Exam preparation: In this series of articles I give you tips for your German exam. The first part was about the examination part: reading comprehension and here I explain to you how best to prepare for your writing tasks.
What's the best way to prepare?
- Use every opportunity to write regularly. Always pay attention to time (setting timers) and the maximum number of words.
- Write short messages to friends or acquaintances.
- Read interesting texts and write down useful words and phrases. You can also create a topic folder and remember important phrases. The more you read, the better your writing performance will be!
Put yourself in the exam situation:
- Write your exam texts by hand, as during the exam, and not on your mobile phone or computer.
- In the B1 exam, you have 30 minutes for 120 words to write. If you can't write 120 words in 30 minutes, write simpler sentences.
- Number the lines to save time counting words! If you always need 15 lines for 120 words in the exercise texts, then it's the same in the exam! No need to count!
Important during the exam:
- Be aware whether it is a formal, semi-formal or informal letter. (Different salutations!!)
- Write clearly and readably.
- There is a comma after the salutation (Liebe Silke,...)
- After the comma, you keep writing in small letters.
- Answer all points - even if you are not sure what to write and write 2-3 sentences per point.
- Always leave a blank line for corrections.
- Don't write sentences that are too long unless you are absolutely sure they are correct. But make sure that you also write subordinate clauses. (From B1) Better simple and right than complicated and wrong.
- Don't forget date, salutation, greeting and signature (your name)!
- Pay attention to the sentence structure (position of the verbs etc.)!
- Find out how many words you have to write in your exam and practice writing exactly this number +-10%.
This is what the examiners pay attention to:
- Were all points covered? (max. number of points: 5)
- How is the communicative design (arrangement of points, linking of sentences, date, salutation, greeting formula...)? (max. number of points: 5)
- What is the syntax and spelling like? (max. score: 5)
In my online video course I will prepare you to take the B1 exam at TELC / Gothe and ÖSD. You will find tips and strategies like these that will help you to prepare for your exam.
Click here to prepare for your exam. (click)
Did you know the scan strategy yet? Do you know any other tips?
Write a comment below and let us know!
