In short
- In the Writing exam you type sentences and texts on a computer for 100 minutes, without a spell checker and with only the paper Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2 as an aid.
- Two assessors mark each task independently: always for adequacy (does your text do what the task asks?) and grammar, sometimes also for spelling, coherence and word use.
- If you copy a whole sentence word for word from the task, you get 0 points for that sentence.
- You pass with a skill score of 500 or higher; there is no fixed number of points or percentage.
Writing (Schrijven) is one of the four parts of the State Exam NT2 (Staatsexamen NT2). You type sentences and texts on a computer, such as an email. This guide explains how the exam works, how Program I and II differ and how the assessors mark your text. Everything is based on the official rules of the Board of Tests and Examinations (College voor Toetsen en Examens, CvTE) and on staatsexamensnt2.nl.
How does the Writing exam work?
- The exam takes 100 minutes, for both Program I and Program II.
- You type your answers on a computer with a QWERTY keyboard, set to ‘US International’ and the language Dutch.
- There is no spell checker. You have to watch your spelling yourself.
- You choose the order of the tasks yourself.
- The tasks are about work, education and daily life.
Dictionary: you may only use the paper Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek NT2. It may not contain notes or slips of paper, and you may not borrow one from another candidate. Electronic aids are prohibited. A Prisma dictionary is no longer allowed. The exam supervisor checks your dictionary.
Program I and II: the structure
| Type of task | What you do | Program I (B1) | Program II (B2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sentence task | Write one sentence or complete a sentence | 8 | 7 or 8 |
| Short message, completing a text or a form | Write a short message, complete a text or fill in a form | 2 | – |
| Short text | Write a short text | 2 | 1 or 2 |
| Medium-length text | A longer text, for example describing a problem and making a proposal | – | 1 or 2 |
How is Writing assessed?
Two assessors mark each task independently. If needed, a third one looks too. On average at least 10 different assessors work on one exam. Your points are the average of their judgements.
For every task they look at two things:
- Adequacy: does your text do what the task asks, does it contain everything that is asked for, and is it understandable? For texts, this gives the most points.
- Grammar: are your sentences grammatically correct?
For texts, spelling, coherence and word use sometimes count as well. In Program II, structure and presentation are added. Presentation is about layout (blank lines, subheadings) and punctuation (capital letters, full stops, commas, question marks).
If your text contains all the elements that are asked for, the assessor starts from a middle score for adequacy. A sentence task gives 2 points at most; texts give more, and the medium-length text in Program II gives the most.
You do not have to write without mistakes: a few mistakes are allowed. The rules also ask, among other things, that the main points and relevant details are clear, that a longer text has a clear structure, and that you use the standard phrases that belong to the type of text, such as in a letter.
Important marking rules
- No adequacy, no points. If your text gets 0 for adequacy, you also get nothing for grammar, spelling and the rest.
- Do not copy whole sentences from the task. A complete sentence you copy word for word gives 0 points. Copying part of a sentence is allowed.
- De or het? Mistakes are allowed. Mistakes with de and het are accepted. But if you leave out an article completely, that does count as a mistake.
- Word order must be correct. The rules make no exception here.
- Extra sentences can cost points. If you write something that was not asked for and it contains mistakes, those mistakes count. An extra sentence without mistakes gives you nothing.
Tips that follow from the rules
- Make a list. Write down on scrap paper every point the task asks for. At the end, check that everything is in your text.
- Write in your own words. Use no more than parts of sentences from the task.
- Check your own spelling. There is no spell checker. Look up words you are unsure about in your dictionary.
- Pay extra attention to word order. Mistakes with de and het matter less than wrong word order.
- Do not write more than needed. Extra sentences with mistakes cost points; extra sentences without mistakes give nothing.
- Plan your time. You choose the order yourself. Keep enough time for the texts, because they give the most points.
- Program II: mind structure and punctuation. Use blank lines and, where it fits, subheadings. Check capital letters, full stops, commas and question marks.
Results, resits and inspection
Your points are converted into a skill score (vaardigheidsscore). With 500 or higher you pass. Every exam is different, so each exam needs a different number of points to reach 500. That is why there is no fixed number of points or percentage. Your result is ‘pass’ (voldoende) or ‘fail’ (onvoldoende) and is published online about 3 to 7 weeks after the exam. You also receive it by email and by post.
- Did not pass? You can only register again once you have your result. You pay the exam fee again per part. The exam regulations do not set a maximum number of attempts. Parts you have already passed remain valid.
- Inspection: you do not see the questions again. The CvTE does keep your exam for 6 months. During that time you can ask in writing to check that your exam was processed correctly.
- Was the exam not fair or not properly conducted? Then ask in writing for a measure within 3 weeks after the exam, via nt2@duo.nl.
Adapted exam: more time
Do you have a disability or personal circumstances, such as dyslexia? Then you can request an adapted exam (aangepast examen). Mention it when you register; after that a document from a specialist is needed. Writing then takes 150 minutes instead of 100. The advice is to spend “no more than 30 minutes on the short tasks”. The adapted exam may be on a different date or at a different location.
On the exam day
- Bring your invitation letter (oproepbrief), valid ID with a photo and, if you want, your paper dictionary. Without valid ID you cannot take the exam.
- Arrive half an hour early to check in. If you are late, you may no longer enter the exam room.
- Your phone, watch and other devices are switched off and go into a locker. Your own pen or paper is not allowed: you are given a pen and scrap paper.
Free official practice
The CvTE has a free practice environment, without login: oefenexamensnt2.nl There you find separate writing tasks for Program I and II and complete exams. The explanation is on staatsexamensnt2.nl. Practise on a computer and without a spell checker, just like in the real exam.
Practising with feedback
A course is not required for the State Exam, but it can help you learn the language well. Would you like to know how your text reads to someone who looks at the same points as the assessors? At TaalPro you can do writing tasks in lessons or private lessons and get feedback from a teacher.