German B1 writing topics

German B1 writing topics fall into the exam's three fixed task types: informal messages to friends (invitations, apologies, suggestions, congratulations), formal emails to institutions (requests for information, registrations, complaints, cancellations) and short opinion pieces on everyday statements. The topics change; the task types and what they test do not.

Informal message topics (Task 1)

  • Invite a friend to a party, a trip or an event — say when, where, what to bring
  • Apologise for missing something and suggest a new plan
  • Thank a friend and tell them your news
  • Ask a friend for help with a move, a course or a problem
  • Congratulate a friend on a new job, an exam or a baby

Formal email topics (Task 2)

  • Ask a language school or adult education centre about a course
  • Register for or cancel a course, an exam or a membership
  • Complain to a company about a product or a service
  • Ask a landlord or housing office about a repair
  • Request information from an authority or an insurance company

Opinion topics (Task 3)

  • "Young people should live alone before they start a family"
  • "Everyone should do sport at least twice a week"
  • "It is better to live in the city than in the country"
  • "Social media does more harm than good"
  • "Children should learn a foreign language from first grade"

What every topic tests

Whatever the subject, each task tests the same four things: did you cover the bullet points, did you hit the register (du versus Sie, consistently), is the text structured with an opening, body and closing, and is the language accurate enough that meaning is never in doubt. Prepare by task type, not by topic — if you can write a good invitation and a good complaint, you can write any invitation and any complaint.

Practise with real exam prompts

Deutschtrainer's B1 writing practice uses prompts built exactly like the exam — same task types, same bullet-point structure, same 80–100 word target — graded by AI on coverage, register, structure and language, with corrections written into your text.

Frequently asked questions

What are common B1 writing exam topics?

Informal: invitations, apologies, thanks, requests, congratulations. Formal: course enquiries, registrations, complaints, repairs, information requests. Opinion: short everyday statements you argue for or against.

How many texts do I write in the B1 exam?

Three: one informal message, one formal email and one short opinion piece, each 80–100 words, in about 60 minutes.

Are the writing topics the same for Goethe and telc?

The specific prompts differ, but the task types and topic areas are the same because both follow the CEFR B1 descriptor.

Practise all three B1 writing tasks with AI corrections. Start practising · Pricing