B1 Schreiben Teil 3 – Formal Letter

What Is Goethe B1 Schreiben Teil 3?

Schreiben Teil 3 is the formal letter task in the Goethe B1 exam — and the task that many candidates find most challenging. You write a formal letter of approximately 80 to 100 words to a company, institution, or authority figure. Common scenarios include complaints (Beschwerde or Reklamation), requests for information (Anfrage), registrations (Anmeldung), or cancellations (Kündigung). You have about 20 minutes.

This task tests whether you can produce professional written German that follows strict formal conventions. Unlike Teil 1 (informal email) and Teil 2 (forum post), Teil 3 requires formal register throughout — Sie-form, formal greeting, formal closing, professional vocabulary, and a structured letter format including a subject line. The Goethe-Institut treats this as a critical real-world competence because formal written communication with businesses, landlords, and government offices is a constant necessity for anyone living in Germany.

How Teil 3 Is Scored

Task fulfillment checks whether you addressed the purpose of the letter and all required content points. If the prompt asks you to explain what you ordered, describe the problem, and state what you want the company to do, all three must appear clearly in your letter.

Register and format evaluates whether your letter follows German formal letter conventions. Examiners check for a clear subject line (Betreff), the correct formal greeting (Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, or Sehr geehrte/r Frau/Herr [Name],), consistent Sie-form throughout, appropriate formal vocabulary, and the standard closing (Mit freundlichen Grüßen). Any deviation — a missing subject line, an informal greeting, or a slip into du-form — is a register error.

Grammar and vocabulary assesses B1-level formal language. Examiners expect to see polite request structures (Ich möchte Sie bitten, ..., Könnten Sie bitte...), clear factual descriptions, and vocabulary appropriate for professional correspondence. Using Ich will, dass Sie... instead of Ich möchte Sie bitten, ... is a vocabulary/register error — the first is too direct, the second is appropriately polite.

Example Task

You ordered a product online two weeks ago but it has not arrived. Write a formal letter to the company. In your letter:

• Explain what you ordered and when
• Describe the problem
• State what you would like the company to do

How to Write a B1 Formal Letter

Start with the subject line. Write Betreff: followed by a concise description of your letter's purpose: Betreff: Beschwerde über fehlende Lieferung (Subject: Complaint about missing delivery) or Betreff: Anfrage zur Kursanmeldung (Subject: Inquiry about course registration). The subject line must be specific — Betreff: Problem is too vague.

Use the correct formal greeting. If no specific name is provided in the prompt, use Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,. If a name is given, use Sehr geehrte Frau [Name], or Sehr geehrter Herr [Name],. The comma after the greeting is mandatory, and the first word after it begins with a lowercase letter (unless it is a pronoun or proper noun).

State your purpose in the opening sentence. Be direct and professional: Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil ich vor zwei Wochen eine Bestellung aufgegeben habe, die bis heute nicht eingetroffen ist. (I am writing to you because I placed an order two weeks ago that has not arrived to this day.) This immediately tells the reader what your letter is about.

Develop the body with specific details. Include dates, order numbers, product names, or other concrete information: Am 15. Februar habe ich auf Ihrer Webseite einen Laptop (Bestellnummer 12345) bestellt und per Kreditkarte bezahlt. (On February 15th, I ordered a laptop on your website, order number 12345, and paid by credit card.) Specific details make your letter credible and actionable.

Make a clear, polite request. State exactly what you expect: Ich möchte Sie bitten, die Lieferung so schnell wie möglich zu veranlassen oder mir den Kaufpreis zu erstatten. (I would like to ask you to arrange delivery as soon as possible or refund the purchase price.) Vague requests like Bitte tun Sie etwas (Please do something) do not earn full marks.

Close with the standard formal sign-off. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Bemühungen. (Thank you in advance for your efforts.) followed by Mit freundlichen Grüßen and your name. This closing is expected in every B1 formal letter.

Common Formal Letter Scenarios at B1

The Goethe B1 exam uses several recurring formal letter types. Product complaints (Reklamation) ask you to describe a defective or missing product and request replacement, refund, or repair. Apartment complaints (Beschwerde) address maintenance issues, noise, or landlord disputes. Information requests (Anfrage) ask you to inquire about courses, events, or services. Registrations (Anmeldung) require you to sign up for a course or program and ask related questions. Cancellations (Kündigung) ask you to end a contract or subscription.

Preparing template structures for each scenario means you can adapt quickly on exam day rather than building your letter from scratch.

Essential Formal Letter Phrases for B1

For opening: Ich schreibe Ihnen wegen... (I am writing to you regarding...), Hiermit möchte ich mich beschweren über... (I hereby wish to complain about...), Ich möchte mich erkundigen über... (I would like to inquire about...). For requests: Ich bitte Sie, ... (I ask you to...), Könnten Sie bitte... (Could you please...), Ich möchte Sie bitten, ... (I would like to ask you to...), Wäre es möglich, ...? (Would it be possible to...?). For closing: Vielen Dank im Voraus. (Thank you in advance.), Ich erwarte Ihre Antwort bis zum... (I expect your reply by...), Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldung. (I look forward to your feedback.).

Common Mistakes in B1 Schreiben Teil 3

Missing the subject line is one of the most frequent formatting errors. Every formal German letter needs a Betreff. Its absence signals unfamiliarity with German letter conventions and costs marks under register and format.

Mixing registers — starting formally but slipping into casual language in the body. Writing Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, ich finde das echt blöd, dass mein Paket nicht da ist mixes formal greeting with colloquial complaint. Maintain professional tone throughout.

Not being specific enough. Formal letters require concrete details — dates, order numbers, product names, specific amounts. General statements without specifics weaken your letter and lose marks under task fulfillment.

Forgetting to state a clear request. Many candidates describe the problem thoroughly but never explicitly say what they want the company to do. Always include a clear resolution request.

Practice B1 Schreiben Teil 3 on Deutsch Fox

On deutschfox.com, you can practice B1 formal letter tasks with realistic complaint, inquiry, registration, and cancellation scenarios. The AI examiner checks your subject line, formal greeting and closing, Sie-form consistency, content coverage, and professional vocabulary. It identifies register slips, missing content points, and vague requests — the three most common weaknesses in B1 formal letters. The error memory feature tracks your formal letter patterns over time, helping you build a reliable template that you can confidently adapt to any formal letter scenario on exam day.