Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Modelltest · Part 3 – Formal message
Goethe B1 Writing (Schreiben) Part 3 – Formal Message
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In Part 3 you write a short formal message, for example an apology or a request. Here’s how to stay polite and complete.
Key takeaways
- You write a short formal message (~40 words), e.g. an apology or request.
- Write politely and formally (Sie) with greeting, request and sign-off.
What this part tests
In Part 3 you write a short formal message (around 40 words) – for example to a school, a company or an authority. Typical occasions are an apology, a refusal or a request.
What’s decisive is the formal register: a formal greeting (“Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”), a polite request (with “Sie”) and a suitable sign-off (“Mit freundlichen Grüßen”). Despite the brevity, the occasion must be clear.
The most common losses of marks: writing too privately (“Hallo”, “du”) or not stating the request clearly. Whoever writes politely and formally and names the reason clearly solves this part reliably.
How to approach it
- 1
Read the situation and consider your request (apology, refusal, request).
- 2
Start with a formal greeting (“Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,”).
- 3
State your request clearly and politely (with “Sie”).
- 4
Give a short reason if needed.
- 5
End with a formal sign-off (“Mit freundlichen Grüßen”).
- 6
Check at the end: formal register, request clear, greeting and sign-off?
Example task with answer
A short example in the same format: the task and a model answer.
Du bist krank und kannst morgen nicht zu deinem Deutschkurs kommen. Schreibe eine kurze formelle Nachricht an die Sprachschule (~40 Wörter): Entschuldige dich und bitte um die Hausaufgaben.
Model answer:
Why? The message is formal throughout (greeting, “Sie”, sign-off), names the occasion clearly (apology) and the request (homework) – exactly what Part 3 expects, in around 40 words.
Practice: test yourself
Du kannst wegen Krankheit nicht zu einem Kurs kommen und schreibst der Sprachschule.
Which greeting and sign-off fit?
A message to a language school is formal. “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” and “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” fit. The private variants (a, c) don’t.Want to see how this feels in practice?
Try this section in an exam-like format and find out how confident you are before exam day.
Common mistakes
To a school or company you write “Sie” and “Sehr geehrte …”, not “Hallo” and “du”.
Say clearly what it’s about – apology, refusal or request.
Even a short formal message needs a greeting and sign-off.
Around 40 words are enough. Stay polite but brief.
Tips
- Learn fixed formal phrases: greeting, polite request, sign-off.
- State your request in one clear sentence.
- Stay polite but brief – about 40 words.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the formal message be?
Around 40 words. It is shorter than the other parts but must contain a greeting, the request and a sign-off.
Do I write “du” or “Sie”?
In Part 3 you write formally – so “Sie” and “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”. The register must be consistently formal.
What are typical occasions?
An apology, a refusal or a request to a school, company or authority.
How do I get feedback on my message?
The official PDF answer key does not grade writing. At Prepliq a mock exam grades your message automatically with reference to the published assessment criteria.
Other parts
Useful resources
Check if you’re ready for this exam part
Practice in an exam-like format with real time limits, get an assessment modelled on the official criteria, and see where you still need work.
- Exam-like task format with real time limits
- Assessment modelled on the official exam criteria
- This exam part as a model test, results right away
- Detailed feedback and corrections on what you write