What is the A1 Schreiben (Writing) Test?

The A1 Schreiben (Writing) test is an essential part of the A1 German certificate exam. This 20-minute section evaluates your ability to write simple German texts, including filling out forms and composing short personal messages or letters.

At the A1 level, you should be able to:

Fill out forms with personal information (name, address, nationality, etc.)
Write short, simple messages and notes
Compose basic personal letters or emails
Use simple phrases and sentences about yourself and familiar topics
Write simple greetings and closings

A1 Schreiben Test Structure

The A1 writing test consists of two parts:

Teil 1 - Form Filling

Duration: 8-10 minutes

Task: Complete a form with personal information

Points: 5 items

Topics: Registration, membership, application forms

Teil 2 - Personal Letter/Message

Duration: 10-12 minutes

Task: Write a short personal message or letter (30-40 words)

Points: 10 points

Topics: Invitations, thank you notes, simple requests

Sample Writing Tasks

Form Example: Fill in: Name, Vorname, Adresse, Telefonnummer, E-Mail, Geburtsdatum

Letter Example: Write to a friend about a party invitation - when, where, what to bring

Teil 1: Form Filling - What to Expect

Form Field	German Term	What to Write
First Name	Vorname	Your first name (e.g., Maria)
Last Name	Name / Nachname / Familienname	Your surname (e.g., Schmidt)
Address	Adresse / Straße	Street and number (e.g., Hauptstraße 15)
City	Wohnort / Stadt	City name (e.g., Berlin)
Postal Code	Postleitzahl (PLZ)	Zip code (e.g., 10115)
Country	Land	Country name (e.g., Deutschland)
Phone	Telefon / Telefonnummer	Phone number (e.g., 030-12345678)
Email	E-Mail	Email address (e.g., maria@email.de)
Date of Birth	Geburtsdatum	DD.MM.YYYY (e.g., 15.03.1990)
Nationality	Nationalität / Staatsangehörigkeit	Your nationality (e.g., türkisch)

Teil 2: Letter Writing - Structure and Content

A typical A1 letter includes:

1. Greeting (Anrede):

Liebe Anna, / Lieber Tom, (Dear Anna/Tom - informal)
Hallo Maria, (Hello Maria)

2. Main Content (Hauptteil):

2-3 simple sentences answering the task questions
Use present tense and simple vocabulary
Include specific information (time, place, date)

3. Closing (Schluss):

Bis bald! (See you soon!)
Viele Grüße (Best regards)
Liebe Grüße (Kind regards)
Dein/Deine + Your name

Sample Letter Task and Answer

Task: Your friend Anna invites you to her birthday party. Write a short message. Include:

Thank her for the invitation
Say you will come
Ask what you should bring

Sample Answer (35 words):

Liebe Anna,

vielen Dank für die Einladung! Ich komme gern zu deiner Party am Samstag. Was soll ich mitbringen? Kuchen oder Getränke?

Bis Samstag!
Deine Maria

Essential Vocabulary for A1 Schreiben

Category	Key Phrases
Greetings	Liebe/Lieber, Hallo, Guten Tag
Thanks	Danke, Vielen Dank, Danke schön
Invitations	Ich lade dich ein, Kommst du?, Wir feiern
Acceptance	Ich komme gern, Ja, gerne, Das ist toll
Regret	Leider kann ich nicht, Tut mir leid
Questions	Was?, Wann?, Wo?, Wie viel?, Soll ich...?
Closings	Bis bald, Viele Grüße, Liebe Grüße, Tschüss

Tips for Success in A1 Schreiben

                Read instructions carefully: Make sure you understand what to write
Answer all points: Address every question in the task
Keep it simple: Use vocabulary and grammar you know well
Check word count: Write 30-40 words for Teil 2 (not too short, not too long)
Use correct format: Include greeting, content, and closing
Mind your spelling: Check capitalization (nouns start with capital letters)
Watch the time: Leave 2-3 minutes to review your writing
Write legibly: Make sure your handwriting is clear and readable

            

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Forgetting to capitalize nouns (write "Haus" not "haus")
❌ Using wrong verb forms (ich bin, du bist, er/sie ist)
❌ Missing umlauts (ä, ö, ü) - they change meaning!
❌ Not answering all task points
❌ Writing too much or too little
❌ Using overly complex sentences
❌ Forgetting greeting or closing

How to Prepare for A1 Schreiben

Effective preparation strategies:

Practice writing short texts daily (even 5 sentences helps)
Learn common letter phrases by heart
Fill out sample forms regularly
Write messages to language exchange partners
Keep a simple German diary
Review basic grammar: present tense, word order, articles
Practice with authentic exam materials
Get feedback from teachers or native speakers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long is the A1 Schreiben test?

The A1 writing test lasts 20 minutes total: approximately 8-10 minutes for form filling and 10-12 minutes for the letter.

Can I use a dictionary?

No, dictionaries are not allowed during the exam. You must rely on your vocabulary knowledge.

What if I make spelling mistakes?

Minor spelling errors are acceptable if the meaning is clear. However, try to write as accurately as possible, especially with common words.

Do I need to write in cursive?

No, you can write in print or cursive. The most important thing is that your writing is legible.

What happens if I write more than 40 words?

Writing slightly more (up to 50 words) is usually acceptable. However, very long texts may lose points for not following instructions.

Related Resources

A1 German Certificate Overview - Complete exam guide
A1 Lesen Practice - Reading test preparation
A1 Hören Practice - Listening test preparation
A1 Vocabulary Builder - Essential German words

A1 German Writing Test (Schreiben Prüfung)