DELE A2 Writing: What the Exam Really Expects (and How You Can Approach It)

After the listening section, the DELE A2 exam continues with the Writing test (Expresión e interacción escritas).

For many students, writing can feel intimidating at first. Unlike listening or reading, this part of the exam requires candidates to produce language, not only understand it.

However, the tasks at A2 level are designed to evaluate something quite practical: whether you can write short, simple texts to communicate basic information in everyday situations.

In other words, the goal is not sophisticated writing, but clear and functional communication.

Structure of the DELE A2 Writing Test

The writing section lasts 45 minutes and includes two tasks.

Task	Type of text	Skill evaluated
Task 1	Email, note or short message	Communicating personal information
Task 2	Short text based on instructions or images	Describing situations or experiences

Texts are usually very short, around 60–80 words. Students are not expected to produce complex language. Instead, examiners look for:

• clear communication

• basic grammar control

• appropriate vocabulary

(This might be a good moment to pause for a minute before continuing if you feel tired).

What Examiners Are Really Looking For

At A2 level, examiners are not expecting long or complex texts.

Instead, they want to see whether candidates can:

• give simple information

• describe everyday situations

• express basic opinions

• communicate politely in written form

For example, students may need to write:

• an email to a friend

• a message accepting or declining an invitation

• a short description of a place or event

The focus is on communicative effectiveness, not stylistic perfection.

Task 1: Writing a Short Email or Message

In Task 1, candidates usually receive a short text (often an email) and must write a reply.

The instructions typically include several points that the candidate must cover.

In the model exam, for example, the candidate receives an email from a friend inviting them to a wedding and must:

• congratulate the friend

• explain why they cannot attend

• suggest meeting another day.

This type of task evaluates whether students can write a simple message that responds appropriately to a situation.

A Simple Way to Organize Your Text

Many students find it helpful to think of their message in four small steps.

Greeting

Hola, Ana.

Hola, Marta.

Respond to the situation

¡Enhorabuena por la boda! Me alegro mucho por vosotros.

Explain your situation

Lo siento, pero no puedo ir porque trabajo ese fin de semana.

Closing

Podemos vernos otro día.Un abrazo.

This structure helps the text remain clear and coherent.

(This might be a good moment to pause for a minute before continuing if you feel tired).

Mini Writing Practice

Imagine a friend writes to invite you to a birthday party.

Your message should include:

• greeting

• saying thank you for the invitation

• explaining that you cannot go

• suggesting meeting another day

A possible answer could be:

Hola, Laura:

Muchas gracias por tu invitación. Me gustaría ir a tu fiesta, pero ese día trabajo y no puedo.

Podemos vernos otro día para celebrarlo.

Un abrazo.

This type of message already demonstrates the communicative skills expected at A2 level.

Vocabulary That Often Appears in Writing Tasks

Writing tasks often involve social communication. Examples include:

Invitations and celebrations

fiesta - cumpleaños - boda - celebración - invitar

Polite expressions

gracias - lo siento - me gustaría - podemos - quedamos

Everyday situations

trabajo - familia - amigos - casa - viaje

These words help express common situations in personal communication.

Training Your Writing Outside the Exam

Writing skills improve when students practice short and meaningful texts.

For example, you might try writing:

• short messages to friends

• small descriptions of places

• short emails about daily plans

Many students find it helpful to focus on clarity rather than complexity. Writing simple sentences clearly is often more effective than attempting complicated structures.

(This might be a good moment to pause for a minute before continuing if you feel tired).

Common Difficulties in the Writing Test

Several challenges appear frequently among DELE candidates. One common difficulty is trying to write too much. At this level, short and clear texts are usually the most effective.

Another difficulty is forgetting one of the points in the instructions. For this reason, it can be helpful to check the instructions again before finishing the text.

Students also sometimes worry too much about grammar mistakes. While accuracy is important, the main objective is still communication.

Quick Self-Check

After reading this guide, you might ask yourself:

✔ Do I include all the points from the instructions?

✔ Is my message clear and easy to understand?

✔ Do I organize my text into simple parts?

These small checks can help make writing tasks feel more manageable.

A Final Reflection

Writing in another language can feel demanding, but at A2 level the goal is simply to communicate basic ideas clearly. With regular practice writing short texts, many students discover that this part of the exam becomes much more accessible than they initially expected.

In the Next Article

In the final guide of this series, we will explore the Speaking section of the DELE A2 exam (Expresión e interacción orales). This part of the test focuses on everyday communication and includes describing situations, answering questions and having a short conversation with the examiner.