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DELF B1 guide

DELF B1 writing (Production écrite): format, grading criteria and a model answer

In the DELF B1 writing section you have 45 minutes to write one text of at least 160 words in which you give and support your opinion. It is marked out of 25 on five criteria, each scored 0, 1, 3 or 5. Below: what each criterion checks, a sample subject with a model answer, and the mistakes that cost the most points.

Updated October 2026

What the task looks like

You get one subject describing a situation and who you are writing to. Typical formats are a forum post, a letter or email to a friend, a more formal email (for example to an organization or your employer) and an article or personal account for a magazine or website.

Whatever the format, the subject asks you to present facts, events or experiences and to express your opinion on them. The minimum is 160 words; there is no official maximum, but a text far over 200 words leaves less time to proofread.

The five grading criteria

Each criterion is scored on the same scale: 0 (not enough to assess), 1 (below B1, closer to A2), 3 (B1 reached) or 5 (solid B1 or higher). Two criteria assess the content of your text, one its register, and two your language.

Criterion
Task completion (Réalisation de la tâche)
What the examiner checks
You answer the subject: the facts or experiences it asks for, with concrete details and examples, and a clearly stated opinion. A list of ideas without explanation is penalized.
Criterion
Coherence and cohesion (Cohérence et cohésion)
What the examiner checks
Ideas follow each other logically and are linked. Paragraphs and punctuation make the text easy to read. The number of connectors matters less than the flow.
Criterion
Sociolinguistic appropriateness (Adéquation sociolinguistique)
What the examiner checks
Greeting and sign-off suit the reader (« Bonjour à tous » on a forum, « Chère Élise, » to a friend), and you use tu or vous consistently.
Criterion
Vocabulary (Lexique)
What the examiner checks
Range and accuracy of words for everyday topics, used in the right context, and their spelling.
Criterion
Grammar (Morphosyntaxe)
What the examiner checks
Simple and common complex sentences, varied tenses suited to the task (the conditional for advice or suggestions), agreement and prepositions.

Penalties apply before the criteria: a text under half the required length (fewer than 80 words) scores 0 on everything. An off-topic text is capped: if the theme is wrong, at most 3 for task completion and vocabulary; if the type of text is wrong (for example a story instead of an opinion), at most 1 for task completion and coherence; a completely off-topic text scores 0 on three criteria and at most 1 on the other two.

Sample subject and model answer

Subject
Vous lisez ce message sur le forum de votre ville : « La mairie veut interdire les voitures dans le centre-ville le week-end. Qu’en pensez-vous ? » Vous répondez sur le forum. Vous donnez votre opinion en vous appuyant sur des exemples et sur votre expérience. (160 mots minimum)
Model answer (about 190 words)
Bonjour à tous, J’ai lu avec intérêt le projet de la mairie et je voudrais donner mon avis. Personnellement, je suis plutôt favorable à cette idée. D’abord, le centre-ville est très pollué, surtout le samedi. Quand je me promène dans la rue principale avec mes enfants, nous respirons les gaz d’échappement et il y a beaucoup de bruit. Sans voitures, les familles pourraient marcher tranquillement et les enfants pourraient jouer sans danger. Ensuite, je pense que les commerces en profiteraient. L’année dernière, j’ai passé un week-end dans une ville voisine où le centre est piéton. Les rues étaient pleines de monde et les cafés avaient beaucoup de clients. J’ai moi-même acheté des cadeaux dans plusieurs petites boutiques que je ne connaissais pas. Cependant, il faut penser aux personnes âgées et aux habitants qui travaillent le week-end. Ma voisine, par exemple, a quatre-vingts ans et ne peut pas marcher longtemps. À mon avis, la mairie devrait proposer des bus gratuits et des parkings à l’entrée du centre-ville. Pour conclure, je crois que ce projet est une bonne chose, à condition de bien l’organiser. Bonne journée à tous, Marc

Why this answer scores well:

  • Task completion: a clear opinion right at the start, two arguments each backed by a concrete example (a walk with the children, a weekend in a pedestrian town), and a nuance with a suggestion.
  • Coherence: one idea per paragraph, linked by D’abord, Ensuite, Cependant and Pour conclure.
  • Sociolinguistic appropriateness: a forum greeting and sign-off, the same register throughout.
  • Vocabulary: precise everyday words for the topic (gaz d’échappement, piéton, commerces, parkings) instead of vague general terms.
  • Grammar: present, passé composé, imparfait and conditional (pourraient, profiteraient, devrait) — the variety B1 expects.

A plan for the 45 minutes

  • 5–10 minutes: read the subject twice, note who you are writing to and what it asks, and jot down two or three ideas with an example for each.
  • 25–30 minutes: write — greeting, a short introduction with your opinion, one paragraph per idea, a conclusion and a sign-off.
  • 5 minutes: proofread for agreement, verb endings and accents, and count your words.
Useful phrases
Donner son avis : À mon avis… / Personnellement, je pense que… / Il me semble que… Organiser : D’abord… Ensuite… Enfin… / Pour conclure… Illustrer : Par exemple… / L’année dernière, j’ai… Nuancer : Cependant… / Pourtant… / à condition de… Conseiller : On devrait… / Il faudrait… / La mairie pourrait…

Mistakes that cost the most points

  • Writing fewer than 160 words. Under 80 words, the whole section scores 0.
  • Listing ideas without examples or personal experience — the task completion criterion stays low.
  • Forgetting the greeting and sign-off, or switching between tu and vous.
  • Writing the whole text in the present tense when the subject asks you to describe an experience or make suggestions.
  • One long block of text with no paragraphs.