Writing: Structure, Register and Accuracy
What the section really tests
Writing tasks require you to produce a coherent text - email, letter, article, blog entry, short report - of specified length, purpose and audience. Assessors reward task fulfilment, cohesion, range of vocabulary and structures, and grammatical accuracy. Concepts to master: Anrede und Grußformel (salutation and closing), Register (formal Sie vs informal du), Konnektoren (deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem, allerdings), and Textaufbau (introduction, body, conclusion).
Traps that cost marks
- Register slips. A formal letter must use Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren and Mit freundlichen Grüßen, with consistent Sie throughout. One stray du undermines the whole text.
- Ignoring bullet points. Each prompt point must be addressed; missing one caps your task-fulfilment score.
- Verb position. In main clauses the verb is second; in subordinate clauses (weil, dass, obwohl) it goes to the end; with modal verbs the infinitive goes last.
- Case after prepositions. mit, nach, aus, bei, seit, von, zu take the dative; für, ohne, durch, gegen take the accusative.
- Length. Too short loses content marks; too long wastes time and invites errors.
Rule of thumb: plan three sentences per bullet point
Jot one main idea, one supporting detail and one connector for each prompt point, then write. Finish with a two-minute check for verb endings, capitalised nouns and umlauts.
Worked example
Prompt point: Sagen Sie, warum Sie nicht kommen können. Weak: Ich kann nicht kommen. Ich bin krank. Better: Leider kann ich am Samstag nicht kommen, weil ich krank geworden bin. Ich hoffe, dass wir uns bald wieder sehen. The second version uses a subordinate clause, a connector and a closing formula that fits a formal email.