How Does the telc B2 Schreiben (Writing) Section Work?
The telc B2 Schreiben section gives you a choice between two formal letters in response to an advertisement, in 30 minutes — here is the format, scoring criteria, and strategies to pass.
The Schreiben (Writing) section asks you to write one formal letter responding to a Werbeanzeige (advertisement) — but unlike telc B1, you choose which task to answer. With 45 points in 30 minutes, this is the smallest-weighted written subtest by raw points, but it still counts fully toward your written total, and a well-structured letter is very achievable in the time given.
You pick either Aufgabe A (an Informationsanfrage — a request for further information) or Aufgabe B (a Beschwerde — a complaint), both replying to the same advertisement. Each task lists four Leitpunkte (guiding points); you only need to address three of them — or two, plus one relevant point of your own. Unlike B1's informal du-Form email, telc B2 Schreiben always requires formal register (Sie-Form) and formal letter conventions: a Betreff (subject line), a proper Anrede (salutation), and a Schlussformel (closing) are all part of what gets graded. Aim for at least 150 words.
Two trained examiners score your letter on three criteria: I. Aufgabenbewältigung (how completely you handled the task), II. Kommunikative Gestaltung (how well-organized and appropriately toned the letter is), and III. Formale Richtigkeit (grammar, vocabulary, and spelling accuracy). Each is graded A/B/C/D and converted to points, so a clearly structured, formally correct letter can score well even without ambitious vocabulary.
Section at a Glance
Part-by-Part Breakdown
Choose between Aufgabe A (an information request) and Aufgabe B (a complaint), both responding to a given advertisement. Write a formal letter of at least 150 words addressing three of the four given Leitpunkte (or two, plus one relevant point of your own).
Tips
- Read both Aufgabe A and Aufgabe B before choosing — pick whichever gives you more to say, not just the one that looks shorter
- Plan your structure: Betreff → Anrede → opening line referencing the advertisement → three Leitpunkte → Schlussformel
- Use Sie-Form throughout, even in Aufgabe B (Beschwerde) — sounding annoyed in informal language loses points, it does not earn them
- You only need three of the four Leitpunkte — do not waste time forcing in a weak fourth point when your own relevant idea is stronger
Common Mistakes
- Switching to du-Form mid-letter, especially in an emotional Beschwerde — B2 requires Sie-Form throughout regardless of task
- Skipping the Betreff line or writing an informal Anrede/Schlussformel — these formal conventions are explicitly graded
- Trying to address all four Leitpunkte in 150 words, leaving each one thin — three points covered well score higher than four covered superficially
- Picking Aufgabe A or B at random without reading both first, then getting stuck partway through
Example Task
You see an advertisement for a fitness studio offering a new membership deal. Aufgabe A: write to the studio requesting more information — for example about opening hours, price, and cancellation terms. Aufgabe B: write to the studio complaining about a similar membership you already booked — explain the problem and what you expect the studio to do about it. Choose one.
Scoring
Scored by two trained examiners on three criteria: I. Aufgabenbewältigung (task completion), II. Kommunikative Gestaltung (communicative design), and III. Formale Richtigkeit (formal accuracy). Each criterion is graded A (5 points), B (3 points), C (1 point), or D (0 points); the three grades are summed and multiplied by 3, giving a maximum of 45 points.
Schreiben is worth 45/225 points (20%) of the written exam, and 45/300 points (15%) of the total exam (written plus oral). To pass overall you need at least 60% of the written score (135/225) AND at least 60% of the oral score (45/75) — there is no separate hurdle for Schreiben alone.
Strategy Tips
Choose your task strategically
Skim both Aufgabe A and Aufgabe B before committing. Pick the one where you already have vocabulary and ideas for at least three Leitpunkte — switching tasks halfway through wastes minutes you cannot get back.
Use Sie-Form without exception
Both tasks require formal register from the first word to the last, including in an emotional complaint. Mixing in "du" or informal phrasing signals a lack of register awareness and costs points under Kommunikative Gestaltung.
Master the formal letter shell
Memorize a Betreff line, a formal Anrede ("Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,"), and a Schlussformel ("Mit freundlichen Grüßen,") so they come out automatically. These conventions are graded and are easy points once learned.
Build a Redemittel bank for both task types
For Aufgabe A (Anfrage): "Ich habe Ihre Anzeige gesehen und interessiere mich für...", "Könnten Sie mir bitte mitteilen, ob...". For Aufgabe B (Beschwerde): "Leider muss ich mich bei Ihnen beschweren, da...", "Ich möchte Sie bitten, das Problem zu lösen." Learn 3-4 phrases per type.
Budget your 30 minutes: 5-20-5
Spend 5 minutes choosing your task and noting which three Leitpunkte you will cover, 20 minutes writing, and 5 minutes checking Sie-Form consistency, verb position, and the Betreff/Anrede/Schlussformel are all present.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Slipping into informal register
Even one "du" or "dein" in an otherwise formal letter signals inconsistent register. This is graded under Kommunikative Gestaltung, not just vocabulary — proofread specifically for pronoun consistency.
