Written part
fide test writing: the letter and the email – structure, samples and phrases
In the written part (60 minutes) you reply to an email at A2; at B1 you write a formal letter and an email to a friend. A clear structure makes sure you cover every point that is scored.
What the written part includes
| Level | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | Two ads or notices: copy information into a list | Reply to an email about an appointment |
| B1 | For an instruction or notice, choose the right summary out of three, twice; for five ads, choose the right statement out of three for each | A formal letter; an email to a friend about one of the ads |
The German test is written in Swiss standard German – “ss” instead of “ß” – and Swiss words such as Velo or Billett are fine.
How it is scored
- Each task gives three guiding points. Each point earns marks – if you forget one, you lose all of that point’s marks.
- In the B1 formal letter each point gets 0, 1.5 or 3 marks. Full marks mean the information is complete, appropriate and easy to read.
- In the emails the greeting and closing also count, as does the quality of the language: coherence, accuracy and spelling.
- Being understandable and using the right tone count for more than perfect grammar.
Structure of a formal letter
- 1Greeting: “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” (French: “Madame, Monsieur,”).
- 2Opening: why are you writing? (point 1)
- 3Main part: what happened, what is wrong? (point 2)
- 4Closing: what should the company or office do – and by when? (point 3)
- 5Sign-off: “Freundliche Grüsse” (French: “Meilleures salutations”) and your name.
Sample B1 letter (German)
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren Am 3. März habe ich mein E-Bike bei Ihnen reparieren lassen. Heute habe ich Ihre Rechnung über CHF 380 erhalten. Im Laden hat man mir aber gesagt, dass die Reparatur ungefähr CHF 250 kostet. Ausserdem funktioniert die Bremse schon wieder nicht richtig, und ich kann so nicht zur Arbeit fahren. Bitte reparieren Sie die Bremse kostenlos und schicken Sie mir eine neue Rechnung über CHF 250. Ich kann das Velo am Samstag vorbeibringen. Freundliche Grüsse Ana Silva
Each paragraph covers exactly one guiding point, so the markers find every point straight away. The French guide has the same letter in French.
Sample A2 email (German)
Liebe Frau Keller Am Samstag helfe ich Ihnen gern. Leider kann ich erst um 10 Uhr kommen, weil ich am Morgen meinen Sohn zum Fussball bringe. Ich habe bis 15 Uhr Zeit. Wie viele Kisten haben Sie? Freundliche Grüsse Ana In English: Happy to help on Saturday, but I can only come at 10 because I take my son to football in the morning. I’m free until 3 pm. How many boxes do you have?
Useful phrases
| Purpose | German (formal) | French (formal) |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for writing | Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil … | Je vous écris parce que … |
| Describe a problem | Leider stimmt … nicht. Ausserdem … | Malheureusement, … ne correspond pas. De plus, … |
| Make a request | Bitte … Sie bis zum 15. Mai … | Je vous prie de … d’ici le 15 mai. |
| Suggest something | Ich schlage vor, dass … | Je vous propose de … |
| To a friend | Liebe Sara / Lieber Marco … Liebe Grüsse | Chère Sara / Cher Marco … Bises |
Common mistakes
- Forgetting a guiding point – this costs the most marks.
- Mixing formal and informal: always “Sie” / “vous” in the formal letter, “du” / “tu” in the email to a friend.
- Writing too little: two or three sentences per point is a good guide.
- Using “ß” in the German test: in Switzerland it is “ss” (Grüsse, gross).
Frequently asked questions
- How long should the fide letter be?
- There is no fixed word count. What matters is that all three guiding points are covered clearly. Two or three sentences per point are usually enough.
- Can I write in Swiss German?
- No. The written part requires Swiss standard German. Typical Swiss words such as Velo or Billett are allowed.
- Who marks my text?
- The written part is marked centrally by two trained markers.
Sources: fide test handbook (May 2026), regulations for taking the fide test (October 2026) and fide-service.ch. As of November 2026; the information from the fide secretariat and your authority is what counts.