DELE B1 Writing Exam: Tasks, Model Texts & How to Write Clear, Connected Spanish

DELE B1 writing is where you prove you can organize ideas on paper the way an independent user does: a clear opening, connected paragraphs, reasons for your opinions, and a tidy close. The step up from A2 is mostly about structure and connectors, not difficult vocabulary. Many capable speakers lose marks here simply because they write one idea per sentence with no flow, or ignore the word count.

In over fifteen years of teaching Spanish in Noida and online, I, Vikash Gupta, have found that planning before writing is the single habit that most quickly lifts the B1 Writing paper.

This guide provides a complete walkthrough of the exam format, syllabus, sample prompts, and practical strategies to help you write with confidence.

What Does DELE B1 Writing Ask?

DELE B1 writing asks you to produce two short, connected texts: a personal letter or message that responds to an input, and a composition that presents an opinion or narrates an experience. Both must be relevant, well-organized into paragraphs, and written in a register that suits the reader, using intermediate grammar with reasonable accuracy.

At B1, the examiner rewards three things.

• First, task fulfillment: you answer every point the prompt asks for.
• Second, coherence: ideas are grouped into paragraphs and joined with connectors rather than listed.
• Third, range with control: you use past tenses, the future, the conditional, and a little subjunctive, accurately enough to be clear.

Spelling and accents matter less than whether your message is organized and complete, which is good news for learners who plan before they write, the core habit a structured DELE preparation plan instills.

DELE B1 Writing Exam at a Glance

DELE B1 Writing Scoring and Grading

The DELE B1 exam is marked out of 100 points, divided into two groups of 50. Writing is scored with Reading in Group 1, while Listening and Speaking form Group 2. You need at least 30 out of 50 in each group, which is 60%, and the two groups do not compensate, so writing and reading together have to clear the threshold.

Examiners grade your writing against the official CEFR B1 writing descriptors on how well you complete the task, how coherent and cohesive the text is, how accurate and varied your grammar and vocabulary are, and whether the register suits the situation.

A common surprise for candidates is that going badly over or under the word count costs marks, so practicing to length is part of the skill. Plan for two or three minutes, write, then leave two minutes to check verbs and connectors and to ensure you covered every point in the prompt.

Once you’ve drafted your writing responses, strengthen your performance with the DELE B1 speaking role‑plays, B1 DELE listening strategy, and DELE B1 reading exercises.

Your DELE B1 Writing Prep Flowchart

The Two DELE B1 Writing Tasks, Explained

The B1 writing paper has two tasks, and you manage the 60 minutes on your own. Read both prompts first, then plan, because Tarea 2 usually carries the most weight.

Tarea 1: The reply. You read a short input, often a letter, email, advertisement, or message, and write a personal response of around 100 to 120 words. Typical prompts ask you to accept or decline an invitation, ask for information, or describe plans. The skill is answering every point in the input in a consistent, mostly informal register, with a proper greeting and sign-off.

Tarea 2: The composition. You choose from options and write around 130 to 150 words, either narrating an experience (a trip, a celebration, a memorable day) or giving an opinion on a familiar topic, sometimes prompted by a short statistic or survey. This rewards a clear structure: an introduction, two developed paragraphs, and a conclusion, held together with connectors.

For both tasks, plan the paragraphs before writing, cover all required points, and maintain a single register throughout. At B1, how you organize the text counts as much as the individual sentences.

Grammar, Connectors, and Register B1 Writing Needs

B1 writing draws on the full past system (perfecto, indefinido, imperfecto), the future and the conditional, the present subjunctive in frames like espero que and cuando + subjunctive, and a solid set of connectors: además, sin embargo, por eso, aunque, en mi opinión, and por ejemplo. These connectors are what turn a list of sentences into a flowing paragraph.

Register is the other B1 marker. A reply to a friend opens with ¡Hola! and closes with un abrazo, while a more formal message uses Estimado/a and un cordial saludo. Mixing the two, or writing a formal complaint in casual language, signals you have not yet controlled register.

Functions tested include inviting, apologizing, requesting, narrating, comparing, and giving reasoned opinions, the everyday writing of an independent user who can manage life, study, and work in Spanish, which is why B1 unlocks so many of the career options in Spanish.

Question Types: What to Expect in DELE B1 Writing

Tarea 1 prompts often resemble: “Has recibido este correo de tu amigo Luis: ‘Hola, me han ofrecido un trabajo en otra ciudad, pero no sé si aceptarlo.’ ¿Tú qué harías? Cuéntame también qué tal va tu curso de español. Contéstale dando consejos, explicando tu situación y preguntando por otros detalles.” Your response must include advice using conditional or subjunctive, a description of your Spanish course, and a question back.

Tarea 2 might present: “Has visto el siguiente anuncio: ‘Curso intensivo de fotografía en Barcelona.’ 2 semanas. Alojamiento incluido. Plazas limitadas. Escribe una carta al organizador pidiendo información: tu interés, fechas disponibles, precio, si incluye materiales y solicitando un descuento para estudiantes.” Your letter must have a formal salutation, structured paragraphs, and a polite closing.

