DTZ Writing: How to Write a Good Letter

The writing section in the DTZ scares many learners. 30 minutes, one topic, four guiding points – what exactly is expected? How long should the letter be? Which mistakes cost points?

Don’t worry. In this article, we explain step by step how to write a good letter – with a real example and the most common mistakes you should avoid.

What is required in the writing section?

In the writing section of the DTZ, you have 30 minutes. You write a semi-formal or formal message – for example, a letter or an email.

You get:

A situation (e.g., “You want to cancel a course")
4 guiding points that you must address all
Sometimes a template (e.g., a letter you are supposed to reply to)

⚠️ Attention: You must address all 4 guiding points. If you forget one, you lose points – even if your text is linguistically good.

How is your letter evaluated?

Your letter is evaluated according to four criteria:

Task fulfillment
Did you address all 4 guiding points? Is the text appropriate for the situation?
Coherence and cohesion
Is the text logically structured? Are there linking words between sentences?
Lexis (vocabulary)
Do you use varied and appropriate words? Or always the same ones?
Grammar
Are the sentences grammatically correct? Do articles, verbs, and word order match?

How to structure your letter

A letter in the DTZ always has this structure:

Salutation: “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," (formal) or “Liebe Frau Müller," (semi-formal)
Introduction: Why are you writing? One to two sentences.
Main part: Here you address all 4 guiding points – in logical order.
Conclusion: “Ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort." or “Bitte teilen Sie mir mit, ob …"
Closing formula: “Mit freundlichen Grüßen," + your name

Example task with model solution

Task:

You have enrolled in a German course. Now unfortunately you cannot attend. Write to the course provider.

Write about the following points:

Why are you writing?
Why can you not come?
From when can you attend again?
Request for confirmation

✅ Model solution:

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

I am writing to you because unfortunately I cannot attend the German course.

I am sick and have to stay at home. The doctor has prescribed bed rest.

I hope that I can attend the lessons again from next week, that is from March 15.

Could you please confirm that my place in the course will be kept? I would be very pleased.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Anna Schmidt

Useful phrases for every letter

For the beginning:

“I am writing to you because …"
“With this letter I would like to …"
“I am contacting you because …"

For requests and inquiries:

“Could you please let me know if …"
“I kindly ask you to …"
“Would it be possible that …"

For the closing:

“I look forward to your reply."
“Thank you in advance."
“Mit freundlichen Grüßen,"

Your plan for the 30 minutes

2 min.: Read the task – understand the situation, mark guiding points
3 min.: Write notes
20 min.: Write the letter – address all 4 points
5 min.: Proofread – check grammar and errors

The 5 most common mistakes in the writing section

Forgetting a guiding point
Writing too short
No salutation and no closing
Writing only simple sentences
Not checking

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How many words should I write in the writing section?

There is no exact minimum number, but a typically good letter has 80–120 words.

Am I allowed to use a dictionary?

No. No aids are allowed during the DTZ exam.

Do I lose points for typos?

Individual small mistakes are normal. Many mistakes, however, lower the score.

Are there typical topics in the writing section?

Yes. Common topics are: cancellations, inquiries, complaints, appointment arrangements, and thank-you notes.

Conclusion

The writing section is learnable. With practice, the right phrases, and a clear structure, you will be able to write a good letter.

The most important thing: Practice regularly and have your text corrected.

You can do it! Good luck with your training.

👉 Do you want to pass the exam confidently?

On deutsch-meister-app.com you can practice writing directly – with real DTZ tasks and AI feedback that evaluates your letters according to the official DTZ criteria: task fulfillment, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar.