The task
You write a short message, for example an email to a neighbour, a friend, a teacher or an office. The task describes a situation and gives you four content points. You have 20 minutes and can get 6 points.
There is no official word count. What matters is that you answer every content point with one or two sentences, and that you use a fitting salutation and closing.
A simple structure that always works
- 1
Salutation (Anrede)
Formal: Sehr geehrte Frau Weber, / Sehr geehrter Herr Yılmaz, / Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, Informal: Liebe Anna, / Lieber Murat, / Hallo Tom,
- 2
Short opening
One sentence about why you write: ich schreibe Ihnen, weil ... / vielen Dank für deine Nachricht.
- 3
Point 1 to point 4
One or two sentences for each point, in the same order as in the task. A new line for each point helps the reader and helps you check.
- 4
Closing (Schluss)
A short final sentence, then the greeting. Formal: Mit freundlichen Grüßen. Informal: Viele Grüße / Liebe Grüße.
- 5
Your name
Write a name under the greeting.
Useful phrases
| Purpose | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for writing | Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil ... | I am writing to you because ... |
| Thanks | Vielen Dank für Ihre Einladung. | Thank you very much for your invitation. |
| Apologising | Leider kann ich am Samstag nicht kommen. | Unfortunately I cannot come on Saturday. |
| Giving a reason | Ich habe an diesem Tag einen Arzttermin. | I have a doctor's appointment that day. |
| Asking for information | Können Sie mir bitte sagen, ...? | Could you please tell me ...? |
| Making a suggestion | Wie wäre es mit Dienstag? | How about Tuesday? |
| Asking for something | Könnten Sie bitte ...? | Could you please ...? |
| Offering help | Ich kann gern ... mitbringen. | I am happy to bring ... |
| Closing sentence | Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort. | I look forward to your answer. |
| Closing sentence | Bis bald! | See you soon! |
Model message
This is an original example task in the style of the test, with a model answer. It is not taken from the official test.
Ihre Nachbarin, Frau Schulz, hat Sie zu ihrem Gartenfest am Samstag eingeladen. Schreiben Sie ihr eine E-Mail:
- Bedanken Sie sich für die Einladung.
- Sie können nicht den ganzen Tag kommen. Warum?
- Wann können Sie kommen?
- Bieten Sie Hilfe an.
Your neighbour invited you to her garden party on Saturday. Thank her, explain why you cannot stay all day, say when you can come and offer help.
Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz,
vielen Dank für Ihre Einladung zum Gartenfest. Ich freue mich sehr darüber.
Leider kann ich nicht den ganzen Tag kommen, weil ich am Samstagvormittag arbeiten muss.
Ich kann ab 15 Uhr bei Ihnen sein.
Soll ich etwas mitbringen? Ich kann gern einen Kuchen backen oder beim Aufräumen helfen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Elif Kaya
Each content point has its own one or two sentences, in the same order as the task. Formal greeting and closing, because Frau Schulz is addressed with Sie.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting a content point. This costs more than small grammar mistakes. Tick off each point when you finish it.
- Writing about something else. Long sentences about a topic that the task does not ask for do not bring points.
- Mixing Sie and du, or a formal greeting with an informal closing.
- No salutation or no closing. Both are part of the task.
- Very long, complicated sentences. Short, correct sentences are better than long sentences with many mistakes.
- Learning one text by heart. Prepared phrases help, but the message must answer the real task.
A 20-minute plan
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0-3 min | Read the task. Underline the four points. Decide: Sie or du? |
| 3-6 min | Write a few key words for each point. |
| 6-16 min | Write the message: salutation, opening, four points, closing. |
| 16-20 min | Check: four points answered? Verb in position 2? Capital letters for nouns? Greeting fits? |
Practise with the app
The app has writing tasks with model answers and English and Turkish help, so you can compare your message with a good example. The mock exams use a 20-minute timer, like the real test. More phrases are on the vocabulary page.
- Official model test (Modelltest), PDF (berlin.de)
- Berlin VHS: Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung (berlin.de)