The Schreiben section of the TELC B1 exam is the part that causes the most anxiety — and the part that most candidates underprepare for. It is also the section where targeted free practice pays off the most.
Here is what the section requires, how to practise it without spending money, and what to do with the feedback.
What the TELC B1 Schreiben Section Requires
The task is always the same structure: write a semi-formal letter or email of approximately 80–100 words that addresses four required points. The four points are given in the prompt.
A typical prompt looks like this:
You are writing to a language school. Write a letter in which you: ask about course dates, ask about the course fees, explain why you want to take this course, and ask whether there is a trial lesson.
Your letter must:
- Address each of the four points
- Maintain an appropriate register (typically formal: "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren")
- Use connectors and varied sentence structures
- Be approximately 80–100 words in length
- Open and close with the correct formal phrases
Missing one of the four points costs you marks regardless of writing quality. The four points are the first thing any marker checks.
How the Schreiben Section Is Marked
TELC marks Schreiben on four criteria:
| Criterion | What it checks | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|
| Kommunikation | All four points addressed | 10 |
| Kohärenz | Logical flow and structure | 5 |
| Sprachliche Mittel | Grammar and vocabulary range | 10 |
| Formale Richtigkeit | Spelling and punctuation | 5 |
Kommunikation is worth the most and is the most straightforward to get right. Simply address all four points explicitly. Do not assume a point is "implied" — write it out clearly.
To pass Schreiben, you typically need 18 of 30 marks.
Free Practice Sources
TELC official sample papers — telc.net publishes sample exams with Schreiben prompts. These are the most authentic prompts available for free. The answer keys do not include model answers for Schreiben, so you need another source for feedback.
LanguagePrep Schreiben practice — Schreiben practice with AI feedback at languageprep.de. Submit your writing and get feedback on all four marking criteria. Free to use.
Writing task prompts from B1 textbooks — Standard B1 textbooks (Aspekte, Menschen, Daf Kompakt) include Schreiben tasks. These are useful for additional prompts if you have access to a textbook. The same feedback problem applies — you need a source for assessment.
How to Use AI Writing Feedback
AI feedback on TELC Schreiben tells you:
- Whether you addressed all four required points
- Whether your register is consistent and appropriate
- Where grammar is limiting your mark
- Specific suggestions for what to improve
The most useful thing you can do with feedback: identify the single criterion you scored lowest on and write a second version of the same letter targeting that criterion specifically. Then get feedback on the second version.
This iterative cycle — write, get feedback, rewrite the weak criterion, repeat — produces improvement faster than writing a new letter each time.
Common Schreiben Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why it happens | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Missing one of the four required points | Writing from memory instead of checking | Before you write, number the four points. After you write, check each one off. |
| Wrong register (mixing Sie and du) | Starting formal but slipping into informal | Choose your register before writing and use it consistently throughout |
| Too short (under 60 words) | Running out of content | Each of the four points should be 15–20 words. That gets you to 80 naturally. |
| No opening/closing phrases | Treating it as a note, not a letter | Memorise the standard opening and closing: "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, … Mit freundlichen Grüßen" |
| Weak connectors | Not knowing how to link sentences | Learn: "zunächst möchte ich fragen, … außerdem wäre ich interessiert zu wissen, … abschließend würde ich gerne wissen" |
A Recommended Practice Schedule
The minimum effective practice for Schreiben is one letter with feedback every 10 days. Writing more frequently without feedback embeds errors.
Over an 8-week preparation:
- Week 1: First letter + feedback (identify main weakness)
- Week 2: Rewrite targeting weak criterion + feedback
- Week 3–6: New prompt every two weeks + feedback
- Week 7–8: Full timed practice under exam conditions
By week 8, writing one letter in 30 minutes should feel routine. If it still feels rushed, you need more practice — not a different strategy.