Writing tool
Goethe Schreiben word counter
The Goethe writing tasks set these word targets: A1 30; A2 20 to 30 and 30 to 40; B1 80, 80 and 40; B2 150 and 100; C1 230 and 120; C2 350. Pick your level and part, paste your text, and the counter compares your word count with the target.
Updated 26 September 2026, Faust Academy team
The counter counts every word between two spaces, the same way you count by hand. Your text stays in your browser: the page does not send it to a server.
Level
Part
Goethe B1, Teil 1: Personal email
0 words
Paste your text to compare it with the word target.
Check your text before you hand it in
Task fulfilment: Do you answer every point of the task, not only the easy ones?
Coherence: Do your sentences connect, for example with deshalb, außerdem or trotzdem?
Vocabulary: Do you use different words for the same thing instead of the same few words?
Structures: Do you also use longer sentences, for example with weil or dass, and not only main clauses?
A word count is a start. For a score on the official criteria, write a full practice paper. One scored online paper per part is free.
Word targets for every Goethe writing task
The A2 tasks give a lowest and a highest number. All other tasks give one target number. The A1 form and the C2 text revision have no word count.
| Level | Part | Task | Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe A1 | Teil 1 | Fill in a form with 5 missing details | No word count |
| Goethe A1 | Teil 2 | Short message | 30 words |
| Goethe A2 | Teil 1 | Text message (SMS) | 20 to 30 words |
| Goethe A2 | Teil 2 | 30 to 40 words | |
| Goethe B1 | Teil 1 | Personal email | 80 words |
| Goethe B1 | Teil 2 | Opinion post for a discussion | 80 words |
| Goethe B1 | Teil 3 | Short polite email | 40 words |
| Goethe B2 | Teil 1 | Forum post with your opinion | 150 words |
| Goethe B2 | Teil 2 | Personal message | 100 words |
| Goethe C1 | Teil 1 | Discussion post in an online forum | 230 words |
| Goethe C1 | Teil 2 | Formal or semi-formal email | 120 words |
| Goethe C2 | Teil 1 | Revise 10 marked passages of a text | No word count |
| Goethe C2 | Teil 2 | Long text on one of four topics | 350 words |
What happens when a text is too short
The official rating scales for A2, B1, B2 and C1 give the lowest band for task fulfilment to a text with less than 50 percent of the required words. At B1 Teil 1, with a target of 80 words, that means a text under 40 words. The counter shows a note when your text is below that line.
The word count is only one part of task fulfilment. The examiners also check that you cover every content point, use the right text type and write in the right tone for the reader in the task.
What the examiners rate
The criteria come from the official rating scales in each Modellsatz.
| Level | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Goethe A1 | The three content points and the form of the message, such as greeting and closing |
| Goethe A2 | Task fulfilment and language |
| Goethe B1 | Task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and structures |
| Goethe B2 | Task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and structures |
| Goethe C1 | Task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary and structures |
| Goethe C2 | Task fulfilment, text organisation, coherence, vocabulary and structures |
Tips for Goethe Schreiben
- Plan your time. At B1 the official times for the three tasks are 20, 25 and 15 minutes.
- Answer every content point in the task. A missing point lowers your task fulfilment score.
- Start emails and messages with a greeting and end them with a closing.
- Link your sentences with words like deshalb, außerdem or trotzdem.
- Keep time at the end to count your words and check verb endings.
Practise writing with a score
Faust has Goethe Schreiben practice papers for all 6 levels, 12 of them for B1 and 12 for B2. Faust rates your text on the criteria of the official rating scale.
One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free. Faust Academy is independent practice. It is not a product of the Goethe-Institut and issues no certificates.
Frequently asked questions
- How many words do I need for Goethe B1 Schreiben?
- Teil 1 (personal email): 80 words. Teil 2 (opinion post for a discussion): 80 words. Teil 3 (short polite email): 40 words. The official task gives each number as a guide, not as a hard limit.
- How many words is the Goethe B2 forum post?
- Teil 1 (forum post with your opinion) has a target of 150 words and a suggested time of 50 minutes. Teil 2 (personal message) has a target of 100 words and a suggested time of 25 minutes.
- What happens if my Goethe text is too short?
- At A2, B1, B2 and C1, a text with less than 50 percent of the required words gets the lowest band for task fulfilment in the official rating scale.
- How does the counter count words like z. B. or E-Mail?
- The counter counts every group of characters between spaces. "z. B." counts as two words, "E-Mail" as one word and "2026" as one word.
- Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
- No. The counter runs in your browser and does not send your text anywhere. When you close the page, the text is gone.
- Is the word counter free?
- Yes, the counter is free and needs no account. For a scored writing practice, one scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.
Ready? Start a practice paper now.
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Sources
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz A1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz A2 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz B1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz B2 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz C1 (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut: Modellsatz C2 (PDF)