Missing formal letter conventions
No Betreff line, an informal Anrede, or a missing Schlussformel each cost marks independently of content. These are free points if you memorize the shell in advance.
Writing under 150 words
A short letter usually means a Leitpunkt got dropped or under-developed, which is penalized under Aufgabenbewältigung. If you are running short, expand your strongest Leitpunkt with one more sentence rather than padding the greeting.
Spreading too thin across all four Leitpunkte
You are only required to cover three. Trying to touch all four in a 150-word letter usually means each one gets a single rushed sentence — examiners reward depth on three over a shallow pass over four.
Indecision between Aufgabe A and B
Some candidates start one task, second-guess themselves, and restart with the other — losing 5-10 minutes. Decide within the first 2-3 minutes and commit.
2-Week Study Plan
Focused preparation plan for this exam section
- Memorize a Betreff line, a formal Anrede, and a Schlussformel until they come out automatically
- Review Sie-Form conjugation and possessives (Ihr/Ihre) versus du-Form, since B1 habits can leak in
- Read one sample Werbeanzeige and identify how Aufgabe A and Aufgabe B would each respond to it
- Write 2 information-request letters, each addressing three Leitpunkte from a sample advertisement
- Build a phrase bank for polite requests: "Könnten Sie mir mitteilen...", "Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn..."
- Check each letter: Betreff present? Sie-Form throughout? Three Leitpunkte clearly covered?
- Write 2 complaint letters, keeping the tone firm but formal — no informal register despite the frustration
- Build a phrase bank for complaints: "Leider muss ich mich beschweren...", "Ich bitte Sie, das Problem zu lösen"
- Practice stating the problem, the expected resolution, and a polite closing request for a response
- Practice picking which three of four Leitpunkte to cover, and when to substitute your own relevant point instead of a weak one
- Rewrite 2 earlier letters to make sure each covered Leitpunkt gets 2-3 sentences, not just one
- Review common B2 grammar slips in formal writing: Konjunktiv II for polite requests, correct case after prepositions
- Simulate the real exam: read both Aufgabe A and B, choose one, then write for 30 minutes total
- After each, check: Sie-Form consistent? Betreff/Anrede/Schlussformel present? Three Leitpunkte covered? 150+ words?
- Review your Redemittel bank for both Anfrage and Beschwerde one last time
- Re-read your strongest practice letter to remind yourself what a solid B2 formal letter looks like
- Do one quick 15-minute warm-up choosing between two tasks to stay sharp for exam day
Other Exam Sections
Leseverstehen
3 Teile, 75 points — shares one 90-minute block with Sprachbausteine
Sprachbausteine
2 Teile, 30 points — grammar cloze and vocabulary word bank
Hörverstehen
3 Teile, 75 points — dense B2 audio, each recording played only once
Sprechen
3 scored Teile, 75 points — monologue, discussion, and joint planning, with 20 minutes of preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Aim for at least 150 words. There is no official maximum, but 150-200 words covering three Leitpunkte thoroughly is a sensible target — stretching much longer mainly increases the risk of errors under Formale Richtigkeit without earning extra credit. A practical guideline: 2-3 sentences per Leitpunkt, plus a Betreff, Anrede, opening line, and Schlussformel naturally gets you into that range.
Whichever one you can say more about. Read both prompts fully before writing anything — Aufgabe A rewards candidates comfortable with polite request phrasing, while Aufgabe B rewards candidates who can stay formal while expressing dissatisfaction. If you have practiced Redemittel for one type more than the other, that is usually the safer pick on exam day.
No. You need to cover three of the four given Leitpunkte — or two of them plus one relevant point of your own. Trying to cram all four into a 150-word letter usually means each one gets a rushed, single sentence. Examiners under Aufgabenbewältigung reward three points developed with 2-3 sentences each over four points barely mentioned.
Yes, but proportionally. Formale Richtigkeit is one of three criteria (alongside Aufgabenbewältigung and Kommunikative Gestaltung), each graded A/B/C/D and worth up to 15 points before the ×3 multiplier. Minor, isolated errors that do not affect comprehension are tolerated. Systematic errors — like consistently wrong case endings or slipping into du-Form — will pull that criterion down more than a single typo would.
telc B1 Schreiben has one fixed task: an informal email in du-Form, 80-150 words, addressing all four given content points. telc B2 Schreiben gives you a choice between two formal tasks (an Informationsanfrage or a Beschwerde), always in Sie-Form, at least 150 words, and you only need three of the four Leitpunkte. Formal letter conventions (Betreff, Anrede, Schlussformel) are also explicitly graded at B2 in a way they are not at B1.
Ready for the telc Deutsch B2?
Practice with AI-generated exercises in the real exam format. Instant feedback and personalized explanations.
Start Free