They say "informal letter" and you think it'll be the easiest part of the exam. Until you sit down to write it, look at the clock and don't even know where to start. If that's happened to you, don't worry: almost every student feels the same about Task 1 of Prueba 3 (Expresión e interacción escritas) of the DELE B1. The good news is that it's a task with a crystal-clear structure, and once you master it, it becomes almost automatic.

In this post I'll walk you through, step by step, how to write a DELE B1 informal letter that does what the exam asks. Structure, a complete model, connectors that actually work, and the mistakes I see over and over again as an examiner.

Why written Task 1 looks easy but isn't

At first glance, writing an email to a friend sounds simple. You say hello, tell them something, say goodbye. Done.

But in the DELE B1, writing nicely isn't enough. You're being assessed on very specific things: that you respond to ALL the points in the prompt, that you use the right register, that you structure the text, that you show lexical and grammatical variety, and that the length is between 100 and 120 words.

About the length, it's worth clearing up a myth: going over 120 words is not penalised. The exam doesn't take points off for writing too much. What does matter is that the letter fits in the space on the answer sheet and that you keep one thing in mind: the more you write, the more you can get wrong. Falling too short does hurt you, just like leaving one of the points in the prompt unanswered. That's why it pays to have a method, not to improvise.

Let's take a look.

The typical structure of the DELE B1 informal letter

A B1 informal letter or email always has the same structure. Memorise it as if it were a recipe:

  1. Greeting
  2. Reason or introduction (why you're writing)
  3. Body (responding to the points in the prompt)
  4. Sign-off
  5. Signature

There's no need to put a "date" or "place" at the top. This is an email, not a paper letter.

That said, it's a good idea to leave a blank line between each part. It looks visually cleaner and makes the examiner's reading easier. And believe me, that little detail gets noticed.

How to write the greeting

The greeting sets the tone of the whole letter. If you put "Estimado señor", we're off to a bad start: that's formal, and what's called for here is informal.

Greetings that work:

  • Hola, Marta:
  • ¡Hola, Marta!
  • ¿Qué tal, Marta?
  • ¡Hola, Marta! ¿Cómo estás?

Watch out for this: after the name, use a colon (:) or a comma, and always, always include the name of the person you're writing to. If the prompt doesn't give you one, make one up. Don't leave the letter without an addressee.

How to write the reason (the introduction)

This is the part people forget most often. It's not about diving straight into the content. First, one or two sentences to introduce the reason for the email.

Examples:

  • ¿Cómo estás? Te escribo porque…
  • Hace tiempo que no nos vemos. Quería contarte que…
  • Te escribo porque me han dicho que…

Wrong: Hola, Marta: Voy a ir a Madrid el sábado. Mi vuelo sale a las diez.

Right: Hola, Marta: ¿Qué tal estás? Te escribo porque por fin tengo fecha para ir a Madrid y quería contártelo.

You can feel the difference, can't you? The second one sounds like a real letter. The first one sounds like a list.

How to develop the content

This is where you have to respond to all the points in the prompt. And I mean ALL of them. If the prompt has three points, all three have to be in your letter.

My advice: before you start writing, underline the things the prompt asks for and make a mini-list in rough. Then cross them off as you respond to each one.

Connectors that help you link ideas without it sounding like a shopping list:

  • Además,
  • Por cierto,
  • Por otro lado,
  • Por eso,
  • Aun así,
  • De hecho,
  • Por ejemplo,

And careful: don't overuse "y". Every time you see a "y" in your letter, ask yourself whether you can swap it for another connector.

How to write the sign-off

The sign-off has two parts: a closing sentence and the final formula with your signature.

Closing sentences that work:

  • Bueno, ya te contaré qué tal.
  • Espero verte pronto.
  • Escríbeme cuando puedas.
  • Ya me dirás algo.
  • Un abrazo y nos vemos pronto.

