telc B1 writing: how many words, and how the letter is marked

How many words should the telc B1 letter be?

In telc's own practice test 1, the page for the writing section (Schriftlicher Ausdruck, "written expression") prints no word count: no minimum and no maximum. telc's exam page gives only the time: 30 minutes for one task. Figures like "about 80 words" that you see in course books and on learning sites are teaching habits, not a telc rule.

What counts is the task: you must write something about all four points, with a subject line, a greeting, an opening and a closing. Our rule of thumb is two or three sentences per point, plus one or two sentences to open and close. That usually comes to 100 to 150 words. This is our advice, not telc's.

• Much shorter (say 50 words): you have barely half a sentence per point, and the question is often not really answered.
• Much longer (say 250 words): more text does not automatically earn more points, but it gives you more places to make mistakes and no time to check.

Letter or email: what exactly is the task?

Many people search for "telc B1 letter". In practice test 1 (2020 edition) the task is a reply to an email. telc describes the section as an informal or semi-formal email with four bullet points. The same rules apply as for a letter: subject line, greeting, sign-off. The German instruction reads:

Überlegen Sie sich vor dem Schreiben eine passende Reihenfolge der Punkte, einen passenden Betreff, eine passende Anrede, Einleitung und einen passenden Schluss. Antworten Sie auf die E-Mail. Schreiben Sie etwas zu allen vier Punkten:

In English: before you write, decide on a sensible order for the points, a subject line, a greeting, an opening and an ending. Reply to the email and write something about all four points.

The email you reply to sets the tone. If a friend writes, you answer with informal du („Liebe Anna,“ … „Viele Grüße“). If, for example, a landlady or a course teacher writes, use formal Sie („Sehr geehrte Frau Berger,“ or „Liebe Frau Berger,“ … „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“ or „Viele Grüße“). telc offers the exam on paper and on a computer; ask your test centre which one you will take, and practise by hand or on a keyboard to match.

How is the telc B1 writing marked?

Your text is marked on three criteria. Each one gets a band from A to D: A = 5, B = 3, C = 1, D = 0 points. That is 15 raw points at most. They are multiplied by 3, which gives the 45 points the writing section is worth on the certificate.

How much does the writing count towards passing?

The written exam has 225 points: reading (Leseverstehen) 75, Sprachbausteine (grammar and vocabulary gaps) 30, listening (Hörverstehen) 75 and writing 45. You pass the written exam with 135 points (60 percent), and the speaking exam with 45 of 75. There is no separate minimum for writing. But every point you lose in the letter has to come from reading, Sprachbausteine and listening instead.

How should you use the 30 minutes?

telc gives 30 minutes for writing but does not split them up. A full draft that you then copy out neatly rarely fits into that time. Plan briefly, then write your final version straight away. Our suggestion:

A sample task and answer

We wrote the following task in telc's format; it is not from a real exam. A friend, Tobias, is moving to your city for a year and asks about finding a flat. The four points (in English: which neighbourhood he should live in, roughly what a flat costs, what he should do before the move, what you could do together once he is there):

• in welchem Viertel er wohnen sollte
• was eine Wohnung ungefähr kostet
• was er schon vor dem Umzug erledigen sollte
• was Sie zusammen unternehmen könnten, wenn er da ist

Notice three things: each point has its own paragraph, each paragraph gives at least one reason or example, and after the comma in the greeting the next line starts with a small letter („vielen Dank …“).

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Forgetting a point. Tick each point off on the task sheet as soon as you have answered it.
• Half a sentence per point. „Die Altstadt ist gut.“ (The old town is good.) hardly answers the question. Add a reason or an example with weil, denn, deshalb or zum Beispiel.
• Mixing du and Sie. Decide at the start and stay with it, also for dein and Ihr, dir and Ihnen.
• Greeting and sign-off that do not match. „Lieber Tobias“ does not end with „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“.
• No subject line. The instruction asks for one explicitly.
• Memorised paragraphs that do not fit the task. They fill lines but answer no point. Learn fixed sentences for the opening and closing instead.

Useful German phrases for the opening and closing

• Opening, informal: „Vielen Dank für deine E-Mail.“ (Thanks for your email.) „Ich habe mich sehr über deine Nachricht gefreut.“ (I was very happy to get your message.)
• Opening, semi-formal: „Vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail.“ „Gern beantworte ich Ihre Fragen.“ (I am happy to answer your questions.)
• Moving to the next point: „Zu deiner Frage nach …“ (About your question on …) „Außerdem möchtest du wissen, …“ (You also want to know …)
• Giving advice: „Am besten …“ (It is best to …) „Du solltest …“ (You should …) „Ich würde dir empfehlen, …“ (I would recommend …)
• Closing, informal: „Ich freue mich auf deine Antwort.“ (I look forward to your reply.) „Schreib mir bald.“ (Write soon.)
• Closing, semi-formal: „Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort.“ „Für Fragen bin ich gern erreichbar.“ (I am happy to answer any questions.)

The 30 points just before the writing are explained in telc B1 Sprachbausteine tips: points, timing and strategy. For the next level up, see telc B2 exam pass mark: points, format and retakes. You can practise the whole written exam with a real timer in our telc Deutsch B1 practice test.