Goethe B1 & B2 Writing Check: Would You Pass Today?

How the writing check works

1. Pick a task. B1 (three tasks) or B2 (two tasks) — all in the official exam format, with a situation, instructions and Leitpunkte (the content points you must cover).
2. Write your text. Ideally under exam conditions: no dictionary, no translator, one eye on the clock. That's the only way the result means something.
3. See your result. You'll see straight away whether you would pass, how many points you're missing and where you stand on the four criteria. The full analysis — every error with its correction, every Leitpunkt, your three most important next steps — we send to you by e-mail, free.

What score do you need to pass Goethe writing?

In the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and B2, each module — reading, listening, writing, speaking — is marked and passed separately. To pass the writing module you need at least 60 out of 100 points. That also means you can take or retake writing on its own, without resitting the other modules.

Goethe-Zertifikat B1 writing (60 minutes)

• Task 1: personal e-mail to a friend, about 80 words, three Leitpunkte — 40% of the points
• Task 2: opinion post in an online forum, about 80 words — 40% of the points
• Task 3: short formal message, about 40 words — 20% of the points

Goethe-Zertifikat B2 writing (75 minutes)

• Part 1: forum post giving your opinion, about 150 words, four Leitpunkte
• Part 2: formal message (e.g. a complaint or an enquiry), about 100 words

Keep in mind: the 60% applies to the whole module. A strong task can make up for a weaker one — but only up to a point. If you throw away B1 task 3, you need well over 60% in the two long tasks.

The four criteria examiners look at

The check rates your text on the same four criteria as the official exam:

• Task completion (Aufgabenerfüllung) — Did you cover every Leitpunkt? Do text type, greeting, closing and register (du or Sie) fit? This is where most points are lost: one missing Leitpunkt costs a large block of points at once.
• Coherence (Kohärenz) — Is the text logically structured? Do you link sentences with connectors like deshalb, trotzdem or außerdem instead of just stringing main clauses together?
• Vocabulary (Wortschatz) — Does your vocabulary fit the level and the situation? Do you repeat the same words or vary them?
• Structures (Strukturen) — How accurate is your grammar: verb position, subordinate clauses, cases, tenses? Errors that get in the way of understanding weigh more than small typos.

In more depth: The four Goethe writing criteria, trained with AI.

One task, three texts: where is the line?

B1 task 1 from the check: You went to a concert; your friend was ill and couldn't come. Write her an e-mail: how was the concert, how is she feeling, and suggest meeting up. Three typical answers (in German, as in the exam):

Text A — below the pass mark

Hallo Anna, das Konzert war super. Die Band hat sehr gut gespielt und viele Leute war da. Ich habe viel getanzt und ich bin um 1 Uhr nach Hause gekommen. Schade das du nicht kommen konntest. Du bist krank, ich hoffe es geht besser. Tschüss Maria

• Task completion: the third Leitpunkt — suggesting a meeting — is missing entirely. That alone costs so many points that the text can hardly pass. At around 50 words it is also clearly too short.
• Coherence: the sentences just sit next to each other; there is hardly any linking beyond und.
• Structures: viele Leute war (correct: waren), Schade das (correct: Schade, dass), es geht besser (correct: es geht dir besser).

Text B — just passes

Liebe Anna, wie geht es dir? Ich hoffe, du bist wieder gesund. Hast du noch Fieber? Das Konzert am Samstag war toll. Die Musik war laut und die Stimmung war sehr gut. Ich habe dich vermisst, weil du warst nicht da. Wir können bald zusammen etwas machen. Vielleicht gehen wir am nächsten Wochenende ins Kino oder wir trinken einen Kaffee in der Stadt. Was meinst du? Schreib mir bitte! Viele Grüße Maria

• Task completion: all three Leitpunkte are there, and greeting and closing match the informal du register. That secures the biggest block of points.
• Coherence and vocabulary: solid but basic — lots of short main clauses, war three times in a row.
• Structures: a classic B1 error: weil du warst nicht da — after weil the verb goes to the end: weil du nicht da warst.

Text C — passes comfortably

Liebe Anna, es tut mir wirklich leid, dass du am Samstag krank warst. Geht es dir inzwischen besser, oder musst du noch im Bett bleiben? Das Konzert war fantastisch: Die Band hat fast zwei Stunden gespielt, und bei den alten Liedern hat die ganze Halle mitgesungen. Ohne dich war es aber nur halb so schön. Deshalb habe ich eine Idee: Die Band spielt im Dezember noch einmal in Hamburg. Wenn du Lust hast, besorge ich uns Karten. Oder wir kochen vorher einfach zusammen bei mir? Gute Besserung und liebe Grüße, Maria

• Task completion: each Leitpunkt is not just mentioned but developed — with details and a concrete plan.
• Coherence: Deshalb, aber, Wenn …, Oder … guide the reader through the text.
• Vocabulary and structures: varied (inzwischen, besorgen, nur halb so schön), and the dass and wenn clauses are correct.

Try it yourself: paste one of the three texts into the check above to see how it's rated — then write your own version.

The 5 most common reasons texts fail

1. A Leitpunkt is missing, or only touched on in half a sentence.
2. Wrong register: Hallo and du in a formal e-mail — or Sehr geehrte to your best friend.
3. Too short: well under the word count usually means a missing Leitpunkt or no reasons at all.
4. Only main clauses: without weil, dass, obwohl and connectors, coherence stays weak.
5. Verb position: the verb not sent to the end after weil or dass — the most common grammar error at B1.

More on this, with examples: Goethe writing exam: 6 mistakes that cost you points. The phrases you need are in our Redemittel collection for B2 and C1.

How accurate is the AI rating?

The check uses the same rating engine as GoetheCoach's training. The AI observes your text — which Leitpunkte are covered, which errors occur, what level your vocabulary and structures show — and the points are then calculated by fixed rules. So the same text always gets the same result.

Still: the result is an estimate, not an official exam result. In the real exam, trained examiners do the marking, and in borderline cases they may decide differently. If you're just above or below 60%, a second opinion is worth it. Why AI and human feedback work well together: AI vs. human feedback for Goethe writing.

For teachers

Preparing a group for Goethe B1 or B2? Share this page with your learners — the check works without an account. If you request an analysis yourself, choose "I teach German". With GoetheCoach for teachers you can assign tasks and follow the progress of your whole class.

Frequently asked questions

Is the writing check really free?

Yes. You see your result immediately and without signing up. For the full analysis we only need your e-mail address so we can send you the link.

How many points do you need to pass Goethe B1 writing?

At least 60 out of 100 points, i.e. 60%. The same applies to B2 and to every other module of the Goethe-Zertifikat.

Can I test several tasks?

Yes, you can try every B1 and B2 task. A few checks per day are possible; with a free account you practise without that limit and see your progress over time.

What happens to my text and my e-mail address?

Your text is stored only for the rating and your analysis. We use your e-mail address to send the link to your analysis — you only get other e-mails if you explicitly agree to them.

Is there a check for A2, C1 or speaking?

For now the public check covers B1 and B2 writing. You can practise every level from A1 to C2 in a free GoetheCoach account.