The Schreiben (Writing) module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 asks you to write two short German texts totalling approximately 30 minutes of work. At A2, you are expected to write slightly more than at A1 — moving from filling in forms and writing a sentence or two to writing connected short messages with a recognisable structure. The tasks draw on everyday situations: responding to an advertisement, writing a short email about a plan, or sending a note to a neighbour. This guide covers both tasks, the scoring rubric, and the practical strategies that lead to a confident pass.
Goethe A2 Schreiben – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 30 minutes |
| Number of tasks | 2 |
| Total contribution | Assessed as part of the combined written exam score |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 across all written modules combined |
| Format | Open-ended writing — you produce original German text |
| Word count guideline | Task 1: short form completion; Task 2: approximately 30–40 words |
Task 1 – Fill in a Form or Note (with Written Reason)
Task 1 at Goethe A2 is typically a form completion task — but unlike A1, it may ask you to write a short sentence giving a reason or preference rather than just a single word. For example, you may fill in a registration form and also write one sentence explaining why you are interested in the course or activity.
| Form Component | What to Write | Example |
| Personal details (Name, Alter, Wohnort) | Single words or short phrases — do not write full sentences here | Mueller / 32 / Berlin |
| Short reason or preference (Grund, Interesse) | One full sentence using correct A2 verb form | Ich mochte Deutsch lernen, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten mochte. |
| Date or time preference (Wunschtermin) | Day + time in standard format | Montag, 18:00 Uhr |
Task 2 – Write a Short Message (30–40 Words)
Task 2 is the main writing task. You write a short informal message — typically an email, a text message, or a short note. The prompt specifies 3 content points you must address. Staying between 30 and 40 words is recommended: enough to address all 3 points without overcomplicating your German.
| Common Task 2 Scenario | 3 Content Points | Model Opening |
| Email to a friend about a planned visit | 1. Announce your visit; 2. Give the date; 3. Ask what you should bring or suggest an activity | Hallo [Name]! Ich komme am Samstag zu dir. Kannst du… ? Soll ich… mitbringen? |
| Message responding to an apartment advertisement | 1. Express interest; 2. Ask about price or availability; 3. Suggest a viewing time | Hallo! Ich habe Ihre Anzeige gelesen und interessiere mich fur das Zimmer. Wie viel kostet die Miete? Kann ich… kommen? |
| Note to a neighbour about a package | 1. Explain you received their package; 2. Say where you have left it; 3. Give your contact | Hallo! Ich habe ein Paket fur Sie. Es ist bei mir. Bitte klingeln Sie bei mir (Wohnung…). Telefon: … |
| Message to a German language partner | 1. Introduce yourself briefly; 2. Say your German level; 3. Suggest when to practise together | Hallo! Ich heisse… und lerne Deutsch seit… Ich bin A2. Konnen wir am Dienstag zusammen uben? |
Goethe A2 Writing – Scoring Rubric
| Criterion | Marks | A2 Standard |
| Kommunikative Gestaltung (Task achievement) | 5 | All 3 required content points addressed; correct text type (informal message); appropriate register; reader can understand all information |
| Formale Richtigkeit (Accuracy) | 5 | Verb conjugation correct in present tense; word order correct (verb in 2nd position); basic adjective agreement; errors that do not obstruct meaning do not necessarily fail this criterion |
Grammar Essentials for Goethe A2 Writing
| Grammar Rule | Correct Form | Example in a Message |
| Verb in second position | Subject-Verb-Object OR Time-Verb-Subject-Object | Am Samstag komme ich zu dir. (NOT: Am Samstag ich komme zu dir.) |
| Modal verbs + infinitive at end | Modal verb in position 2; infinitive at end of clause | Ich mochte dich besuchen. / Kannst du mir helfen? |
| Coordinating conjunctions (und, aber, denn) | No word order change after und / aber / denn | Ich lerne Deutsch und ich wohne in Berlin. |
| Subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn) | Verb goes to the end after weil / dass / wenn | Ich komme, weil ich dich sehen mochte. |
| Negation: nicht vs. kein | kein with nouns; nicht with verbs and adjectives | Ich habe kein Auto. / Ich komme nicht. / Das ist nicht gut. |
Useful A2 Writing Phrases by Function
| Function | German Phrases |
| Opening an informal message | Hallo [Name]! / Liebe/r [Name], / Guten Morgen/Tag, [Name]! |
| Expressing interest | Ich interessiere mich fur… / Ich mochte gern… |
| Asking a question politely | Kannst du mir sagen, ob…? / Wann kannst du…? / Wie viel kostet…? |
| Offering or proposing | Ich kann… mitbringen. / Sollen wir…? / Ich schlage vor, dass wir… |
| Closing an informal message | Viele Grusse / Bis bald! / Schreib mir bitte! / Ich freue mich auf deine Antwort. |
Goethe A2 writing preparation should focus on two practical habits: writing one Task 2 message every day in the final 2–3 weeks before your exam, and always reading your output aloud to catch missing verb endings, wrong word order, and omitted content points. languagetest.in provides Goethe A2 writing mock tasks with model responses and criterion-by-criterion scoring to help you build accuracy and confidence before exam day.
References: Goethe-Institut A2 writing guide: goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/a2.html | languagetest.in Goethe A2 writing practice
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