Goethe A2 Writing: SMS and Email Examples

In A2 writing, the recipient and purpose determine your message. A brief note to a friend and a polite request to a course office need different greetings, but both must give the information requested in the task.

The current official adult model has two writing tasks in 30 minutes: a 20–30-word SMS and a 30–40-word email, each covering three content points. Follow the instructions on your actual paper. The original examples below illustrate these lengths; they are not official scored responses.

Make a short plan for each message

Underline the recipient and the action you need: apologize, invite, ask or explain. Write a keyword beside each content point. Use simple linking words such as weil, deshalb and aber where they clarify the relationship. Do not add a connector to every sentence. Follow the word guidance and instructions printed in your task rather than a memorized universal length.

Original SMS: arriving late

Hallo Max, entschuldige bitte! Mein Bus steht im Stau. Ich komme zwanzig Minuten später. Warte bitte im Café neben dem Bahnhof. Bis gleich! Anna

This original example gives a reason, an expected delay and a place to wait. A vague “I will be late” leaves the friend without a plan. Change the situation to a cancelled train and propose a new meeting time. Check whether your new reason still agrees with the action you suggest.

Original email: ask about a course

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, ich suche einen Deutschkurs ab 18 Uhr. Wann findet Ihr Abendkurs statt und wie viel kostet er? Bitte schicken Sie mir weitere Informationen über den Kurs. Ich arbeite tagsüber. Vielen Dank. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Anna

This is a teaching model, not an official task or a scored response. The writer explains the timing constraint and asks clear questions. The formal greeting and Sie fit an office. If the actual prompt asks about a different issue, such as bringing materials, replace a question rather than copying this message unchanged.

Revise in two passes

First check content: can you point to an answer for each required item? Then check language: verb position, endings, capitalization and consistent address. Ask a reader what they would do after receiving the message. If they cannot tell whether you are accepting or declining an invitation, clarify that before polishing an adjective ending.