The examiners expect clear paragraphing, a range of appropriate connectors, and few basic grammatical errors.

Spanish B1 Writing: Sample Papers & Practice Questions

Sample Tarea 1 response extract: “Querido Luis: Me alegra saber que tienes una oportunidad laboral. Yo, en tu lugar, aceptaría si la ciudad me gusta y el sueldo es bueno. Mi curso de español va muy bien; estoy aprendiendo el subjuntivo y ya puedo mantener conversaciones. ¿Has hablado con tu familia sobre la oferta? Un abrazo, [Nombre].”

Sample Tarea 2 response extract: “Estimados señores: Les escribo en relación con el anuncio del curso de fotografía que encontré en internet. Me interesa mucho porque soy aficionado y quiero mejorar mis habilidades. Me gustaría saber las fechas exactas de las próximas ediciones y el precio total. Además, ¿el precio incluye los materiales fotográficos? Por último, quería preguntar si ofrecen algún descuento para estudiantes universitarios. Les agradezco de antemano su respuesta. Atentamente, [Nombre].”

These examples show the expected level of sophistication and the ability to adapt register.

Model DELE B1 Writing Answers

Here is a model opening for a Tarea 1 reply to a friend who invited you to a weekend trip:

“¡Hola, Lucía! Muchas gracias por invitarme a la excursión del sábado. Me encantaría ir, porque hace tiempo que no salgo de la ciudad. ¿A qué hora salimos y qué necesito llevar? Si quieres, yo puedo preparar la comida. Un abrazo, Priya.”

It works because it thanks the writer, accepts with a reason (porque), asks the questions the prompt requires, offers something, and uses an informal greeting and sign-off.

For a Tarea 2 opinion text on “Is it better to study in a group or alone?”, a strong paragraph reads: “En mi opinión, estudiar en grupo tiene muchas ventajas. Por un lado, puedes resolver dudas con tus compañeros. Sin embargo, a veces es difícil concentrarse. Por eso, creo que lo mejor es combinar ambas formas.”

Notice the position, the reason, the concession, and the conclusion, all linked by connectors.

How to Prepare for and Pass DELE B1 Writing

The most effective routine is to write one short text every day to a strict word count, then get it corrected so the same mistakes don’t repeat. Writing improves through feedback far more than through volume alone, so quality of correction beats quantity of pages.

• Alternate the two task types daily: one reply, then one composition.
• Plan paragraphs in 30 seconds before writing: intro, two points, conclusion.
• Keep a personal connector bank and use at least four per composition.
• Practice both registers, formal and informal, with set openings and closings.
• Write to length and time yourself, then check verbs, accents, and that every prompt point is covered.

Detailed correction is where coaching pays off, because you cannot reliably mark your own register and coherence. Our DELE B1 study plan corrects every written task in detail, so the same mistakes are not repeated well before exam day.

A B1 Connector and Phrase Bank You Can Reuse

Half of B1 writing is having reliable building blocks ready, so you spend your 60 minutes on ideas, not on hunting for words. Memorize a small, flexible bank and adapt it to any prompt rather than learning whole essays by heart.

For greetings and closings, keep both registers ready: informal ¡Hola, …! with Un abrazo or Un saludo, and more formal Estimado/a … with Atentamente or Un cordial saludo. To organise an argument, lean on: en primer lugar, además, por un lado, por otro lado and en conclusión.

To connect ideas, use porque, ya que, sin embargo, aunque, por eso y por ejemplo. To give opinions, use «en mi opinión», «creo que», «me parece que», and «desde mi punto de vista» so you do not repeat the same phrase. For invitations and replies: “Me encantaría. Gracias por invitarme. Lamentablemente, no podré.” And “¿Te parece bien si…?”. Cover most situations.

Practice dropping these into both task types in small-group online Spanish classes until they feel natural. The goal is not to sound formulaic but to free your attention to focus on content, accuracy, and covering every point the prompt asks for, which is exactly what the examiner rewards.

Common DELE B1 Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Discover the most frequent DELE and SIELE exam errors, from timing and format to accents and subjunctive, and exactly how to fix each one.

1. Ignoring the word count. Going far over or under the target loses marks; write to length in practice.
2. One idea per sentence. Without connectors, the text reads as a list, not a paragraph.
3. Missing prompt points. Tarea 1 lists what to include; skip one, and you cap your score.
4. Mixing register. A formal complaint in casual Spanish, or the reverse, costs marks.
5. No paragraph plan. Writing without structure produces a wandering composition.
6. Underusing the subjunctive. A couple of accurate uses signal genuine B1.
7. No time to check. Leaving two minutes to review verbs and accents catches easy errors.
8. Time your writing strictly. 30 minutes/task means 5 minutes to plan, 20 minutes to write, and 5 minutes for review.

DELE B1 Writing: Your Questions Answered