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Most people lose PD2 reading marks not because their Danish is weak, but because they read the wrong way for the task in front of them. Each of the five task types in Delprøve 2 (læseforståelse) of the PD2 exam rewards a different technique. Below we walk through a worked example of each — the exact steps to take, the trap that catches people, and the final check that gets you from "probably right" to full marks.
The examples here are written in the PD2 style so you can practise the method — they are not copied from a specific exam paper.
1. Søg information — read the question, then hunt one fact
You are given a text (a notice, an article, a set of rules) and questions that each ask for one specific piece of information.
Worked example
Biblioteket har åbent mandag–fredag kl. 10–19 og lørdag kl. 10–14. Om søndagen er der selvbetjening fra kl. 8 til 22.
Question: Hvornår kan man bruge biblioteket om søndagen?
How to approach it
- Read the question first. The keyword is søndag.
- Scan the text for that word only — ignore everything else.
- Read the sentence around the keyword: "Om søndagen er der selvbetjening fra kl. 8 til 22."
Answer: kl. 8–22 (self-service).
- The trap: the opening times 10–19 jump out first and feel like "the answer." They are for Monday–Friday. The question decides which line matters — not the biggest number on the page.
- Full-marks check: does your answer come from the sentence that contains the question's keyword? If not, you have grabbed the wrong line.
2. Match annoncer — match the need to the one detail that fits
You get several short adverts (A, B, C…) and a few people with a described need. Match each person to the right advert.
Worked example
Advert B: Kør-selv-ferie til Harzen. Fri afbestilling. Børn under 12 gratis. Advert D: Bustur til Berlin. Afgang fra Aarhus. Ingen børnerabat.
Person: Familie med to små børn, vil helst kunne aflyse hvis nogen bliver syg.
How to approach it
- Turn the person's need into a checklist: (a) travelling with children, (b) wants to be able to cancel.
- Test each advert against both conditions, not just the first one that looks close.
- Advert D fails on children (ingen børnerabat) and says nothing about cancelling.
- Advert B matches both: børn under 12 gratis and fri afbestilling.
Answer: Advert B.
- The trap: an advert that matches on the topic (both are trips) but fails on the constraint (cancellation). Topic overlap is bait; the deciding detail is the constraint.
- Full-marks check: every part of the person's description must be satisfied. If one advert covers the "must-have" and another only covers the "nice-to-have," the must-have wins.
3. Find det rigtige ord — decide the word type before you choose
A text has gaps, and for each gap you pick the correct word from options. This is grammar and collocation as much as meaning.
Worked example
Efter mødet var alle helt ___ over den nye plan. a) begejstring b) begejstrede c) begejstre
How to approach it
- Identify what the gap needs. After var alle helt you need a word describing alle — an adjective.
- Eliminate by word type: begejstring is a noun, begejstre is an infinitive verb. Only begejstrede is the adjective form.
- Confirm the sentence reads correctly: "…var alle helt begejstrede over…" ✓
Answer: b) begejstrede.
- The trap: all three options share the same root, so they "look" right. Meaning alone won't separate them — grammar does.
- Full-marks check: read the whole sentence aloud with your choice. Watch fixed pairings too: glad for, træt af, interesseret i. The preposition often tells you which word fits.
4. Indsæt sætningen — the inserted sentence must link on both sides
A text is missing sentences; you slot the right sentence into each gap. The answer is decided by what comes immediately before and after the gap.
Worked example
Jonas begyndte at løbe hver morgen. ___ Derfor sover han også bedre nu. Options: (1) Det gav ham mere energi i løbet af dagen. (2) Han kan ikke lide at stå tidligt op.
How to approach it
- Read the sentence before the gap and the sentence after it.
- The word after the gap is Derfor ("that's why") — so the gap must state a positive effect that leads to sleeping better.
- Option 2 is negative and contradicts the flow. Option 1 gives a positive result that Derfor can build on.
Answer: (1).
- The trap: a sentence that is true and on-topic but breaks the logic. Linking words (derfor, men, desuden) and pronouns (det, han, den) are the glue — follow them.
- Full-marks check: read the passage with your sentence inserted. If a det or hun now has nothing to refer back to, it's the wrong slot.
5. Find det afsnit / Match til interviewet — match the idea, not the words
The final task is usually an interview split into lettered paragraphs (A–H). Each question asks which paragraph answers it. On the answer sheet you mark one letter per question.
Worked example
Paragraph C: "Jeg savnede kollegerne mest. Man taler jo med dem hver dag, og pludselig var der helt stille derhjemme."
Question: Hvem fortæller om at føle sig ensom, da de begyndte at arbejde hjemmefra?
How to approach it
- Read the question for its idea: feeling lonely working from home.
- Scan the paragraphs for the same idea, not the same words. The word ensom never appears in C — but "pludselig var der helt stille derhjemme" expresses exactly that.
- Keep all letters A–H in play for every question; the same paragraph can answer more than one.
Answer: C.
- The trap: picking the paragraph that repeats a word from the question. The exam paraphrases on purpose — matching keywords will send you to the wrong letter.
- Full-marks check: can you point to the phrase in the paragraph that means the question, even though the words differ? If yes, it's right.
The five-second habit that saves marks
Across all five tasks, one habit separates a 6 from a 10:
Read the question before the text, then let the question decide where to look and what "fits."
Scanning-not-reading (task 1), constraint-over-topic (task 2), grammar-before-meaning (task 3), links-both-sides (task 4), and idea-over-words (task 5) are five versions of the same discipline.
Related guides
- PD2 Reading: Tips for All 5 Task Types — the quick-reference version of the techniques above.
- PD2 Written Production: how to structure your answer — the other half of the written exam.
- PD2 exam overview — format, sections, and what to expect on the day.
Practise until it's automatic
The Bestå app has PD2-format reading sets for every task type above, with instant answer checking and a built-in translator so you can look up a word without leaving the exercise. Do a few sets and the approach becomes a reflex. Download free on iOS and Android.