Writing in the A2 exam
The writing part comes first and lasts 30 minutes. It has two tasks worth 20 points in total. The task descriptions are from the Harno booklet; the sample texts are our own.
Task 1
You write a text based on the business card of a person or an institution, at least 25 words. The task includes questions. For a person’s card they are:
- Kellena ta töötab?
- What does he or she work as?
- Kus ta töötab?
- Where does he or she work?
- Millal ta töötab?
- When does he or she work?
- Kuidas saab temaga kontakti?
- How can you contact him or her?
If the card belongs to an institution, the questions are different: Mis asutus see on? Kus see asub? Mida seal teha saab? Kuidas saab kontakti?
Cards often use abbreviations. E, T, K, N, R, L, P are the days from Monday to Sunday. mnt means maantee (road), tn means tänav (street), pst means puiestee (avenue).
Anna Mets töötab juuksurina. Ta töötab salongis Lokk. Salong asub Tallinnas, Tartu maanteel 15. Anna töötab esmaspäevast reedeni kella kümnest hommikul kuni seitsmeni õhtul. Temaga saab kontakti telefoni teel. Tema telefoninumber on 5123 4567.
Translation
Anna Mets works as a hairdresser. She works at the Lokk salon. The salon is in Tallinn, at Tartu maantee 15. Anna works from Monday to Friday from ten in the morning to seven in the evening. You can contact her by phone. Her number is 5123 4567.
Task 2
The text must be at least 30 words. It can be a note, a message or an invitation. In the booklet, for example, you found a friend’s wallet at your home and write to them about where it was, what it looks like and how to get it back. Or it is a description on a given topic, such as “Minu nädalavahetus” (my weekend). This task also has questions, and you need to answer each one.
Tere, Mari! Mul on laupäeval sünnipäev ja ma kutsun sind külla. Pidu algab kell kuus õhtul minu kodus, Pärnu maanteel 10, korter 5. Me sööme torti ja mängime lauamänge. Palun anna teada, kas sa saad tulla. Minu telefon on 5555 1234. Ootan sind! Olga
Translation
Hi Mari! It’s my birthday on Saturday and I’m inviting you over. The party starts at six in the evening at my place, Pärnu maantee 10, flat 5. We’ll eat cake and play board games. Please let me know if you can come. My phone is 5555 1234. See you! Olga
Laupäeval käisin hommikul turul ja ostsin köögivilju. Pärast lõunat koristasin kodu. Õhtul kohtusin sõbrannaga kohvikus ja me rääkisime kaua. Pühapäeval sõitsime perega maale vanaema juurde. Seal oli ilus ilm ja me jalutasime metsas. Õhtul olin väsinud, aga rõõmus.
Translation
On Saturday morning I went to the market and bought vegetables. After lunch I cleaned the house. In the evening I met a friend at a café and we talked for a long time. On Sunday my family and I drove to the countryside to see my grandmother. The weather was nice there and we walked in the forest. In the evening I was tired but happy.
Useful phrases
- Tere, Mari! / Kallis Mari!
- Greeting someone you know
- Lugupeetud härra Tamm!
- Formal greeting
- Kirjutan sulle, sest …
- I’m writing to you because …
- Kas sa saad … tulla?
- Can you come …?
- Palun helista mulle. / Palun anna teada.
- Please call me. / Please let me know.
- Kõigepealt … Siis … Pärast seda …
- First … Then … After that …
- …, sest … / …, aga …
- …, because … / …, but …
- Tervitades / Lugupidamisega
- Regards / Yours sincerely
- Kohtumiseni!
- See you!
Tips
- Answer all the questions in the task.
- Watch the word count: 25 and 30 words are the minimum. Write sentences, not a list.
- Use simple sentences you are sure of.
- Leave a few minutes to check verb endings, cases and time expressions.
- Write legibly, with a black or blue pen.
- To practise, write 2–3 texts a week and ask someone to check them.
Exam details are taken from Harno materials in September 2026. Rules can change, so check them on the Harno website before your exam.