Goethe B2 Message writing

Information about the written part "Messages" in Goethe B2

What is it about?

Those who take the Goethe Certificate at B2 level demonstrate that they can write a short formal message in a real work or study environment. In the “Messages” module, you write a polite email of about 80 words to an institution, company, or authority. The goal is to request information, submit a complaint, or confirm an appointment – clearly and appropriately written.

Who benefits from this module?

• International professionals who want to work in Germany and need an officially recognized language certificate
• Students who require B2 certification for university admission or an exchange program
• People in professional settings who need to communicate with customers, administrations, or educational institutions

Objectives and benefits

• Formulate formal or semi-formal requests confidently
• Communicate clearly in writing – without misunderstandings
• Prepare for realistic communication situations in everyday or professional life

Structure and timing

You write a formal message for a specific situation. Usually, there are three to four guiding points, and you should write one paragraph for each. The message should be around 80 words long. You have 25 minutes for this task. It is part of the overall written exam.

Differences compared to the B1 format

• Longer text: around 80 instead of 40 words
• Use of subjunctive (Konjunktiv II), passive forms, and extended polite expressions
• Higher requirements for coherence and logical connections
• More independence in writing the introduction and ending

How is it assessed?

• All bullet points must be fully and clearly addressed
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation should be correct
• The message must follow a logical structure: greeting, introduction, body, closing
• The tone should be appropriate: polite, clear, and suitable for the situation
• To pass the exam, you need at least 60 out of 100 points in the writing module

Expert tip from Olena

Our expert Olena is the founder of this learning platform and leads the entire concept. She is a linguist with extensive experience in exam preparation and works with examiners from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and beyond. She develops the exercises and examples specifically for learners preparing for professional and academic requirements.

"Plan your message with a few keywords – one idea per bullet point. Stick to clear sentences and don’t waste time on unnecessary phrases. A structured approach saves time and nerves."

What others say

• Dr. Miriam R., examiner from Cologne: “Many texts fail not because of the language, but because key points were simply forgotten.”
• Yusuf K., former test taker: “I prepared with the online exercises here – and the real exam felt easier than expected.”
• Pablo S., language coach from Madrid: “Learn to vary your closing phrases. That makes you sound more natural and stylistically confident.”

Checklist for your preparation

• Always follow the same structure: greeting – introduction – main points – closing
• Practice typical polite phrases with Konjunktiv II (e.g. “Could you please let me know…”)
• Use helpful connectors like “furthermore”, “however”, “if”, “therefore”
• Train regularly with real examples and time yourself
• Avoid repetition – don’t say the same thing with the same words twice

Further resources

• Official guidance from the Goethe-Institut at goethe.de
• Examiner manuals and assessment criteria from 2025
• Example tasks, exercises, and practice tests in our free online section

With this overview, you have everything you need to prepare effectively and confidently for the written message task – whether you're learning for work, daily life, or study purposes.