Reading A2 (Lezen) for Inburgering

You do not need perfect translation skills. Reading A2 is about fast scanning, keyword matching, and careful reading of small words that change meaning.

New to inburgering and not sure if you need A2 or B1? Start with the Inburgering exam hub.

What Reading A2 tests

Reading A2 checks if you understand short everyday texts: messages, emails, announcements, forms, and simple instructions. You win by finding the right information quickly, not by translating every word.

Type of texts and questions

Short everyday texts

Expect practical texts like a message from a school, a letter from the municipality, a note from your landlord, a webshop delivery message, or a poster at the station.

What questions usually ask

• Time: date, day, opening hours, deadlines

• Place: where you need to go or where something happens

• Action: what you must do (bring documents, pay, call, reply by email)

• Details: price, number, name, condition (only/except/not)

Official exam format (DUO)

DUO states that the A2 reading exam is on the computer: you read texts and answer questions. The exam duration is 65 minutes.

A simple strategy that works

• Step 1: read the question first (not the full text).

• Step 2: scan the text for the same key words (dates, names, places, prices).

• Step 3: read only the matching sentence(s) carefully.

• Step 4: choose the answer that matches meaning, not just one familiar word.

Tips for the reading exam

• Do not translate everything: scan first, then read only the part that contains the answer.

• Circle numbers and dates: prices, times, and addresses are often the key.

• Check the negative: one small word (niet/geen/alleen) can flip the meaning.

Common mistakes (and fixes)

• Mistake: reading everything word-by-word.
  Fix: scan for the answer zone first.

• Mistake: ignoring small words.
  Fix: re-check negatives and time words (vandaag/morgen/gisteren).

• Mistake: changing answers without evidence.
  Fix: change only if you find a clear sentence that proves it.

Practice plan (10 minutes/day)

• 2 minutes: read 1 short text headline-style.

• 5 minutes: answer 5 questions with scanning method.

• 3 minutes: write down 5 useful words (with 1 example sentence each).

Want to practice the reading exam?

UseDutch can help you train Reading A2 with guided exercises, explanations, and exam-style practice. Start with the mini practice above, then practice 10 minutes a day.

• Start from zero: follow a simple roadmap from A0 to A2 (vocabulary + grammar + daily practice).

• Exam-style practice: questions are designed to feel similar to the official exam tasks, so you can build speed and confidence.

• Practice tools: repeat the same task types until they become automatic.

Sources

• DUO (inburgeren.nl): Taalexamens A2 (Lezen duration + format)
• DUO (inburgeren.nl): Oefenen (A2 practice exams)