--- title: "Goethe B1 Writing: Email, Forum & Examples" description: "Writing (Schreiben) in the Goethe-Zertifikat B1: a personal email (Part 1), a forum post (Part 2) and a formal message (Part 3). Structure, useful phrases, examples and grading." canonical: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing" url: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing.md" locale: "en" provider: "Goethe" level: "B1" alternates: de: "https://prepliq.com/de/modelltest/goethe-zertifikat-deutsch-b1/schreiben.md" en: "https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing.md" fr: "https://prepliq.com/fr/examen-blanc/goethe-zertifikat-allemand-b1/expression-ecrite.md" it: "https://prepliq.com/it/simulazione-esame/goethe-zertifikat-tedesco-b1/scrittura.md" es: "https://prepliq.com/es/modelo-de-examen/goethe-zertifikat-aleman-b1/escritura.md" --- # Goethe-Zertifikat B1 – Writing (Schreiben) > Writing (Schreiben) in the Goethe-Zertifikat B1: a personal email (Part 1), a forum post (Part 2) and a formal message (Part 3). Structure, useful phrases, examples and grading. ## Key takeaways - Writing has 3 parts: a personal email, a forum post and a formal message. - Cover all guide points in each part and choose the right register (private/formal). - You have 60 minutes for the Writing module. 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). - Parts: 3 - Tasks: 3 - Points: 100 - Time: 60 min - to pass: ~60 % - Difficulty: medium (3/5) ## The parts at a glance - [Part 1 – Email](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing/part-1) — Personal email · Writing a personal email · 1 Tasks · 40 Points. In Part 1 you write a personal email to a friend. Here’s how to build it step by step. - [Part 2 – Forum post](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing/part-2) — Forum post · Writing an opinion · 1 Tasks · 40 Points. In Part 2 you write a forum post with your opinion on a topic. Here’s how to build it and justify convincingly. - [Part 3 – Formal message](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing/part-3) — Formal message · Writing formally · 1 Tasks · 20 Points. In Part 3 you write a short formal message, for example an apology or a request. Here’s how to stay polite and complete. ## Tips & strategy - **Cover all guide points:** In each part you must address all the given guide points. A missing point costs you marks. - **Choose the right register:** Part 1 (email to friends) is private (du, Hallo). Part 3 (formal message) is formal (Sie, Sehr geehrte …). Part 2 (forum) is neutral. - **Connect your sentences sensibly:** Link your sentences with “und”, “aber”, “weil”, “deshalb”, “obwohl”. That shows B1 level and makes the text clear. - **Justify your opinion (Part 2):** In the forum post, “Ich finde das gut” isn’t enough. Justify your opinion with “weil” and give an example. - **Split your time across three parts:** Plan about 20 minutes for Part 1, 25 for Part 2 and 15 for Part 3. Leave time at the end to check. - **Check at the end:** Check: all guide points covered? Greeting and sign-off there? Register consistent? Fix obvious errors. ## Useful phrases Learn a fixed set of phrases for the three parts: - **Private (Part 1)** — Hallo …, / Liebe/r …, / Wie geht es dir? / Viele Grüße - **Opinion (Part 2)** — Ich finde … / Meiner Meinung nach … / Ich bin der Meinung, dass … - **Justifying** — weil … / denn … / Ein Beispiel dafür ist … / Deshalb … - **Formal (Part 3)** — Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, / Leider … / Ich möchte Sie bitten, … / Mit freundlichen Grüßen ## Typical tasks The writing tasks are usually these: - **Email (Part 1)** — invitation, arrangement, request, thanks or refusal to a friend/family - **Forum post (Part 2)** — give and justify your own opinion on a current topic - **Formal message (Part 3)** — apology, refusal or request to a company, school or authority ## Free practice exercises - [Deutsche Welle – Learn German](https://learngerman.dw.com/de/overview) — Free writing prompts and B1 vocabulary for email and opinion. - [Nachrichtenleicht](https://www.nachrichtenleicht.de/) — Current topics in simple German – good prompts for forum posts. ## 1-week study plan - Day 1 – **Learn the format:** Read this guide and look at the official Modellsatz: what do the email, forum post and formal message look like? - Day 2 – **Learn useful phrases:** Learn fixed phrases for private, opinion, justification and formal. - Day 3 – **Part 1 – personal email:** Write emails to friends for different situations and cover all guide points. - Day 4 – **Part 2 – forum post:** Write forum posts on current topics and justify your opinion. - Day 5 – **Part 3 – formal message:** Practice short formal messages with greeting, request and sign-off. - Day 6 – **All three parts under time:** Work through all three parts in 60 minutes and check at the end that everything is complete. - Day 7 – **Get feedback:** Have your writing graded – by a teacher or via a Prepliq mock that scores your text automatically. ## Are you ready? - I write a personal email with a greeting and sign-off. - I cover all guide points in each part. - I give and justify my opinion in a forum post. - I write a short formal message in the right register. - I link my sentences with “weil”, “deshalb”, “obwohl”. - I switch confidently between private and formal register. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many parts does Goethe B1 writing have? Three parts: Part 1 (personal email, ~80 words), Part 2 (forum post with opinion, ~80 words) and Part 3 (short formal message, ~40 words). ### How much do I have to write? In Parts 1 and 2 around 80 words each, in Part 3 around 40 words. What matters is that you cover all guide points. ### How much time do I have for writing? The Writing module lasts 60 minutes for all three parts. Plan about 20/25/15 minutes. ### How is writing graded? 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). ### Does my grammar have to be perfect? No. At B1 what counts is that you’re understood well, you cover all guide points and the register fits. Some errors are allowed. ### What’s the best way to practice writing? 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. ## Ready for the exam? [Practice this part on Prepliq](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1?action=start§ionId=Written%20Expression) ## Other exam parts - [Lesen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/reading) - [Hören](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/listening) - [Sprechen](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/speaking) [Goethe-Zertifikat B1 – Writing (Schreiben)](https://prepliq.com/en/practice-test/goethe-zertifikat-german-b1/writing)