Goethe-Zertifikat B2 · Modelltest · Part 2 – Formal message
Goethe B2 Writing (Schreiben) Part 2 – Formal Message
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In Part 2 you write a formal message, for example a request, complaint or notice. Here’s how to stay polite, clear and complete.
Key takeaways
- You write a formal message (~100 words), e.g. a request, complaint or notice.
- Write politely and formally (Sie) with greeting, a clear request and a sign-off.
What this part tests
In Part 2 you write a formal message or notice (around 100 words) – for example to a company, an administration, a superior or an institution. Typical occasions are a request, a complaint, an enquiry or a notice.
What’s decisive is the formal register: a formal greeting, a polite but clear tone (with “Sie”) and a suitable sign-off. You name your concern clearly, justify it briefly and formulate a concrete request or expectation.
The most common losses of marks: writing too privately or impolitely, not naming the concern clearly or not treating the task fully. Whoever writes politely, clearly and completely solves this part reliably.
How to approach it
- 1
Grasp the occasion and the points you must cover.
- 2
Start with a formal greeting (“Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,”).
- 3
Name your concern clearly and justify it briefly.
- 4
Formulate a concrete request or expectation.
- 5
End with a formal sign-off (“Mit freundlichen Grüßen”).
- 6
Check register, completeness and politeness.
Example task with answer
A short example in the same format: the task and a model answer.
In Ihrem Wohnhaus ist der Aufzug seit über einer Woche defekt. Schreiben Sie eine formelle Nachricht (~100 Wörter) an die Hausverwaltung: Beschreiben Sie das Problem, erklären Sie die Folgen und bitten Sie um eine baldige Reparatur.
Model answer:
Why? The message is formal throughout (greeting, “Sie”, sign-off), describes the problem and its consequences, formulates a concrete request and stays polite despite being a complaint – exactly what Part 2 expects.
Practice: test yourself
Du schreibst an die Verwaltung deines Wohnhauses, weil der Aufzug seit Tagen kaputt ist.
Which phrasing fits a polite, formal complaint?
A formal complaint stays polite and names the request clearly (option b). a is impolite and threatening, c doesn’t fit a complaint in content.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
Stay formal and polite – even in a complaint. Threats or colloquial language don’t fit.
Say clearly what it’s about and what you expect.
Cover all the given points of the task.
Use “Sie” and formal phrasing throughout.
Tips
- Learn fixed formal phrases: greeting, concern, request, sign-off.
- Name your concern clearly and justify it briefly.
- Stay polite and factual, even in a complaint.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the formal message be?
Around 100 words. It must contain a greeting, the clearly stated concern, a short justification and a sign-off.
Which register is right?
A consistently formal, polite register with “Sie” and formal phrasing – even in a complaint.
What are typical occasions?
A request, a complaint, an enquiry or a notice to a company, administration, institution or superior.
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