Goethe B1 · Schreiben
Goethe B1 Schreiben: the 3 tasks and how to write them
The Schreiben (writing) section is 60 minutes, 100 points, and you need 60 to pass. It has 3 Aufgaben, a private email, a forum comment, and a short formal note. Unlike Lesen, you generate language rather than recognise it, which makes register and word count the two fastest ways to lose or gain points.
This guide breaks down what each Aufgabe requires, how the marking works, and exactly what to practise. The content is based on the Goethe-Institut Modellsätze and publicly available exam guidance, no guess-work.
What is the Goethe B1 Schreiben module?
Schreiben is one of the four modules of the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, alongside Lesen, Hören, and Sprechen. It runs for 60 minutes and covers 3 writing tasks in one sitting, with no break between them. The maximum score is 100 points; you need at least 60 to pass this module.
Each task specifies a text type, an approximate word count, and a communicative goal. The examiner marks you on whether the goal is achieved, your vocabulary range, grammatical accuracy, and the coherence of your writing. Getting the register wrong, for example, using du when the task calls for Sie, costs marks even when your grammar is otherwise clean.
For an overview of all four modules, total exam duration, and the overall pass criteria, see the Goethe B1 Prüfung overview. For a full timed practice run covering all modules, try the Modelltest.
The 3 Aufgaben
The table below shows how the 60 minutes and 100 points are distributed across the three tasks. Word counts are targets, aim to stay within roughly ±10 words of each, not 30 words under.
| Aufgabe | Text type | Approx. words | Points | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aufgabe 1 | Informal/private email to a friend, cover 3 given Leitpunkte (bullet points) | ~80 | ~40 | Informal (du) |
| Aufgabe 2 | Comment or post in an online forum on an everyday topic, state and justify your opinion | ~80 | ~40 | Semi-informal |
| Aufgabe 3 | Short formal or semi-formal email/note (to a teacher, colleague, or landlord), apologise, cancel, or make a request | ~40 | ~20 | Formal (Sie) |
Informal email, write to a friend
A friend has written to you, or a situation involving a friend is described, and you reply with an informal email of about 80 words. Three Leitpunkte (bullet points) are given, for example: mention what you enjoyed, explain why you couldn't come, and suggest a plan for next time. Every bullet point must appear in your text.
The trap: skipping a Leitpunkt because you ran out of ideas, or time. Examiners deduct marks for each missing bullet, even if everything else is well written. Read all three Leitpunkte before you start, jot one sentence idea per bullet, then write continuously. A short sentence covering a bullet earns more than silence.
Forum comment, state and justify your opinion
An everyday topic is given (for example: "Should employers allow home-office every day?") and you write a comment or post in an online forum of about 80 words. The requirement is to state your position and justify it. This is the only task that explicitly asks you to argue, examiners look for a clear opinion supported by at least one reason.
The trap: sitting on the fence. Writing "on one hand… on the other hand…" without landing on a clear position costs marks for communicative achievement. State your opinion in the first or second sentence, then explain it with weil, denn, or deshalb. A brief counter-argument acknowledged with trotzdem or obwohl shows range without abandoning your position.
Short formal note, apologise, cancel, or request
A very short text of about 40 words to someone in a formal or semi-formal relationship, a teacher, landlord, colleague, or doctor's receptionist. The communicative goal is specific and named in the prompt: apologise for missing a meeting, cancel a reservation, or request information. Keep it polite, keep it short, and nail the register.
The trap: using du instead of Sie. This is the one task where formal register is fixed and required. Use a polite opening (Sehr geehrte Frau X or Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren), state the communicative goal in one or two sentences, and close with Mit freundlichen Grüßen. Do not write more than about 50 words, padding risks introducing errors without earning extra marks.
Schreiben Sie eine E-Mail an Ihre Freundin / Ihren Freund.
Ihre Freundin / Ihr Freund hat Sie zu einer Geburtstagsparty eingeladen, aber Sie konnten nicht kommen. Schreiben Sie ca. 80 Wörter. Schreiben Sie zu allen drei Punkten:
- Warum konnten Sie nicht kommen?
- Wie war Ihre Woche?
- Neuer Termin: Was schlagen Sie vor?
Representative sample prompt in official style. Real exam prompts have the same structure: one situation + three Leitpunkte + approximate word count.
How each task is scored
The Goethe-Institut does not publish the full marking rubric publicly, but the four criteria assessed across all three Aufgaben are consistent with official preparation materials:
- Kommunikative Zielerreichung, did the text achieve its stated goal? Were all Leitpunkte covered? Is the register appropriate for the recipient and text type?
- Kohärenz, is the text logically structured? Are connectors used to link ideas into a coherent whole?
