The writing part of the B1 exam — two tasks, 35 minutes

The exam always opens with the writing part. It's the only part where you start from a blank page — every other part gives you multiple-choice options or ready-made material to react to.

Two tasks

The first task is either filling in a questionnaire or writing a short notice — an invitation, a card, or a brief message. For the notice, the expected length is about 50 words. It tests whether you can convey personal information, plans and preferences in a simple, direct form.

The second task is either a story on a given topic or a personal letter, about 100 words long. This expects more: describing events, narrating, explaining, and expressing an opinion.

Together the writing part is worth 25 of the 100 total points — the same weight as every other part.

What actually gets assessed

Marking isn't "right/wrong" — it's whether you fulfil communicative functions: can you explain, describe, make proposals, express an opinion, and give personal information in an understandable way. A short but complete and clear text beats a long but confused one.

Two rules worth knowing before you pick up the pen:

• Using outside help means the whole paper is scored 0 points. This isn't just about cheat-sheets — it also applies when someone else's help is obvious from the phrasing.
• Work written in pencil is invalid. Write only in black or blue ink; when correcting a mistake, strike through the whole word rather than using correction fluid.

Why a blank page is the most expensive answer

If you skip the writing part, or write only a few words, the result isn't "zero on this part, but maybe I'll make it up elsewhere" — this is exactly the situation that leads to failing the whole exam regardless of your total score, because no single skill may score zero. Even a flawed but genuinely written 50-word notice earns points a blank page never will.

How to practise

Two things help the most:

1. Get a feel for the length. 50 and 100 words are shorter than they feel — write on paper and count until you can tell how much you've written without counting.
2. Practise both forms separately. The questionnaire/notice and the story/letter need different skills: the first is precise and short, the second is narrative and longer. Don't practise only one.

This site's writing exercises let you practise both forms with AI feedback — you find out what to fix right away, not only on exam day.

Sources: Eesti keele B1-taseme eksam — eristuskiri (test specification, Harno); Information sheet for the Estonian language proficiency examinee (Harno, 2025). Facts reviewed 14 September 2026 — word counts and the exact point split between tasks can change over time; always check Harno's current page.

An explanatory article, not legal advice.