Goethe A2 Writing Exam: SMS, Email and a 30-Minute Method
How to complete the two official A2 writing tasks, manage 20 to 30 and 30 to 40 words, and match the right level of formality.
The A2 writing section lasts 30 minutes. In the official adult model test, Part 1 is a short personal SMS of 20 to 30 words and Part 2 is a semi-formal email of 30 to 40 words. Both tasks provide three content points.
Part 1: Personal SMS
Write directly to a friend or familiar person. State the situation, answer every point and make the requested arrangement. Natural openings such as “Hallo Anna” and closings such as “Liebe Grüße” fit this task.
Part 2: Semi-formal email
Write to a person you do not know closely, for example a course leader, host or organiser. Use “Sehr geehrte Frau ...” or “Sehr geehrter Herr ...”, polite requests with könnten or bitte, and “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” at the end.
A safe time plan
- 2 minutes: read both tasks and mark the content points.
- 10 minutes: write the SMS and check all three points.
- 14 minutes: write the email with the correct formal frame.
- 4 minutes: check verb position, endings, nouns and word counts.
Do not spend time inventing a sophisticated story. The strongest A2 response is easy to follow, appropriate for the reader and complete on all three points.