TELC B1 Schreiben: The Guided Letter (Schriftlicher Ausdruck)
telc B1 writing is a single task — one letter or email in 30 minutes — but it is unforgiving in one respect: you are given four Leitpunkte (guideline points) and you must address all four to earn full marks. Most lost points here come from skipping a Leitpunkt or misjudging the register, not from weak German.
Updated 2026-05-24
The task at a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Task | One guided letter or email (Schriftlicher Ausdruck) |
| Time | 30 minutes |
| Guidelines | 4 Leitpunkte — all must be addressed |
| Typical context | A reply to a situation: a complaint, a request, an enquiry, a change of plan |
The four Leitpunkte
The task gives you four bullet points to cover. Each one is a content requirement, and the grader checks that every point is addressed clearly. Missing or only half-covering a Leitpunkt is the most common reason candidates lose marks.
- ›Turn each Leitpunkt into at least one full, developed sentence.
- ›Cover all four — re-read the bullets after writing and tick each off.
- ›Keep them in a logical order; you do not have to follow the order they are listed in.
- ›Do not pad with content the task did not ask for; relevance counts.
Register and structure
Match the register to the recipient. Most B1 tasks are formal or semi-formal (a company, an office, a landlord), which means the Sie-form and formal opening and closing formulas.
- ›Formal opening: "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," or "Sehr geehrte Frau …,".
- ›Formal closing: "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" followed by your name.
- ›Informal (to a friend): "Liebe/r …," and "Viele Grüße".
- ›Structure: greeting → short opening line → the four Leitpunkte → closing line → sign-off.
How it is graded
Graders look at content coverage, correct and appropriate communication (including register), and language accuracy. At B1, some grammar errors are tolerated as long as the message stays clear and complete.
- ›Content: are all four Leitpunkte addressed?
- ›Communicative design: is the register right and the letter appropriately structured?
- ›Accuracy: is your grammar and vocabulary controlled enough to be understood without effort?
Common mistakes to avoid
- ›Skipping or barely touching one of the four Leitpunkte.
- ›Mixing du and Sie within the same letter.
- ›Forgetting the closing formula ("Mit freundlichen Grüßen").
- ›Writing one long block with no paragraphing.
- ›Running out of time because you over-planned — 30 minutes is short.
Practice plan
- ›Weeks 1–2: Learn the formal letter frame (opening, body per Leitpunkt, closing) until it is automatic.
- ›Week 3: Write one letter per day in 30 minutes; check all four Leitpunkte are covered.
- ›Week 4: Timed full attempts with feedback on register and accuracy.
- ›Throughout: Build a phrase bank — openings, requests, complaints, closings — so you are not inventing formulas under time pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the telc B1 writing task?
You have 30 minutes to write one guided letter or email (Schriftlicher Ausdruck).
What are Leitpunkte in telc B1 writing?
Leitpunkte are the four guideline points the task gives you. You must address all four clearly to earn full marks — skipping one is the most common way to lose points.
How is telc B1 writing scored?
Writing is part of the written exam (225 of the 300 total points). Graders assess content coverage, communicative design including register, and language accuracy. You need at least 60% of the written part to pass it.
Should I use du or Sie in the telc B1 letter?
It depends on the recipient. Most B1 tasks are formal or semi-formal, so use the Sie-form with "Sehr geehrte …" and "Mit freundlichen Grüßen". Use du only when writing to a friend.
Start practising
TELC B1 Schreiben