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Latvian exam letter samples
Writing is one of the four language skills in the naturalisation check, and it is the one most people improve fastest. The task is short and predictable: a situation, five points to cover and 60 to 80 words. Seeing finished letters, and understanding why each word takes the form it does, shortens the work considerably.
What the writing task looks like
You are given an everyday situation, such as writing to a neighbour, a school, a landlord or a colleague, together with a plan of five points. All five have to appear in the answer and the length is 60 to 80 words. Writing is worth 25 points like the other skills, and at least 16 are needed. In the examination the letter is written by hand.
Typical topics in the writing part
The situations stay close to daily life: an invitation or a thank-you note, an apology, a cancellation, a complaint about a service, a request for information, a message to a teacher, arranging a meeting, a short application, a note about work. The simulator here offers eight letter topics, with 24 written samples across such situations.
What the 24 samples give you
Each sample is a complete answer of 60 to 80 words, and every single word is analysed: its dictionary form, the case or the tense used, why that form and not another, and the full declension or conjugation table. That turns a model letter into a grammar lesson, which is worth more than memorising phrases you cannot adapt.
How to practise
Write your own answer first, with a timer and without looking at anything. Then open the sample and compare point by point: were all five covered, did you keep to the length, which endings differ from yours. Finally check yourself against the marking criteria. Three or four topics a week is usually enough to see progress.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the letter be?
Between 60 and 80 words, and all five points of the given plan have to be covered. Shorter answers lose content marks, while much longer ones cost time that you need for the other parts of the check.
What topics come up in the writing part?
Everyday situations: invitations, apologies, complaints, requests for information, notes to a school or an employer, arranging a meeting. This site has 8 letter topics in the simulator and 24 written samples to compare your own answers with.
How is the writing part marked?
Writing is one of four language skills, each worth 25 points, with at least 16 points, or 64 per cent, needed in each. Content, the five plan points and language accuracy all count. The criteria themselves are set by PMLP, so check pmlp.gov.lv.
Can I prepare for free?
Yes. All 24 samples with their word-by-word analysis, the exercises built around them and the timed simulator are free to use, with no registration, no adverts and no certificate on offer.
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