Language course
Englisch
Learn how Writing Part 2 in the ÖSD certificate B1 is structured, how the examiners assess it and which typical mistakes you can avoid very easily.
The Writing module in the ÖSD certificate B1 consists of three parts. Part 2 is the second part and one of the most important, because here you can get especially many points.
In Writing Part 2 you write a comment – that is, a forum or guestbook post on the internet. Your task is to give your personal opinion on a topic. You describe, give reasons and name advantages and disadvantages.
The situation is important: you write for an anonymous public on the internet, not for a friend. That is why the register is neutral. So you do not write du and you do not address the text to a specific person.
This is how the three parts differ: Part 1 is a personal email to a friend (with du). Part 2 is a neutral comment for the internet. Part 3 is a (semi-)formal message (with Sie).
The task in Part 2 always has three parts. If you know them, you understand the task faster:
You do not have to respond directly to the given comment. But you may do so. Most important is that you write your own opinion clearly and understandably.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Text type | comment / forum or guestbook post |
| Task | express your own opinion on a topic |
| Register | neutral (no du, no specific recipient) |
| Length | about 80 words |
| Time | about 25 minutes |
| Points | maximum 40 points |
A clear structure helps you a lot, because the examiners also assess whether your text is well organised. It is best to write your comment in four small steps:
These small sentences help you structure your text clearly:
Do not begin every sentence with Ich. Connect your sentences with words like weil, denn, deshalb, außerdem, trotzdem. This way your text becomes more fluent and you get more points for the coherence.
Your text is assessed by two examiners. They pay attention to four criteria. For each criterion you can get up to 10 points, so a maximum of 40 points in Part 2 together.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Erfüllung (task fulfilment) | You write on the topic, state your opinion clearly, the text is long enough and the register is neutral. |
| Kohärenz (coherence) | Your text has a clear structure with introduction and ending. The sentences are connected and the sentence beginnings are different. |
| Wortschatz (vocabulary) | You use suitable words. Important: you do not copy from the given comment. |
| Strukturen (structures) | You use the grammar correctly, for example the verb forms and the sentence structure. |
In the whole Writing module (Part 1, 2 and 3 together) there are a maximum of 100 points. You need at least 60 points to pass the module. So Part 2 is very important for your overall result.
Many participants make the same mistakes. If you know them, you can avoid them easily and get more points.
Many write as if to a friend. But Part 2 is neutral.
❌ Hallo Lisa, wie geht es dir?
✅ Das Thema ... finde ich sehr wichtig.
Some only retell what the comment says. That is too little. State clearly what you think, and give reasons for it.
Many write only general sentences and give no concrete example. Yet the task expects you to also report on your own experience. A short example makes your text livelier and brings you points for the fulfilment. For example: Vor Kurzem habe ich ...
If you copy whole words or parts of sentences from the prompt, you get fewer points for the vocabulary. Always formulate the ideas in your own words.
A text that is too short is penalised. Better write a bit more than 80 words and deal with several aspects.
Many begin sentence after sentence with Ich. This looks simple and costs points for the coherence. Vary the sentence beginnings.
A text without an introduction and ending is hard to read. Stick to the four steps from section 3.
Read the task carefully and really write on the topic. Stay concrete and do not write only general sentences.
At the end, check your text briefly with this list:
Plan about two minutes at the end for a short correction. Read your text through again and fix small mistakes.
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