- Wortschatz, is the vocabulary range at B1 level or above? Are words chosen and used accurately?
- Strukturen, is the grammar correct? Verb position, case endings, tense choices?
Aufgabe 1 and Aufgabe 2 are each worth roughly 40 points, split across these four criteria. Aufgabe 3 is worth roughly 20 points. A missing Leitpunkt or a systematic register error (for example, using du throughout Aufgabe 3) can reduce the Kommunikative Zielerreichung score to zero for that criterion, which is why Leitpunkte and register deserve more attention than minor grammar corrections.
Vocabulary and grammar errors are penalised proportionally. A few isolated mistakes rarely fail an otherwise strong answer; repeated structural errors in every sentence will. The B1 Wortliste covers the vocabulary most likely to appear and the connectors that lift the Kohärenz score.
How to practise Schreiben
Reading about the format covers maybe 20% of what you need. The remaining 80% comes from writing under timed conditions and reviewing the result critically. Four habits account for most of the improvement between a first attempt and exam day:
- Hit the word count every time. Writing under 60 words on Aufgabe 1 or Aufgabe 2 signals to the examiner that you avoided complexity. Aim for 75–90 words on the 80-word tasks. Aufgabe 3 should be 38–45 words, no more.
- Address every Leitpunkt, even briefly. Aufgabe 1 awards marks per bullet point covered. If a bullet is difficult, write one sentence. Silence on a bullet costs more than an imperfect sentence that attempts it.
- Use connectors deliberately. Weil, deshalb, trotzdem, obwohl, deswegen, außerdem, these raise the Kohärenz score and demonstrate B1 grammar structures. Aim for at least two or three per longer Aufgabe. The Wortliste includes the most common B1 connectors.
- Match the register strictly. Informal du in Aufgabe 1. Clear opinion plus justification in Aufgabe 2. Formal Sie with polite opening and closing in Aufgabe 3. Register is a primary marking criterion, not a stylistic preference.
- Time yourself. Budget roughly 22–25 minutes each for Aufgabe 1 and Aufgabe 2, and no more than 10 minutes for Aufgabe 3. Practise ending at time even when you are not satisfied, finishing is a skill.
For vocabulary that recurs across Schreiben tasks, see the B1 Wortliste. For the reading and grammar modules that feed into Schreiben vocabulary, see the free Lesen übungen or the Übungen page. For the full exam structure across all four skills, see Exam Info.
Interactive Schreiben practice, in development
Guided Schreiben exercises with model answers are coming to GoethéB1. For now, free interactive Lesen practice and the full Modelltest are live, no credit card, no download.
Start free on GoethéB1Goethe B1 Schreiben: quick questions
How long is the Goethe B1 Schreiben exam?
The Schreiben section is 60 minutes and worth 100 points, across 3 Aufgaben. You need at least 60 of 100 to pass the module. Budget roughly 22–25 minutes each for Aufgabe 1 and Aufgabe 2, and no more than 10 minutes for Aufgabe 3.
What are the 3 Aufgaben in Goethe B1 Schreiben?
- Aufgabe 1, private email: informal email to a friend (~80 words, 3 Leitpunkte, du, ~40 points)
- Aufgabe 2, forum comment: state and justify your opinion on an everyday topic (~80 words, semi-informal, ~40 points)
- Aufgabe 3, formal note: short formal email or note to a teacher, colleague, or landlord (~40 words, Sie, ~20 points)
How is the Goethe B1 Schreiben marked?
Examiners assess four criteria: Kommunikative Zielerreichung (goal achieved, Leitpunkte covered, correct register), Kohärenz (logical structure and connectors), Wortschatz (vocabulary range and accuracy), and Strukturen (grammar). Missing a Leitpunkt or using the wrong register typically costs more marks than isolated grammar errors.
What register should I use for each Aufgabe?
Aufgabe 1 requires informal du, write to your friend as you would normally. Aufgabe 2 is semi-informal but should be clearly argued. Aufgabe 3 requires formal Sie, use a polite salutation (Sehr geehrte/r…) and a formal sign-off (Mit freundlichen Grüßen). Using du where Sie is required is one of the most penalised register errors in the exam.
How can I practise Goethe B1 Schreiben?
Write timed practice texts using official-style prompts, one situation plus three Leitpunkte for Aufgabe 1, a topic statement for Aufgabe 2, and a specific communicative goal for Aufgabe 3. After writing, check word count, confirm every Leitpunkt is covered, verify the register, and count your connectors. GoethéB1 currently offers free interactive Lesen practice and a full Modelltest; Schreiben interactive practice is coming soon. The Wortliste and Übungen page are useful in the meantime.
Last updated: 28 June 2026 · GoethéB1 is independent and not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut.