{"id":286,"date":"2026-11-07T09:05:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T09:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=286"},"modified":"2026-11-07T09:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T09:05:59","slug":"goethe-b1-writing-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/goethe-b1-writing-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Goethe B1 Writing Exam: Tasks, Word Counts and Model Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Goethe B1 writing exam (Modul Schreiben) lasts 60 minutes and has three tasks: an informal email of about 80 words, an opinion post of about 80 words, and a short semi-formal message of about 40 words. You pass the module with at least 60 of 100 points, and two examiners rate your texts independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below: each task, the scoring, a model answer per task written for this guide, and the costliest mistakes. Facts were checked against the Goethe-Institut’s B1 exam regulations (status 1 September 2025) and the official B1 model paper for adults in October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The B1 Schreiben module at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Task<\/th>Text type<\/th>Length<\/th>Suggested time<\/th>Register<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Teil 1<\/td>Email to a friend<\/td>about 80 words<\/td>20 min<\/td>informal (du)<\/td><\/tr>
Teil 2<\/td>Opinion post on a discussion topic<\/td>about 80 words<\/td>25 min<\/td>neutral<\/td><\/tr>
Teil 3<\/td>Message to someone you know formally (teacher, boss, landlord)<\/td>about 40 words<\/td>15 min<\/td>semi-formal (Sie)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The suggested times come from the official model paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schreiben is one of four separately scored modules<\/a>, so you can retake writing alone if your centre offers it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the writing module is scored<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each task is rated on four criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Erf\u00fcllung (task completion):<\/strong> Did you cover every content point and use the right register and text type?<\/li>
  2. Koh\u00e4renz (coherence):<\/strong> Are your sentences connected logically, with linking words and a clear order?<\/li>
  3. Wortschatz (vocabulary):<\/strong> Is your vocabulary varied and appropriate for B1?<\/li>
  4. Strukturen (grammar and spelling):<\/strong> How accurate are your sentences?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In the practice materials, Teil 1 and Teil 2 are each rated with up to 10 points per criterion, and Teil 3 uses the same criteria on a smaller scale, so the 40-word message carries less weight than the two longer texts. The total is converted to a score out of 100, and 60 is the pass mark. For how that interacts with the other modules, see the Goethe B1 passing score guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The practical lesson: content points come first. A text with a few grammar slips that answers every point usually scores better than a polished text that forgets one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Teil 1: the informal email (about 80 words)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You get a short situation and three content points, for example: something happened, explain why, suggest a meeting. You write to a friend, so you use du.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Model task (written for this guide):<\/strong> You moved to a new flat last month. Write to your friend Anna: describe the flat, say why you moved, and suggest a day to visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Liebe Anna,<\/p>\n\n\n

    vielen Dank f\u00fcr deine Nachricht! Stell dir vor, ich bin letzten Monat umgezogen. Meine neue Wohnung liegt im Zentrum und hat einen kleinen Balkon. Ich bin umgezogen, weil ich jetzt nur zehn Minuten zur Arbeit brauche. Vorher bin ich jeden Tag eine Stunde mit dem Bus gefahren. Die Wohnung ist nicht gro\u00df, aber sie ist hell und ruhig. Hast du am Samstag, den 14., Zeit? Ich mache eine kleine Einweihungsparty und w\u00fcrde mich sehr freuen, wenn du kommst.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Liebe Gr\u00fc\u00dfe
    \nMaria<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Translation:<\/strong> Dear Anna, thank you for your message! Imagine, I moved last month. My new flat is in the centre and has a small balcony. I moved because I now need only ten minutes to get to work. Before, I took the bus for an hour every day. The flat is not big, but it is bright and quiet. Are you free on Saturday the 14th? I’m having a small housewarming party and would be very happy if you came. Love, Maria<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why it works: every point gets a sentence, plus a weil clause, a Perfekt and a contrast with aber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Teil 2: the opinion post (about 80 words)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You read a short opinion on a discussion topic (in the model paper it is framed as a comment on a TV discussion show) and write your own view. There are no bullet points to tick off, so structure is your job: opinion, reason, counter-argument, conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Model task (written for this guide):<\/strong> Topic: “Working from home: only advantages?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Ich arbeite seit zwei Jahren zwei Tage pro Woche im Homeoffice. Meiner Meinung nach hat das viele Vorteile. Ich spare Zeit, weil ich nicht ins B\u00fcro fahren muss, und ich kann mich zu Hause besser konzentrieren. Andererseits fehlt mir manchmal der Kontakt zu meinen Kollegen. Im B\u00fcro kann man Probleme oft schneller zusammen l\u00f6sen. Deshalb finde ich eine Mischung am besten: zwei oder drei Tage zu Hause, den Rest im B\u00fcro. So hat man die Vorteile von beidem.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Translation:<\/strong> I have been working from home two days a week for two years. In my opinion, that has many advantages. I save time because I don’t have to travel to the office, and I can concentrate better at home. On the other hand, I sometimes miss contact with my colleagues. In the office you can often solve problems faster together. That’s why I think a mix is best: two or three days at home, the rest in the office. That way you get the advantages of both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note the Pr\u00e4sens with seit for something that started in the past and continues (“Ich arbeite seit zwei Jahren”). English speakers often write “Ich habe … gearbeitet” here, which is wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Teil 3: the semi-formal message (about 40 words)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You write to someone you address with Sie: a course leader, a boss, a neighbour you do not know well. The typical situation is cancelling, apologising or asking for something. Forty words is short, so every sentence must do a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Model task (written for this guide):<\/strong> You cannot attend tomorrow’s team meeting. Write to your boss, Frau Becker: apologise, give a reason, and suggest an alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Sehr geehrte Frau Becker,<\/p>\n\n\n

    leider kann ich morgen nicht an der Teambesprechung um 10 Uhr teilnehmen, weil mein Sohn krank ist und ich mit ihm zum Arzt gehen muss. K\u00f6nnten wir einen neuen Termin finden? Am Donnerstag h\u00e4tte ich Zeit.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Mit freundlichen Gr\u00fc\u00dfen
    \nDaniel Weber<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Translation:<\/strong> Dear Ms Becker, unfortunately I cannot attend the team meeting tomorrow at 10, because my son is ill and I have to take him to the doctor. Could we find a new date? I would be free on Thursday. Kind regards, Daniel Weber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Common point losses: du forms, and forgetting to propose something. For greetings and closings in more detail, see how to write a formal email in German<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Download<\/a>\"Get<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Which topics come up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Goethe publishes no topic list, but tasks stay within everyday life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n