Lithuanian A1/A2 Exam: Reading Section Guide

The reading section is part of the 1 hour 30 minute electronic test you take at a computer at the exam centre. It is combined with the writing section, so you manage your own time between the two.

There is no separate reading "part" — reading tasks appear alongside writing tasks in the same session. Most candidates spend around 45–50 minutes on reading and the rest on writing.

What Texts Will You See?

All texts at A2 level are short and practical. Expect the kind of language you would encounter in everyday life in Lithuania:

Notices and signs — in shops, offices, clinics, or public transport
Short messages — text messages, emails, or notes between people
Simple letters — a neighbour, a landlord, a colleague
Advertisements — for products, services, or events
Schedules and menus — bus timetables, restaurant menus, class schedules
Short informational texts — a paragraph describing a place, service, or person

Texts are simple and direct. You will not see long newspaper articles or complex instructions. If a word is unfamiliar, context will usually help you understand the meaning.

Task Types

The reading section typically includes:

Multiple choice (A / B / C) — Read a short text and choose the correct answer to a question. Focus on the specific detail the question is asking about — not the general topic.
Matching — Match headings to short paragraphs, or match statements to the correct text. Often there are 5–7 items and more choices than answers, so read carefully before matching.
True / False — Read a statement and decide whether it matches the information in the text. Watch out for statements that are almost true — small details matter.
Select the correct text — Several short texts are given (e.g., three advertisements). A question describes a specific need, and you choose which text best matches.

Topic Areas

Exam texts come from everyday topics. These 12 areas cover almost everything you will see:

Lithuanian	English
Asmens tapatybė	Personal identity
Šeima ir namai	Family and home
Kasdienis gyvenimas	Daily life
Maistas ir gėrimai	Food and drinks
Apsipirkimas	Shopping
Sveikata ir kūnas	Health and body
Transportas ir kelionės	Transport and travel
Laisvalaikis ir hobiai	Leisure and hobbies
Darbas ir profesija	Work and profession
Mokykla ir švietimas	School and education
Miesto aplinka	City environment
Gamta ir oras	Nature and weather

If you can read and understand simple texts about all 12 of these areas, you are well prepared.

How Much Vocabulary Do You Need?

Around 1000 words in your passive vocabulary is a good benchmark for A2. Passive vocabulary means words you can recognise and understand when you see them — you do not need to produce them yourself in the reading section.

Focus on the most common, everyday words in each topic area. Numbers, days of the week, months, common verbs (eiti, būti, turėti, norėti, gyventi), and basic adjectives (geras, blogas, didelis, mažas, naujas) appear constantly.

Tips for the Reading Section

Read the questions before the text. This tells you exactly what information to look for. You do not need to understand every word — just find the relevant detail.

Skim first, then read carefully. Read the whole text quickly to get the general meaning, then go back to answer the questions.

Use context for unknown words. If you see autobusų stotis and you know autobusas (bus), you can guess it means "bus station." Lithuanian is consistent — compound nouns and related words share roots.

Watch for number words and names. Exam questions often ask about specific times, prices, dates, or names. These are easy to spot in a text even if the surrounding language is unfamiliar.

Do not translate word by word. Read for meaning, not for translation. Trying to translate every word slows you down and causes confusion.

Check true/false answers carefully. A statement that is 80% true can still be false. Look for the specific detail that makes it correct or incorrect.

What to Study

Learn vocabulary in topic groups, not as random word lists
Practise reading short Lithuanian texts every day — even a single paragraph
Look up the official sample exam on the NŠA website to see real task formats
Pay attention to common phrases and expressions, not just individual words

The reading section rewards consistent vocabulary building over last-minute cramming. Start early, read often, and your comprehension will grow steadily.

Looking for more exam preparation help? See our guides on the writing, listening, and speaking sections, or read the full exam overview.