German lessons · German exam guides · B1
Goethe B1 writing: how to write three texts in 60 minutes
For many people, the writing module (Schreiben) is the scariest part of the Goethe B1 exam: three texts in 60 minutes. But the tasks always look much the same. If you know the format and have a few sentences ready, you'll feel far calmer in the exam room. This guide is for anyone preparing for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (adults). The whole exam is explained in our Goethe certificate overview.
What this part looks like
Based on the Goethe-Institut's official practice sets (Übungssatz, Modellsatz): writing takes 60 minutes and has three tasks. You may start with any task.
| Task | What you write | Length | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aufgabe 1 | personal e-mail to a friend (du) — three content points | about 80 words | 20 min |
| Aufgabe 2 | your opinion in an online forum or guestbook | about 80 words | 25 min |
| Aufgabe 3 | polite e-mail to e.g. a course leader (Sie) — apologise and explain | about 40 words | 15 min |
- What is assessed — task completion (Erfüllung: content, length, text type, register such as du/Sie, structure), coherence (Kohärenz), vocabulary (Wortschatz) and grammar and spelling (Strukturen)
- Careful! — if a text has less than half the required words or misses the topic, task completion gets 0 — and then the whole task scores 0
- Pass mark — the writing module has 100 points, and you pass with 60 or more. The four modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking) can also be taken separately
- Exam room rules — no dictionaries or mobile phones. You get stamped scrap paper, but only what you write on the answer sheet (Antwortbogen) is marked
Step by step
1. Read the task and underline (1–2 min). Aufgabe 1 usually has three points such as Beschreiben (describe), Begründen (give reasons) and Einen Vorschlag machen (make a suggestion). Missing one costs a lot.
2. Notes only (2–3 min). There's no time to draft the whole text and copy it out. Jot down a few words and one sentence per point.
3. Build the frame first. E-mail: greeting → first sentence → points in order → closing line → sign-off. The forum post in Aufgabe 2 needs no greeting: your opinion → 1–2 reasons → conclusion.
4. Link your sentences. Use weil, deshalb, außerdem, aber, trotzdem. Don't start every sentence with Ich — vary the word order.
5. Keep the last 3 minutes for checking. Verb position (second in main clauses, last in subordinate clauses), capital letters on nouns, du or Sie all the way through, and enough words.
Useful German
- Liebe Anna, / Lieber Tom, — Dear Anna, / Dear Tom, (to a friend)
- vielen Dank für deine E-Mail. — thanks a lot for your e-mail.
- Was hältst du davon, wenn wir uns am Samstag treffen? — How about meeting on Saturday?
- Meiner Meinung nach ist das eine gute Idee, weil … — In my opinion that's a good idea because …
- Ich bin der Meinung, dass feste Arbeitszeiten wichtig sind. — I believe fixed working hours are important.
- Einerseits …, andererseits … — On the one hand …, on the other hand …
- Lieber Herr Weber, / Sehr geehrte Frau Wolf, — Dear Mr Weber, / Dear Ms Wolf, (Lieber/Liebe for people you know, Sehr geehrte/r for strangers)
- leider kann ich am Montag nicht zum Kurs kommen, weil ich arbeiten muss. — unfortunately I can't come to the course on Monday because I have to work.
- Es tut mir sehr leid. — I'm very sorry.
- Viele Grüße / Mit freundlichen Grüßen — sign-off for friends / for formal texts
Common mistakes
- ❌ Forgetting one of the three points → ✅ number the points before you write and tick them off afterwards
- ❌ No greeting or sign-off in Aufgabe 3 → ✅ the official task itself says: don't forget the Anrede and the Gruß
- ❌ Sie to a friend, du to a teacher → ✅ decide the register for each task first and keep it
- ❌ An opinion post without a clear opinion → ✅ state your view in the first sentence with Meiner Meinung nach …
- ❌ Writing everything on scrap paper and running out of time → ✅ notes on scrap paper, the text straight onto the answer sheet
Practice plan
| Day | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the official practice set and learn the three task formats |
| 2 | Aufgabe 1: 80 words in 20 minutes, with a timer |
| 3 | Aufgabe 2: learn 5 opinion phrases, then write in 25 minutes |
| 4 | Aufgabe 3: an apology/reason/request e-mail in 15 minutes |
| 5 | Compare your texts with the official sample answers; start a list of your own mistakes |
| 6 | Full 60-minute practice: all three tasks in a row, by hand |
| 7 | Review your mistake list and your key phrases |
Free official material: B1 Übungssatz Erwachsene (PDF) · B1 Modellsatz Erwachsene (PDF) · online practice test · all B1 practice material
Quick check
- How long is the writing module, and how many tasks are there?
Answer
60 minutes, three tasks (suggested 20 + 25 + 15 minutes).- Which two things must Aufgabe 3, the e-mail to the course leader, include?
Answer
A greeting (Anrede, e.g. Lieber Herr Weber,) and a sign-off (Gruß, e.g. Mit freundlichen Grüßen).- Is the text on your scrap paper marked too?
Answer
No. Only the text on the answer sheet (Antwortbogen) is marked.Sources: goethe.de – Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Durchführungsbestimmungen B1 (PDF) · B1 Übungssatz Erwachsene (PDF) · Goethe-Institut Prague – exam preparation tips (PDF) · Goethe-Institut Russia – exam tips · Hueber – Zertifikat B1 guide (PDF)
