Telc B1 Letter Writing

Detailed Information about the Letter in the Written Part of Telc B1

In the written section of the Telc B1 exam, candidates are given a task that is realistic, personal, and easy to prepare for: they are asked to reply to an informal letter. The writing situation is designed so that you are responding to a familiar person – for example, a friend, a colleague, or a family member. The goal is to express your opinion, answer questions, and provide clear and understandable information.

What exactly is the task?

In the exam, you receive a short letter or message from someone who addresses you informally using “du.” The message usually contains two or three topics – for example, an invitation, a planned trip, a problem, or a request. Your task is to respond to this message and address all of the points mentioned. You should write at least 80 words.

How is the letter structured?

• Salutation: Lieber Jonas, / Liebe Sabine,
• Introduction: Refer to the original letter (e.g., Thanks for your message)
• Main part: Respond to all topics (questions, requests, reactions to suggestions)
• Closing: Ask a question, express interest in hearing back
• Farewell: Viele Grüße / Alles Gute / Bis bald
• Name: Dein Max / Deine Sarah

What is assessed?

The letter is evaluated based on four main criteria: content (are all points addressed?), grammatical accuracy (grammar, sentence structure), vocabulary (simple but appropriate), and text organization (logical structure and coherence). The most important thing is that your message sounds like a personal reply – not like an official letter.

Sample task with example letter

Task:
Your friend Timo has written to you. He has a birthday soon and invites you. He also wants to know how you are doing and what you did last weekend. Write him back.

Example letter:

Dear Timo,

Thanks a lot for your letter! I'm really happy that you're inviting me to your birthday. Of course I'll come – when exactly is the party?

I'm doing well. My parents visited me last weekend. We cooked together and went for a long walk. It was very nice.

How are you? Have you already planned how you want to celebrate?

Are you going to celebrate at home or go somewhere? Should I bring something – maybe a salad or a cake?

I hope that our old friends will come too. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, and I’d really enjoy that.

Best wishes,
Your Jonas

Common topics in the exam

• Invitations to a party, wedding, or trip
• Free time, hobbies, weekend experiences
• Plans for vacation or holidays
• Problems at home or at school
• Requests for help or a favor

Tips for good preparation

• Write short letters regularly on everyday topics
• Practice common phrases like: “Thanks for your letter,” “I think that …,” “What do you think?”
• Read sample texts and analyze their structure and tone
• Avoid overly complex sentences – simple and clear language is better
• Remember: Write in a personal but polite tone – not formally

Expert and user opinions

Olena Bazalukova, an experienced language trainer and founder of deutsch-vorbereitung.com, recommends focusing on naturalness and clarity: “The letter should feel like a real conversation on paper – personal, friendly, and not too stiff. If you address all points in the task and keep a friendly tone, you can succeed even with simple sentences.”

Many course participants report feeling most confident during the letter-writing part. “I just had to tell what I did – like WhatsApp, just a bit more grammatical,” says Martin from Düsseldorf. Others say that memorizing standard phrases helped them a lot. “I learned a few fixed sentences for the introduction and ending. That made me fast and confident during the exam,” says Selin from Nuremberg.

In the written expression part of the Telc B1 exam, it's not about perfect grammar but about being understandable, responding to a message, and using natural language. With some practice and a clear structure, this task is very manageable. Use sample texts, practice with friends, and just be yourself when writing.