How many words should a telc B1 e-mail have?

telc prints no word count for this task, and none of the three criteria counts words. Cover all four points, connect them, and leave time to check your grammar. The Faust model above has 144 words between the greeting and the sign off; that is one example, not a target.

Do I need to write the date and my address?

No. Sender, address block and date are not required. The task does ask for a subject line, a greeting, an opening and a closing, so include them.

Can I answer two points in one sentence?

Yes. Two points may be covered in one sentence, as long as each one is handled clearly and fits the situation.

telc Deutsch B1, Schriftlicher Ausdruck

telc B1 writing practice: a Brief schreiben example with marking

Below is a real telc B1 writing task from a Faust paper, a complete Faust model e-mail, and how the three telc criteria mark it, explained in English. You can write this task online and get it marked for free.

Updated 21 October 2026, Faust Academy team

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In telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch), the writing part is called Schriftlicher Ausdruck. You read one e-mail and write the answer. You must write something about each of four points (the Leitpunkte), connect them into one message, and add a subject line, a greeting, an opening and a closing.

telc prints no word count for this task. What counts is that all four points are covered, that the e-mail reads as one connected text, and how accurate your German is.

The task: E-Mail von Lena (Übungssatz 1)

Lena’s e-mail, subject „Am Sonntag mal raus“: „Hallo, nach der Arbeit am Computer schaue ich abends meistens noch Serien oder spiele am Handy. Nächsten Sonntag möchte ich endlich mal für ein paar Stunden raus. Hast du Lust, mitzukommen? Ich habe den ganzen Tag frei und richte mich gern nach dir. Wann sollten wir losgehen? Vielleicht kennst du etwas Schönes, das wir draußen zusammen machen können. Je nachdem, was wir unternehmen, brauche ich wohl unterschiedliche Kleidung. Was würdest du mir empfehlen? Sag mir bitte auch, was ich vorher noch erledigen sollte, damit wir entspannt starten können.“ She signs off with „Liebe Grüße“.

The situation: your friend Lena works at the computer a lot and spends her free time on screens too. She wants to spend a few hours outside with you next Sunday and asks you for tips.

The four points you must cover

„Empfehlen Sie Lena eine passende Tageszeit für Ihre gemeinsame Unternehmung und erklären Sie, warum.“ Suggest a time of day and say why.
„Schlagen Sie vor, was Sie zusammen draußen machen könnten.“ Suggest what you could do outside together.
„Geben Sie Lena einen Tipp, welche Kleidung für die Unternehmung geeignet ist.“ Tell her what to wear.
„Raten Sie Lena, wie sie sich auf die Unternehmung vorbereiten kann.“ Tell her how to get ready.

Faust model e-mail

This is a Faust model text, written for this practice paper. It shows one good way to answer.

Betreff: Unser Sonntag draußen

Liebe Lena,

vielen Dank für deine Nachricht! Die Idee gefällt mir sehr, denn auch ich sitze in letzter Zeit viel zu lange am Computer. Am besten treffen wir uns gegen zehn Uhr morgens. Dann haben wir genug Zeit für einen längeren Ausflug und kommen trotzdem vor dem Abend zurück. Wir könnten zum See laufen und dort ein Picknick machen. Der Weg führt durch den Wald, und unterwegs gibt es viele schöne Plätze für eine Pause.

Zieh am besten bequeme Schuhe und eine lange Hose an, weil der Weg an manchen Stellen ziemlich uneben ist. Eine leichte Jacke wäre auch praktisch, falls es am See windig wird.

Bereite doch am Samstag ein paar belegte Brote vor und fülle vor dem Losgehen deine Wasserflasche. Obst bringe ich mit. So müssen wir unterwegs nichts einkaufen.

Ich freue mich schon auf unseren Ausflug! Passt dir der Treffpunkt vor meiner Wohnung?

Liebe Grüße

Alex

Where each point is covered

Point	Sentence in the model	Why it works
Time of day	Am besten treffen wir uns gegen zehn Uhr morgens. Dann haben wir genug Zeit …	A time and a reason, as the point asks.
What to do	Wir könnten zum See laufen und dort ein Picknick machen.	A concrete suggestion with könnten.
Clothing	Zieh am besten bequeme Schuhe und eine lange Hose an, weil …	A tip plus a reason with weil.
Getting ready	Bereite doch am Samstag ein paar belegte Brote vor …	Advice in the du form, linked to the plan.

What the model does for the other two criteria

It has every part of an e-mail: subject line, greeting, a first sentence that reacts to Lena, a closing question and a sign off.
It stays in the informal du form from start to end. Switching between du and Sie costs points.
The points are linked with denn, dann, weil, falls and so, so the e-mail reads as one text, not four answers in a row.
Only two sentences start with Ich or Wir. When most sentences start with Ich or Wir, telc does not give the top band in Kommunikative Gestaltung.

Time and points

Schriftlicher Ausdruck is one task worth 45 points. It takes 30 minutes.

Dictionaries and phones are not allowed. You write on the answer sheet.

How telc marks the e-mail

Each criterion gets a band from A to D. The raw points of all three criteria are added and multiplied by 3, which gives at most 45 points.

Criterion	What it checks	A	B	C
I Aufgabenbewältigung	How many of the four points you cover	5	3	1
II Kommunikative Gestaltung	E-mail form, register, linking, range of language	5	3	1
III Formale Richtigkeit	Grammar and spelling, judged by how much errors get in the way of understanding	5	3	1

Rules that save points

Criterion I: four points covered gives A, three gives B, two gives C, one or none gives D.
One short, clear sentence can be enough for a point, and you may cover two points in one sentence.
You do not need a sender, an address block or a date.
Write about the topic you were given. Missing the topic gives D in every criterion.
Two licensed raters mark each text. If they disagree, the second rating counts.

What you need to pass

You pass telc Deutsch B1 with 60 percent in the written exam and 60 percent in the oral exam: at least 135 of 225 written points and at least 45 of 75 oral points. Writing counts toward the written total.

How Faust marks your e-mail

You write your answer online. Faust marks it on the three telc criteria and gives the reason for each point you lose, so you can see whether you missed a point, slipped out of the du form or need more linking words.

When you finish Übungssatz 1, write Übungssatz 2 next: a new e-mail with four new points.

Frequently asked questions

How many words should a telc B1 e-mail have?: telc prints no word count for this task, and none of the three criteria counts words. Cover all four points, connect them, and leave time to check your grammar. The Faust model above has 144 words between the greeting and the sign off; that is one example, not a target.
Do I need to write the date and my address?: No. Sender, address block and date are not required. The task does ask for a subject line, a greeting, an opening and a closing, so include them.
Can I answer two points in one sentence?: Yes. Two points may be covered in one sentence, as long as each one is handled clearly and fits the situation.

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