Goethe B2 writing: forum post and message in 75 minutes
Redaktion · 7 October 2026 · 3 min read
In short
In Goethe B2 writing you have 75 minutes for two texts: a forum post of about 150 words (suggested 50 minutes, 60 points) and a message of about 100 words to a manager (25 minutes, 40 points). You pass with 60 points. Cover all four content points in each text: if task 1 misses the task, the module is hard to pass.
What do the two tasks ask?
| Task 1: forum post | Task 2: message | |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | a topic in an online forum, for example food waste | a problem at work or during an internship |
| Content points | four, in a fixed order: for example give your opinion, give reasons, name alternatives, name advantages | four, in an order you choose: for example describe, ask for understanding, suggest, show understanding |
| Length | about 150 words | about 100 words, with greeting and sign-off |
| Time (suggested) | 50 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Points | 60 | 40 |
The task for part 1 says exactly what is checked: how precisely the content points are covered, how correct the text is, and how well sentences and paragraphs are linked. Remember an introduction and a conclusion.
How is it marked?
| Criterion | Task 1 | Task 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Task completion | 14 | 10 |
| Coherence: structure and linking | 14 | 10 |
| Vocabulary | 16 | 10 |
| Structures: grammar and spelling | 16 | 10 |
| Maximum | 60 | 40 |
A time plan for 75 minutes
| Minutes | Task 1: forum post | Minutes | Task 2: message |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 8 | read the task, note two ideas for each content point | 50 to 53 | read the situation, decide the order of the four points |
| 8 to 38 | write: introduction, four paragraphs, conclusion | 53 to 68 | write the message, with greeting and sign-off |
| 38 to 50 | check: are all four points there? Verbs, endings, connectors | 68 to 75 | read and correct |
Useful phrases for the four content points
- Giving your opinion: "Meiner Ansicht nach …", "Ich bin der Meinung, dass …"
- Giving reasons: "Das liegt vor allem daran, dass …", "Ein wichtiger Grund dafür ist …"
- Naming alternatives: "Statt … könnte man auch …", "Eine andere Möglichkeit wäre, …"
- Naming advantages: "Der größte Vorteil besteht darin, dass …"
- Message, asking for understanding: "Ich hoffe, Sie haben Verständnis dafür, dass …", "Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn …"
Where most points are lost
- Forgetting a content point. Tick off all four when you reread at the end.
- Writing the message too casually. You write to a manager: "Sehr geehrte Frau …", formal "Sie", polite.
- No linking. A string of main clauses costs coherence points. Link with "deshalb", "trotzdem", "außerdem", "während".
- Far too short or too long. About 150 and 100 words are guides; texts well below usually cover the points too thinly.
You can write both tasks under real timing in the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 practice set. All four modules are explained in Goethe B2 exam: pass mark and format.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do you write in Goethe B2?
A forum post of about 150 words in task 1 and a message of about 100 words in task 2.
How much time is there for Goethe B2 writing?
75 minutes in total, with 50 minutes suggested for the forum post and 25 for the message.
How many points do you need in Goethe B2 writing?
At least 60 of 100. The forum post brings at most 60, the message at most 40.
Do I have to follow the order of the content points?
In the forum post you follow the task; in the message you choose the order. All four points must be covered in both texts.
What happens if I miss the topic?
If task completion is rated E, the whole task scores 0. In task 1 that makes passing the module very hard.
Sources
- Goethe-Institut: sample test Goethe-Zertifikat B2, adults (PDF), checked 7 October 2026
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat B2, Durchführungsbestimmungen (PDF), checked 7 October 2026
