The German B1 writing exam looks different depending on the provider. In the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 you write three short texts in 60 minutes: a personal email of about 80 words, an opinion post of about 80 words and a formal message of about 40 words. You pass the writing module with 60 out of 100 points. In telc Deutsch B1 you write one email in 30 minutes that must address four content points; it is worth 45 of the exam’s 300 points.
In both exams, examiners first check whether you did the task – every content point, the right register, a greeting and a closing. Grammar mistakes are expected at B1; a missing content point costs more.
How the writing is marked
- telc: three criteria – task completion, communicative design (structure, connectors, register) and formal accuracy – each scored 5, 3, 1 or 0 points, then multiplied by three.
- telc: a content point counts as done even if it is covered in one short, clear sentence.
- telc: if your text is off-topic, every criterion gets zero.
- Goethe: two examiners mark independently; if the average is just under 60, a third examiner decides.
Sample answer: semi-formal email (telc style)
Task: a friend wants to visit your country and asks about trips, the best season, clothes and preparation.
„Liebe Marianne, vielen Dank für deine E-Mail! Ich freue mich sehr, dass du mich besuchen möchtest. Die beste Zeit für die Reise ist der Frühling, weil es dann nicht so heiß ist. Wir können zusammen ans Meer fahren und eine alte Stadt in den Bergen besichtigen. Bring bequeme Schuhe und eine leichte Jacke mit, denn abends wird es kühl. Am besten lernst du vorher ein paar Wörter in meiner Sprache – das macht Spaß! Ich freue mich auf dich. Liebe Grüße, Ana“
Ten tips that save points
- 1Underline every content point in the task and tick it off when written.
- 2Plan for five minutes before writing.
- 3Start with a greeting and a sentence explaining why you are writing.
- 4Write two sentences per content point.
- 5Use connectors: weil, deshalb, außerdem, trotzdem, dass.
- 6Do not start every sentence with “Ich”.
- 7Keep “du” or “Sie” consistent from greeting to closing.
- 8Finish with a closing line and the right sign-off (Viele Grüße / Mit freundlichen Grüßen).
- 9Leave five minutes to check verb position and capital letters on nouns.
- 10Write only on the answer sheet – notes elsewhere are not marked.
Practise B1 writing with feedback
- 1
Pick a task type
Informal email, forum post or formal message.
- 2
Write against the clock
Use the exam timing.
- 3
Study the correction
See what was missing and how to phrase it better.
Free to download on iPhone & iPad
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How many words for the German B1 writing exam?
Goethe B1: about 80, 80 and 40 words for the three tasks. telc B1 and the DTZ set no fixed word count; around 80–120 words is a safe target.
What is the pass mark for Goethe B1 writing?
60 out of 100 points.
How many points is telc B1 writing worth?
45 of 300 points, or 15% of the total.
Is the B1 writing exam marked strictly on grammar?
No. Task completion and communication come first; grammar must be good enough that the text is clear.
Is there an app to practise German B1 writing with corrections?
Yes. Deutsch B1 Prüfung: Schreiben for iPhone gives instant AI feedback on B1 exam tasks: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6788904694