German Schreiben: do every task the prompt lists
The German writing paper — Schreiben — gives you a situation and a list of points to cover. The first thing marked is not your German: it is whether you addressed every point. A beautifully written answer that covers three of four Leitpunkte is capped before the language is considered.
What you write, by level
| Level | Task | Register |
|---|---|---|
| A1–A2 | A form and a short message | Informal, simple |
| B1 | A personal message, a semi-formal message, a short opinion | Both, and the paper tests whether you can switch |
| B2 | A formal letter or an argued text | Formal, with a position |
| C1 | An argued or summarising text from input material | Academic |
B1 is where register becomes a scored skill rather than a style preference, because the paper deliberately sets one informal and one formal task.
The Leitpunkte are the mark scheme
- Count the bullet points in the prompt before writing.
- Give each one its own paragraph or clear sentence.
- Address them in the order given — markers look for them in order.
- Check them off before submitting.
This is the most mechanical mark available in the whole exam and the most commonly dropped.
Every Schreiben (Writing) question type
German Schreiben (Writing) — FAQs
2 questions
Whether you covered every point the prompt lists. Language is assessed after that.
Yes. Writing well short of the stated length is penalised directly.
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.