeente", that is your signal for u.
Connectors and linking words that upgrade simple Dutch
Connectors are what turn a list of short sentences into text that reads like real Dutch, and they are cheap points because there are only a handful you need. The catch is word order, which changes depending on the connector.
| Connector | Meaning | Effect on word order |
|---|---|---|
| en | and | No change: normal order continues. |
| maar | but | No change: normal order continues. |
| want | because | No change: Ik kom niet, want ik ben ziek. |
| omdat | because | Verb goes to the end: ... omdat ik ziek ben. |
| dus | so | Verb comes next: Ik ben ziek, dus ik blijf thuis. |
| daarom | that is why | Verb comes next: Ik ben ziek, daarom kom ik niet. |
| eerst / daarna | first / then | Verb comes next after daarna: Daarna bel ik u. |
You do not need all of them in one text. Two or three well-placed connectors are plenty at A2, and getting the word order right after omdat and daarom alone will make your writing look noticeably more controlled.
A2 versus B1: how the writing exam differs
If you are on the B1-route under the new law, the task types feel familiar but the bar is higher. Knowing the difference stops you from over- or under-preparing.
| A2 (old law and naturalisation) | B1-route (Wet inburgering 2021) | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Pen and paper | On a computer |
| Time | About 40 minutes | More time, commonly around 100 minutes |
| Texts | Four short tasks | Fewer but longer, more structured texts |
| What is expected | Clear, correct, simple messages | Fuller paragraphs, reasons, and more detail |
| Grammar range | Short sentences you fully control | More varied sentences and connectors |
The building blocks in this guide serve both levels; on B1 you simply use more of them and join them into fuller paragraphs. Not sure which applies to you? Our guide to A2 or B1 for the inburgering walks through how to check your personal obligation.
Your pre-submit checklist
Spend the last two or three minutes running this list over every task before you hand it in. It catches the points that are easiest to lose and quickest to fix.
- Did I answer every part of the prompt? Count the instructions you underlined.
- Is there a greeting and a sign-off, and do they match the register?
- Did I stay in one register (all u or all je) the whole way through?
- Is the verb in second position in my normal sentences, and at the end after omdat?
- Are the everyday words spelled right (ben, heb, kan, days, numbers)?
- On the form, is every field filled, with no empty boxes?
- Can a Dutch reader understand it immediately, without rereading?
Frequently asked questions about the writing exam
What does the writing exam test? Whether you can write simple, correct Dutch for everyday situations: filling in a form, writing a short note or message, writing a few sentences on a familiar topic, and writing a short email or letter. At A2, clarity and correctness matter more than length or complexity.
How many tasks are there and how long is it? At A2, four tasks in about 40 minutes on pen and paper. On the B1-route it is done on a computer with more time (commonly around 100 minutes) for a smaller number of longer texts. Confirm the current format with DUO.
What is the pass mark? DUO does not publish a fixed public pass percentage. Examiners score how understandable each text is, plus grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and whether you answered every part. In practice: answer all parts in clear sentences and leave no field blank. Confirm scoring with DUO.
How do I practise at home? Write the exact task types under time, memorise standard greetings, sign-offs, and sentence frames, keep sentences short and correct, and have your writing checked so you stop repeating the same mistakes.
Is writing or speaking harder? Writing gives you time to plan and correct, so many find it more forgiving. The two share building blocks, so practising them together is efficient.
What level is the writing exam? A2 under the old law, or B1 for learners on the B1-route under the Wet inburgering 2021. Check which applies to you before you start.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Exam formats, task counts, timings, and rules can change. Always confirm the current writing exam structure and your personal obligations with DUO before your exam.