What DELF B1 Production Écrite tests
The B1 writing task assesses whether you can express a personal position on a familiar topic — travel, work, technology, city vs country life, education — with reasons and simple examples. At B1 the expectation is coherent everyday prose, not academic argument.
There is one task and one prompt — no choice. The prompt specifies both a topic and a text format: a message on a forum, a letter to a friend, a blog article, or a personal account for a magazine. Getting the format wrong caps you at ~15/25 no matter how good the French is.
Format & word count — the non-negotiables
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Word count | 160 to 180 words — under-length is penalised, over-length is not marked past 180. |
| Register | Set by the prompt — informal for forum/letter to a friend, semi-formal for a blog or magazine. |
| Task type | Opinion piece — you must state a position and justify it with 2–3 reasons or examples. |
| Marks | /25 total, split across 6 criteria (see grid below). |
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The marking grid — how the 25 marks split
| Criterion | Marks | What examiners look for |
|---|---|---|
| Respect of the task | 4 | Text type respected, word count met, all elements of the prompt addressed. |
| Ability to present facts | 4 | Clear personal position with 2+ reasons. |
| Ability to express thoughts | 4 | Coherent flow, appropriate connectors. |
| Lexical range | 4 | Vocabulary sufficient for the topic; some variation. |
| Morphosyntax | 6 | Verb tenses, agreement, articles, prepositions. |
| Coherence & cohesion | 3 | Paragraphs, logical order, opening and closing lines. |
A template that reliably scores 20+
The high-return move at B1 is a fixed 4-paragraph structure you can plug any prompt into. Learn it once, practise it three times, and it becomes automatic:
- Opening (1–2 lines) — greet or set the scene, state your position clearly: “À mon avis…”, “Personnellement, je pense que…”.
- Reason 1 with an example (3–4 lines) — connectors: “D’abord…”, “Par exemple…”, “En effet…”.
- Reason 2 with an example (3–4 lines) — connectors: “De plus…”, “Ensuite…”, “En outre…”.
- Conclusion + closing (1–2 lines) — “En conclusion…” or “Pour toutes ces raisons…” then the sign-off appropriate to the format.
Grammar targets the examiners actively look for
The 6 morphosyntax marks are the largest single block, and specific structures earn them. Use each of these at least once and you have built up your score before any content marks are assessed:
- Present + passé composé + imparfait in the same text — required at B1, absent in most Indian candidates’ scripts.
- One conditional or one subjunctive — “Si j’avais…”, “Il faut que je fasse…”. Rewards “morphosyntactic reach”.
- At least three different connectors from three different categories — addition, opposition, cause. “Et” and “mais” alone read as A2.
- One relative pronoun beyond qui/que — dont, où, ce qui. A single well-placed dont visibly moves the score.
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Common mistakes that cap you at 15/25
- Writing 130 words to be safe. Under 160 loses task-achievement marks immediately — aim for 175, not 160.
- Ignoring the text format. A forum reply written as a formal letter caps at ~15/25 even with perfect French.
- Only using the present tense. The passé composé is expected — absence signals sub-B1 command.
- No connectors between paragraphs. Coherence marks drop to 1/3 without them.
- Not signing off. A letter or forum reply needs a closing line — “Amicalement”, “Merci d’avance”, or “À bientôt”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the DELF B1 writing section?
45 minutes for a single 160–180 word text. There is no separate planning time built in — most successful candidates spend the first 5 minutes on a rough plan and the last 5 on a proofread, leaving 35 minutes to write.
What happens if I write more than 180 words on DELF B1?
Text beyond 180 words is not marked — examiners stop reading. There is no penalty for over-length, but any errors in the un-marked portion do not help you either. Cut ruthlessly to stay in range.
Can I use bullet points in the DELF B1 writing task?
No — the task requires connected prose. Bullet points are penalised on coherence and on the text-type criterion, regardless of whether the format is a blog, a letter, or a forum reply.
How many DELF B1 writing samples should I practise before the exam?
A minimum of 6 full 160–180 word pieces under 45-minute conditions, each reviewed against the grid above. Most candidates who score 20+ have done 10–12, cycling through the four text formats — letter, blog, forum, personal account.
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