How many parts is Goethe A2 Schreiben and how long does it take?

Schreiben has **two parts** (an SMS and an email) and lasts about **30 minutes**.

How many words should the texts be?

The **SMS is about 20–30 words** and the **email about 30–40 words**. First complete the three content points.

Should I use du or Sie?

The SMS is to a friend, so **du**; the email is formal/semi-formal, so **Sie**.

Task fulfilment, register, range, and accuracy are assessed. If task fulfilment gets the lowest level (E), that task scores **0 points**.

What if I skip a content point?

Each task requires three points; skipping one lowers your score and risks a 0.

Goethe A2 Schreiben (Writing): The 2 Parts and Examples

Level:A2Duration:~1 h 45 minFee:~€110–150Validity:UnlimitedFormat:Single sitting

Last updated: July 2026 · 6 min read

Schreiben (writing) is one of the written modules of Goethe A2. It lasts about 30 minutes and has two parts: a short SMS and an email. In each task you are expected to fully cover three content points.

Teil 1: SMS (20–30 words)

You write a short SMS to a friend (e.g. telling them you'll be late). Cover the three points: apologise, explain why, and suggest a new place/time. Use the informal address (du).

Hallo Ekaterini,

es tut mir leid, ich komme heute später. Mein Bus hat Verspätung. Können wir uns um 18 Uhr am Café treffen? Bis gleich!

Liebe Grüße, Marco

Teil 2: Email (30–40 words)

You write a semi-formal E-Mail (e.g. replying to an invitation from your workplace). Cover the three points: thank and confirm attendance, mention one thing, and ask a question. Use Sie for a formal/unknown addressee.

Sehr geehrter Herr Lehmann,

vielen Dank für die Einladung. Ich komme gern zu Ihrer Feier und bringe meine Frau mit. Können Sie mir bitte die Adresse schicken?

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, ...

How Is It Assessed?

Assessment uses four criteria: Aufgabenerfüllung (task fulfilment — did you cover the three points), Register (appropriate address: du/Sie), range of language, and accuracy. If task fulfilment gets the lowest level (E), that task scores 0 points, so always cover all three points.

Useful Phrases

Greeting: Hallo .../Liebe(r) ... (informal), Sehr geehrte(r) ... (formal)
Thanks/apology: Vielen Dank für ..., Es tut mir leid, dass ...
Suggestion/question: Können wir uns um ... treffen?, Können Sie mir bitte ... schicken?
Closing: Liebe Grüße (informal), Mit freundlichen Grüßen (formal)

Practise Schreiben with Zertifly

With Zertifly's A2 Schreiben exercises, you can write your text in the exam format and get instant AI feedback on content, register, and grammar.

Conclusion

Schreiben is a part where you can score reliably once you know the ready-made phrases and cover all three content points. Before worrying about the word count, focus on completing the task points and using the right form of address.

For the full exam, see our Goethe A2 guide.