The Form That Asks Too Much
Goethe A1 Schreiben, Part 2: you must write a short message (about 30 words) to a friend. The prompt: "Sie können am Samstag nicht zum Geburtstag kommen. Schreiben Sie: Grund, Entschuldigung, neuer Termin." You draft: "Liebe Anna, ich kann am Samstag nicht kommen, weil ich arbeiten muss. Es tut mir sehr leid. Können wir uns am Sonntag treffen? Viele Grüße, Sara." You count 26 words. You worry it is too short and consider adding a long paragraph about your job and your family to reach a safer length.
1. Does your draft meet all three required content points?
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Yes, all three are present and explicit:
- Grund: "weil ich arbeiten muss"
- Entschuldigung: "Es tut mir sehr leid"
- neuer Termin: "am Sonntag" At A1 the task is graded on whether each required point is communicated, not on length. A short message that hits all three beats a long one that buries them. Keep the draft's structure.
2. Should you add the long paragraph about job and family?
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No. Adding unrelated content risks two problems: (1) more chances for grammar/spelling errors that lower the score, and (2) drifting off-task. A1 Part 2 rewards clear, simple sentences that answer the prompt. 26 words is acceptable if the three points are clear. If you want a little more, add one short relevant sentence such as "Samstag ist leider schlecht" - not a new topic.
3. Check the greeting and closing. Anything an A1 grader expects that is missing?
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The draft is well-formed: informal greeting ("Liebe Anna"), informal closing ("Viele Grüße"), and a signature ("Sara"). One thing to verify: consistency of du-form. "Können wir uns treffen?" is fine. Avoid mixing "Sie" and "du." Also check the verb position after "weil" - "weil ich arbeiten muss" is correct (verb at the end). These are the mechanics A1 actually checks.