telc Deutsch B1 Guides
telc B1 Writing: Structure and Language
By PreparaioEditorial team & sourcesUpdated
The writing task requires a semi-formal letter or email about an everyday situation. You will receive the situation and four bullet points, all of which must be addressed in the text.
Assessment covers content (are all four bullet points addressed?), communicative design (salutation, closing, text structure), and formal correctness (grammar, spelling).
Contents
A Proven Structure
Salutation — Introduction (reason for the letter) — Bullet point 1 — Bullet point 2 — Bullet point 3 — Bullet point 4 — Conclusion (expectation, request for reply) — Closing formula — Name.
Short paragraphs per bullet point visibly structure the text; this helps with correction and for yourself.
- Semi-formal salutation: „Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,“ or „Sehr geehrter Herr X,“.
- Introduction: „ich schreibe Ihnen, weil …“ / „ich habe Ihre Anzeige gelesen und …“.
- Conclusion: „Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort.“
- Closing: „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“ + Name.
Address all four bullet points
Most common point loss: A bullet point is missing or only touched upon with a half-sentence. Mark the four points on your task sheet and tick them off as you write.
Each bullet point needs at least one complete sentence with a reason or example to count communicatively.
Time and Scope
Plan about five minutes for notes, around 20 minutes for writing, and five minutes for checking. The writing task in the official telc B1 practice test is allocated 30 minutes.
During the check phase: review salutation and closing, go through all four bullet points, check verbs and prepositions.
Typical Mistakes
Too informal a tone („hi“, „ok“), missing closing, or a forgotten bullet point unnecessarily cost points. The tone should match the given situation and the addressee.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to write a subject line?
For emails, a short subject line can be useful. However, the most crucial aspect is to fully and appropriately address the given situation and all four bullet points.
What happens if I forget a bullet point?
A missing bullet point weakens the task fulfillment. Therefore, before submitting, specifically check whether all four bullet points are present in the text.
Sources & currency
- Exam version
- telc Deutsch B1, as of 2026
- Editorial check
- Source check by the Preparaio editorial team ()
- Author
- Preparaio RedaktionEditorial team, fact-checking against official primary sources
- Reviewed by
- Source-checked by PreparaioSource comparison with the exam providers' own pages
- Fact-check status
- Source check in progress ()
- Content version
- 2026-07-31
How we check: Every exam-relevant fact is compared with the exam providers' official pages (g.a.s.t./TestDaF-Institut, BAMF, ETS, IELTS Partners, telc). The check is editorial, supported by AI and automated test gates; it is not a review by certified examiners.
The hard exam facts in this article were verified against the official primary sources linked below on the date shown. This is not a review by an examination body and does not replace information from your test centre. Fees, dates and local procedures are set by the test centres themselves.
Official primary sources
- telc Deutsch B1 – Zertifikat Deutsch — telc gGmbH · telc.net · official primary source · checked on
More on telc Deutsch B1
Articles on telc Deutsch B1: structure, four sections, points and passing, useful phrases, grammar, study plan and exam day.
Read next
Useful phrases for the telc B1
The sentences you actually need: for opinion, suggestion, agreement, disagreement, and the semi-formal letter.
Read articleB1 grammar in exam focus
Not a full grammar course — the topics that reliably earn points in Language Elements, Writing, and Speaking.
Read articleCommon mistakes in telc B1
Recurring mistakes that cost B1 candidates points — with concrete examples and a clear fix.
Read article