The writing section of the TELC B1 exam gives you 30 minutes to produce one text, typically a semi-formal letter or email. You are given a situation and four content points that must be addressed. This section is worth 45 points, and the evaluation focuses on completeness, structure, grammatical accuracy, and range of expression. With the right template and a clear approach, this can be one of the most predictable parts of the exam.
Understanding the Task
The writing prompt usually presents a real-life situation. You might need to write to a landlord, a course organiser, a company, or a friend. The prompt specifies four things you must include in your text. For example:
You have read an advertisement for a German language course. Write an email to the language school. In your email:
, explain why you are interested in the course
, ask about the schedule
, ask about the costs
, mention your current language level
Your job is to address all four points in a logically structured text with an appropriate greeting, body, and closing.
Formal vs. Semi-Formal vs. Informal
Most TELC B1 writing tasks are semi-formal (you write to an organisation, a company, or someone you do not know personally). Occasionally, the task is informal (writing to a friend). Here is how they differ:
Formal / Semi-Formal
- Greeting: Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, / Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt,
- Pronoun: Sie (capitalised)
- Closing: Mit freundlichen Grüßen
- Tone: Polite, professional, clear
Informal
- Greeting: Liebe Anna, / Lieber Thomas,
- Pronoun: du / ihr
- Closing: Liebe Grüße / Viele Grüße / Bis bald
- Tone: Friendly, personal, relaxed
Read the prompt carefully to determine which register is expected. If you write informally to a company, you will lose points for inappropriate communicative design.
The Perfect Letter Structure
Every letter or email you write for the exam should follow this structure:
- Greeting
- Opening sentence, state the reason for writing
- Body, address the four content points, one by one
- Closing sentence, express hope for a reply, thanks, or a forward-looking statement
- Sign-off
Opening Sentences (Formal)
- Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil ich Ihre Anzeige gelesen habe.
- Ich habe Ihre Anzeige in der Zeitung gelesen und möchte gern mehr erfahren.
- Hiermit möchte ich mich über ... informieren / beschweren / bewerben.
- Ich wende mich an Sie, weil ...
Opening Sentences (Informal)
- Vielen Dank für deine E-Mail. Ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut.
- Ich schreibe dir, weil ich eine tolle Neuigkeit habe.
- Wie geht es dir? Bei mir gibt es Neuigkeiten.
Useful Phrases for Common Topics
Asking for Information
- Könnten Sie mir bitte mitteilen, wann ... ?
- Ich würde gern wissen, ob ...
- Mich würde interessieren, wie viel ... kostet.
- Könnten Sie mir nähere Informationen zu ... geben?
Making a Complaint
- Leider muss ich mich über ... beschweren.
- Ich bin mit ... nicht zufrieden.
- Das Gerät / Das Produkt funktioniert leider nicht richtig.
- Ich möchte Sie bitten, ... zu reparieren / auszutauschen / zu erstatten.
Making a Request
- Ich möchte Sie bitten, ...
- Wäre es möglich, dass ... ?
- Ich würde mich freuen, wenn Sie ... könnten.
Giving Reasons and Explanations
- Der Grund dafür ist, dass ...
- Ich interessiere mich für ..., weil ...
- Da ich berufstätig bin, kann ich nur abends teilnehmen.
Closing Sentences (Formal)
- Über eine baldige Antwort würde ich mich sehr freuen.
- Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Mühe.
- Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldung.
Closing Sentences (Informal)
- Schreib mir bald zurück!
- Ich freue mich schon auf deine Antwort.
- Lass mich wissen, was du denkst.
Common Exam Topics
While the specific prompt changes with every exam, the topics tend to fall into a small number of categories. Practise writing letters on each of these:
- Course / workshop enquiry: You want to sign up for a course and need details about schedule, cost, and requirements.
- Accommodation problems: Something in your flat is broken or your neighbour is too loud. You write to the landlord or property management.
- Product complaint: You bought something that does not work properly and want a repair, replacement, or refund.
- Event invitation response: A friend or organisation invites you to an event. You accept or decline, and ask for details.
- Job or volunteer application: You write to express interest in a position and describe your qualifications.
- Travel or booking enquiry: You want to book a hotel room, a train ticket, or a holiday apartment and need specific information.
How Your Text Is Scored
The writing section is evaluated on four criteria:
- Content completeness (Inhaltliche Vollständigkeit): Did you address all four content points? Missing a content point results in a significant deduction. Even a brief mention of a point is better than ignoring it entirely.
- Communicative design (Kommunikative Gestaltung): Does the text have a proper greeting, logical paragraph structure, and appropriate closing? Is the register (formal/informal) correct?
- Formal accuracy (Formale Richtigkeit): Grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Occasional minor errors are expected at B1 level and do not automatically cost points. Frequent or severe errors that impair understanding do.
- Range of expression (Wortschatz und Strukturen): Do you use varied vocabulary and sentence structures, or do you repeat the same words and patterns? Using connectors like "außerdem", "deshalb", "trotzdem", and "obwohl" demonstrates range.
A Step-by-Step Writing Process for the Exam
- Minutes 0-3: Read the prompt carefully. Identify the register (formal/informal) and underline the four content points. Jot down key vocabulary you will need.
- Minutes 3-5: Write a brief outline. Decide the order in which you will address the four points. A logical sequence makes the text easier to write and easier to read.
- Minutes 5-25: Write the letter. Start with the greeting, write the opening sentence, address each content point in a separate sentence or short paragraph, add a closing sentence, and finish with the sign-off.
- Minutes 25-30: Re-read your text. Check for verb-second position in main clauses, verb-final position in subordinate clauses, correct articles, and proper use of prepositions. Fix any errors you find.
Mistakes That Cost the Most Points
- Missing a content point: This is the single most expensive mistake. Always check off all four points before you finish.
- Wrong register: Writing "du" to a company or "Sie" to a close friend shows you did not read the prompt carefully.
- No greeting or sign-off: Starting the text without "Sehr geehrte..." or ending without "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" loses easy points.
- Text too short: If your text is only two or three sentences, you cannot fully address the content points or demonstrate linguistic range. Aim for 80-120 words.
Practice Strategy
Write one letter per week on a different topic. Time yourself to 30 minutes. After writing, review your text against the four scoring criteria. If possible, have a teacher or advanced speaker check your grammar. Over time, the structure will become automatic, the phrases will come naturally, and the 30-minute time limit will feel generous rather than tight.
Use our writing exercises to practise with prompts that match the real TELC B1 format. Each exercise gives you a realistic scenario and four content points, just like the actual exam.