DTZ B1 Writing: Writing a Letter in 30 Minutes — Key Points, Assessment, Sample Solution

I have spoken with many people who prepared for the DTZ. And almost all say the same thing: The writing part is the most frightening. You sit in front of a blank page, 30 minutes on the clock, and you are supposed to write a letter in German. Professionally. Completely. Clearly.

But here's the thing: The writing part is much more structured than it seems at first glance. You don't just get a topic and start writing. You receive four concrete guiding points — four questions that must be answered in the letter. This is actually a relief once you understand it.

This article explains everything — how the writing part is structured, how it is evaluated, what a good letter looks like, and what mistakes you should definitely avoid. At the end, there is a fully annotated sample solution and a list of phrases that you can always use.

Task A or B — which one should you choose?

At the beginning of the writing part, there is a decision: Task A or Task B. Both have the same format — four guiding points, the same time frame, the same evaluation. The only difference is the topic and context.

Here are the actual tasks from the official g.a.s.t. practice set 1:

If you have three ideas for Task A right away and none for B — then A is the right choice. If you have experiences with landlords and feel confident about Task B — then choose B. The exam rewards not the more difficult topic. It rewards a well-written, complete letter.

How is the letter evaluated? — The four criteria explained

This is the most important thing to know: The letter is evaluated based on four criteria, each giving up to 5 points. Together, that makes a maximum of 20 points. For B1, you need 15–20 points.

My Strategy for the 30 Minutes

30 minutes sounds like a lot. But it isn't — if you don't have a strategy. With a strategy, it is just the right 30 minutes.

Sample Solution for Task B — Fully Annotated

Here is a complete sample solution for Task B from the practice set — with markings showing which sentence fulfills which guiding point. This is what a B1 letter looks like.

What makes this letter a B1 solution? All four guiding points are clearly addressed. The tone is formal but not stiff. There are connectors: “because", “although", “additionally", “therefore". The vocabulary is diverse — “obliged", “success", “safety reasons", “feedback". The grammar is solid, even if individual mistakes would be allowed.

Useful Phrases — for Each Type of Guiding Point

You don't have to invent the letter from scratch. These phrases work for most tasks — just adapt them to the specific context:

The Five Most Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

Practice Task for Self-Test

Try writing a letter for this task — and use the phrases from the article. Afterwards, you can submit your text on DeutschMeister and receive feedback based on the official DTZ criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Writing Part