How to structure your Goethe B1 writing exam

The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 Schreiben (writing) section tests your ability to communicate in everyday situations. It has three parts, and knowing exactly what is expected in each one is half the battle.

Overview: Three tasks, 60 minutes

• Task 1: Write a personal email (forum post) — 20 minutes
• Task 2: Write a formal email (letter to a company or institution) — 20 minutes
• Task 3: Write a short blog post or comment — 20 minutes

Task 1: The personal email

You are writing to a friend or someone you know well. The tone is informal. You need to:

• Address the person by first name
• Respond to the points in the prompt (usually 3 things to address)
• Give your opinion and ask a question back
• Use informal connectors: Außerdem, Übrigens, Ach ja

Task 2: The formal email

You are writing to an authority, employer, or institution. The tone is formal. You need to:

• Use "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren" or "Sehr geehrter Herr/Frau [Name]"
• State your concern clearly in the first sentence
• Provide relevant details and a polite request
• End with "Mit freundlichen Grüßen"

Task 3: The blog post or comment

This is a short opinion piece on a topic. You need to:

• State your opinion clearly in the opening sentence
• Give 2–3 reasons with examples
• Use opinion connectors: Meiner Meinung nach, Ich finde, Ich glaube
• End with a brief summary or call to action

Key phrases to memorise

Having a toolkit of ready-made phrases saves time and reduces errors:

• Ich schreibe dir, weil… (I'm writing because…)
• Ich würde gerne… (I would like to…)
• Könnten Sie mir bitte… (Could you please…)
• Meiner Meinung nach ist… (In my opinion…)
• Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen… (In summary…)

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't mix formal and informal tone within one task
• Don't forget to address all points in the prompt
• Keep to the word count (about 80 words per task)
• Don't use English filler words — replace "also" with außerdem

Practice strategy

Write one sample per task type every day for two weeks before your exam. Time yourself. Compare your writing against model answers. The patterns will become second nature.