In the Writing module you write a personal email (Part 1), a forum post (Part 2) and a formal message (Part 3). Here’s the structure, useful phrases, examples and all the tips for all three parts.
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Key takeaways
Writing is the module of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam where you produce text yourself. It has three parts: in Part 1 you write a personal email to a friend (around 80 words), in Part 2 a forum post with your opinion on a topic (around 80 words), in Part 3 a short formal message (around 40 words). You have 60 minutes for it.
In Part 1 you respond to a situation and cover the given guide points. In Part 2 you give your opinion and justify it. In Part 3 you write politely and formally, for example an apology or a request. In all parts a clear structure and the right register matter.
You’re graded on whether you complete the task (all guide points covered?), whether your text is clearly built and connected, whether the register fits and whether the language is correct enough. The three parts carry different weight (about 40/40/20 points).
Very doable with useful phrases and some practice. The most common hurdle: mixing up the register (private vs. formal) or forgetting a guide point.
| Part | Task type | Focus | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Email | Personal email | Writing a personal email | 1 | 40 |
| Part 2 – Forum post | Forum post | Writing an opinion | 1 | 40 |
| Part 3 – Formal message | Formal message | Writing formally | 1 | 20 |
In each part you must address all the given guide points. A missing point costs you marks.
Part 1 (email to friends) is private (du, Hallo). Part 3 (formal message) is formal (Sie, Sehr geehrte …). Part 2 (forum) is neutral.
Link your sentences with “und”, “aber”, “weil”, “deshalb”, “obwohl”. That shows B1 level and makes the text clear.
In the forum post, “Ich finde das gut” isn’t enough. Justify your opinion with “weil” and give an example.
Plan about 20 minutes for Part 1, 25 for Part 2 and 15 for Part 3. Leave time at the end to check.
Check: all guide points covered? Greeting and sign-off there? Register consistent? Fix obvious errors.
Try this section in the real exam format and find out how confident you are before exam day.
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Learn a fixed set of phrases for the three parts:
The writing tasks are usually these:
Read this guide and look at the official Modellsatz: what do the email, forum post and formal message look like?
Learn fixed phrases for private, opinion, justification and formal.
Write emails to friends for different situations and cover all guide points.
Write forum posts on current topics and justify your opinion.
Practice short formal messages with greeting, request and sign-off.
Work through all three parts in 60 minutes and check at the end that everything is complete.
Have your writing graded – by a teacher or via a Prepliq mock that scores your text automatically.
Three parts: Part 1 (personal email, ~80 words), Part 2 (forum post with opinion, ~80 words) and Part 3 (short formal message, ~40 words).
In Parts 1 and 2 around 80 words each, in Part 3 around 40 words. What matters is that you cover all guide points.
The Writing module lasts 60 minutes for all three parts. Plan about 20/25/15 minutes.
You’re graded on task completion (all guide points), structure and connection of sentences, register and language correctness. The three parts carry different weight (about 40/40/20).
No. At B1 what counts is that you’re understood well, you cover all guide points and the register fits. Some errors are allowed.
Write emails, forum posts and formal messages and have them graded. At Prepliq a mock exam scores your text automatically – because the PDF answer key does not cover writing.
Practice this exam section in the official format and see what needs more attention before the real test.
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