The Schreiben (Writing) module of the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 asks you to write two very short texts in German. At A1, the writing tasks are deliberately simple — filling in a short form and writing a brief message to a friend or acquaintance. You do not need to write complex sentences or use advanced grammar. What you need is accurate basic German: correct verb forms in the present tense, simple sentences that communicate clearly, and the vocabulary to handle everyday personal information and short informal communication. This guide covers both tasks, the scoring rubric, and the strategies that lead to a reliable pass.
Goethe A1 Schreiben – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 20 minutes |
| Number of tasks | 2 |
| Total contribution | Assessed as part of the overall written exam score |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 across all written modules combined |
| Format | Open writing — you produce original German text; no multiple choice |
| Assessed by | Trained examiners using the official Goethe rubric |
Task 1 – Fill in a Registration or Contact Form
Task 1 asks you to complete a simple form with personal information. The form may be a registration form for a German course, a club membership form, a hotel booking card, or a simple contact form. Each blank requires a short answer — your name, age, address, telephone number, nationality, or a brief preference.
| Form Type | What Blanks Typically Require |
| German course registration | Name (Vorname / Nachname), nationality (Nationalitat), age (Alter), city (Wohnort), telephone (Telefon), email |
| Hotel or accommodation booking | Name, arrival and departure dates (Ankunft / Abreise), number of people (Personenzahl), room type (Zimmer) |
| Club or sports registration | Name, date of birth (Geburtsdatum), address (Adresse), sport or activity preference |
| Contact or inquiry form | Name, topic (Thema), preferred contact time, short message (Nachricht) |
Key rules for Task 1: Write clearly and legibly. Do not write full sentences where a single word is expected (e.g. for “Nationalitat” simply write “Indisch” — not “Ich bin Indianer”). Check that your date format matches German convention: DD.MM.YYYY (e.g. 15.03.1990). Write telephone numbers without spaces or with standard German grouping.
Task 2 – Write a Short Message or Note (30–40 Words)
Task 2 asks you to write a short informal message — typically to a friend, a language exchange partner, or a fellow course participant. The prompt specifies 3 required content points you must address. A typical word count target is 30–40 words.
| Common Task 2 Type | 3 Required Content Points | Sample Response Opening |
| Message to a new German learning partner | 1. Introduce yourself; 2. Say why you are learning German; 3. Suggest when to meet or talk | Hallo [Name], ich heisse… Ich lerne Deutsch, weil… Konnen wir uns am… treffen? |
| Message to a friend about a plan | 1. Tell them about your plan; 2. Invite them to join; 3. Give a time or place | Hallo [Name], ich gehe am Samstag… Kommst du mit? Wir treffen uns um… |
| Short note to a neighbour or host family | 1. Introduce who you are; 2. State your request; 3. Give your contact details | Hallo, ich bin… Ich wohne in… Bitte rufen Sie mich an: Telefon… |
Goethe A1 Writing – Scoring Criteria
| Criterion | Marks | A1 Standard |
| Task completion (Aufgabenerfüllung) | 3 marks per required content point | All 3 specified points addressed; the reader understands each communicative intention |
| Correctness of vocabulary | 2 marks | Sufficient vocabulary for the task; words used correctly in context; unknown words do not block communication |
| Correctness of grammar | 2 marks | Basic verb conjugation correct (ich habe / du hast / er hat); simple sentences grammatically acceptable; errors that do not obstruct meaning are tolerated |
A1 Grammar You Must Control for Task 2
| Grammar Point | Correct Form | Common Error |
| Present tense: sein (to be) | ich bin / du bist / er-sie-es ist / wir sind / Sie sind | ich ist / du sein — using infinitive instead of conjugated form |
| Present tense: haben (to have) | ich habe / du hast / er hat / wir haben / Sie haben | ich hat / du haben — common for beginners |
| Present tense: regular verbs (e.g. lernen) | ich lerne / du lernst / er lernt / wir lernen | ich lernt / er lerne — wrong ending |
| Word order: verb in second position | Ich lerne Deutsch. / Am Samstag lerne ich Deutsch. | Am Samstag ich lerne Deutsch. — verb must be second element |
| Modal verbs (konnen, mochten) | Ich kann kommen. / Ich mochte lernen. | Ich kann kommen. is correct; Ich kann zu kommen. is wrong — no “zu” with modals |
Essential A1 Writing Vocabulary by Task
| Context | Useful German Words and Phrases |
| Introducing yourself | Ich heisse… / Ich bin… / Ich komme aus… / Ich wohne in… / Ich bin … Jahre alt. |
| Expressing reason (warum) | weil ich… lerne / weil ich… mochte / Das ist wichtig fur mich. |
| Making plans | Konnen wir… treffen? / Ich komme um… Uhr. / Am [day] passt es mir gut. |
| Making requests | Bitte schreib mir. / Kannst du… ? / Ich brauche… / Konnen Sie mir helfen? |
Goethe A1 writing is passed by candidates who practise regularly: write one Task 2-type message every day in the 3 weeks before your exam, check your verb forms carefully, and make sure all 3 content points are included. Use languagetest.in Goethe A1 writing mock tasks to practise under timed conditions and assess your output against the rubric criteria above.
References: Goethe-Institut A1 writing guide: goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/a1.html | languagetest.in Goethe A1 writing practice
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