DELE B1 written expression: examples and strategies

Updated in June 2026 · 10 min read

Structure of the written expression test

The written expression and interaction test of the DELE B1 lasts 60 minutes and consists of two tasks. It is part of Group 1 along with reading comprehension, and you need a minimum of 60% in the group to pass.

You have the freedom to distribute the time between both tasks as you prefer, but a good strategy is to dedicate 25 minutes to Task 1 and 30 minutes to Task 2, leaving 5 final minutes for review.

Task 1: Letter or email

What are you asked for?

You must write a text of between 100 and 120 words in response to a prompt (an advertisement, a received email, a proposed situation). The text can be:

• A formal letter or email (to a company, institution, teacher)
• An informal letter or email (to a friend, colleague)
• A message in a forum or social network

The prompt always indicates the register (formal or informal) and gives you points that you must include in your text.

Example of a prompt (formal)

"You have seen an advertisement for a Spanish cooking course in your city. Write an email to the training center to: request information about schedules and prices, ask if prior experience is needed, indicate your availability."

Example of a prompt (informal)

"Your friend Carlos has written to you telling you that he is going to move to your city. Reply to him: express your happiness about the news, offer help with the move, suggest a neighborhood to live in and explain why."

Recommended structure for Task 1

1. Greeting: Formal ("Dear Sir/Madam:") or informal ("Hi, Carlos!")
2. Introduction: A sentence that contextualizes the reason for the message
3. Development: Address all the points of the prompt (2-3 short paragraphs)
4. Closing: An appropriate farewell sentence for the register
5. Signature: Your name

Useful phrases for Task 1

Formal register:

• "I am writing to you regarding..."
• "I am addressing you to request information about..."
• "I would appreciate it if you could inform me of..."
• "I look forward to your response."
• "Best regards."

Informal register:

• "What a joy to receive your message!"
• "I am writing to you because..."
• "What do you think if...?"
• "I hope to see you soon."
• "A big hug."

Task 2: Article, essay, or blog post

What are you asked for?

You must write a text of between 130 and 150 words. It can be:

• An opinion article for a magazine or newspaper
• A blog post
• A narrative text (telling an experience)
• An argumentative text (defending a position)

The prompt gives you the context and the points you must develop.

Example of a prompt

"In your Spanish school magazine, students have been asked to write an article on the topic: 'Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?'. Write your article including: advantages and disadvantages of each option, your personal experience, your opinion, and a conclusion."

Recommended structure for Task 2

1. Title: Brief and related to the topic (optional but recommended)
2. Introduction (1-2 sentences): Present the topic and capture attention
3. Development (2-3 paragraphs): Develop the points of the prompt with examples and opinions
4. Conclusion (1-2 sentences): Summarize your position or close the text

Essential connectors and expressions

To organize the discourse

• Firstly / Secondly / Lastly
• On one hand... on the other hand...
• To begin / To continue / To finish
• Regarding / As for

To express opinion

• In my opinion / From my point of view
• I believe that / I think that / It seems to me that
• I am convinced that
• Personally, I consider that

To contrast ideas

• However / Nevertheless
• Although / Despite the fact that
• On the contrary
• In contrast

To add information

• Moreover / Also / Likewise
• Even / In fact
• Not only... but also...

To give examples

• For example / Such as
• That is / In other words
• Specifically / In particular

To conclude

• In conclusion / In summary
• To conclude / Ultimately
• For all the above

Evaluation criteria

Examiners evaluate your text according to these criteria:

1. Relevance: Do you meet what the prompt asks for? Do you use the correct register? Do you respect the format?
2. Coherence and cohesion: Does the text have a logical structure? Do you use connectors? Are the paragraphs well organized?
3. Grammatical accuracy: Do you use verb tenses, agreements, and structures correctly?
4. Lexical range: Is your vocabulary varied and appropriate for level B1?

You do not need to write a perfect text. Examiners expect errors typical of level B1. The important thing is that you communicate clearly, use varied structures, and meet all the points of the prompt.

Common mistakes to avoid

Formatting errors

• Not respecting the word count (writing much less or much more)
• Mixing formal and informal register in the same text
• Forgetting the greeting or farewell in letters/emails
• Not including all the points requested by the prompt

Frequent grammatical errors

• Confusion between ser/estar: "Estoy de acuerdo" (not "soy de acuerdo")
• Incorrect use of por/para: "Gracias por tu ayuda" vs. "Estudio para aprobar"
• Gender agreement: "La problema" → "El problema"
• Confusion of past tenses in narratives
• Subjunctive misused or completely avoided

Content errors

• Repeating the same ideas with different words to reach the word count
• Straying from the proposed topic
• Not giving personal opinion when requested
• Writing overly long and confusing sentences

Practical tips for exam day

1. Read the prompt twice and underline the points you must include
2. Make a quick outline before writing (1-2 minutes)
3. Count the words while writing to avoid going over or under
4. Leave room for corrections: write with space between lines if possible
5. Reserve 5 minutes at the end to reread and correct obvious errors
6. If you can't remember a word, use a synonym or explain the idea in another way