The B2 Writing Task: Formal Complaint With a Word Limit
A B2 candidate must write a formal email of complaint to a language school: a course was cancelled twice, the substitute teacher lacked materials, and a refund was promised but not paid. Requirements: 120–150 words, formal register, all three points, a clear request. The candidate writes 210 words, uses "du" once by accident, covers the refund and cancellation but omits the missing materials, and ends with "Schreib mir bald". He argues that more content should earn more marks. The task also requires a subject line and a closing formula.
1. Which criteria does this response fail, and what is the priority fix?
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It fails task fulfilment (missing the materials point), register ("du", "Schreib mir bald"), and length control (210 words exceeds 150, which can cap the score). The priority fix is task fulfilment: a checklist of the three content points before writing. Register is second: use "Sie", "Mit freundlichen Grüßen", and a formal subject line. Length is third: plan four short paragraphs (situation, two problems, request) and cut adjectives, not content points.
2. How should he plan the email to fit 120–150 words while covering everything?
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Allocate roughly: subject line (not counted or counted per rubric), 25 words opening and situation, 35 words for the three problems compressed into two sentences, 25 words for the refund request with a deadline, 20 words closing formula. Draft the three points as bullet notes first, then join them. Formal German compresses well with nouns ("die zweimalige Absage", "das fehlende Material"). He should count words at the end and trim redundancy, never a content point.