Informal sign-offs:

  • Un abrazo,
  • Un beso,
  • Besos,
  • Hasta pronto,
  • Nos vemos,

And below that, your name.

Wrong: Atentamente, Marta García López. (That's formal; it doesn't fit.)

Right: Un abrazo, Marta.

Model DELE B1 informal letter (100-120 words)

Imagine this prompt:

Vas a viajar a Madrid a visitar a tu amigo/a Marta. Escríbele un email para contarle: cuándo llegas, dónde te vas a alojar, qué te gustaría hacer durante la visita y a qué hora prefieres que os veáis.

Here's a model that does what the exam asks. I've labelled it part by part so you can see the structure:

[GREETING]

Hola, Marta:

[REASON]

¿Qué tal estás? ¡Por fin tengo todo organizado para ir a Madrid! Te escribo para contarte los detalles.

[BODY: the 4 points from the prompt]

Llegaré el viernes 5 a las once de la mañana. Me alojaré en un hotel cerca de la Puerta del Sol, así que estaré muy céntrica. Me han recomendado un hotel pequeño y, además, no es caro.

Durante la visita me gustaría ir al Museo del Prado y, si tenemos tiempo, dar un paseo por el Retiro. También me apetece mucho cenar contigo en un sitio típico, ¿conoces alguno?

Yo prefiero que nos veamos por la tarde, sobre las seis. Así puedo descansar un poco después del viaje.

[SIGN-OFF + SIGNATURE]

¡Tengo muchas ganas de verte! Ya me dirás algo.

Un abrazo,

Lucía

Total: 118 words. Within the range.

Notice one thing: I respond to all four points (when I arrive, where I'm staying, what I want to do, what time). And I respond to them with a bit of "salsa", not as if I were filling in a form. That's what the examiner values.

Connectors that save your B1 informal letter

Good use of connectors makes the difference between a borderline B1 and a comfortable B1. Here are the ones you'll find most useful:

  • To add information: además, también, por cierto.
  • To contrast: pero, aunque, sin embargo, aun así.
  • For cause: porque, ya que, como.
  • For consequence: por eso, así que, entonces.
  • To give examples: por ejemplo.
  • To sequence: primero, después, al final, por último.

Quick trick: use at least three different connectors in the letter. Never repeat the same one twice.

Common mistakes I see in my students

Here are the ones that come up most often, in order of seriousness.

  • Mistake 1: leaving out a point from the prompt. This is the most costly one. If the prompt asks for four things and you only respond to three, your mark drops a lot. Underline, underline, underline.
  • Mistake 2: writing too many words. "The more I write, the higher my mark", a lot of people think. False. Going over isn't penalised, but it doesn't earn you anything either. The problem is twofold: the letter has to fit in the space on the answer sheet and, above all, the more you write, the more mistakes you make. Every extra word is a chance to slip up with an accent, a verb tense or an agreement.
  • Mistake 3: mixing up register. Combining formal and informal in the same letter. If you start with "Hola, Marta" and then write "le escribo para informarle", it doesn't work. Keep the "tú" from start to finish.
  • Mistake 4: launching straight in without introducing the reason. You say hello and suddenly: "El sábado llego a las diez". No. First, one or two introductory sentences.
  • Mistake 5: the abrupt sign-off. You finish the last point of the prompt and, just like that, you put "Un abrazo". That bridging sentence is missing: "Ya te contaré qué tal", "Escríbeme cuando puedas".
  • Mistake 6: spelling of written accents and the diaeresis. Yes, they count too. Especially accents on monosyllables (sí/si, té/te, sé/se).
  • Mistake 7: using "vosotros" when you've chosen "ustedes" or the other way round. Decide at the start and stay consistent.

How to organise your time in the written exam

The full written exam lasts 60 minutes for the two tasks. I'd set aside 30 minutes for Task 1. Use them like this:

  • 5 minutes: read the prompt, underline the points, sketch a mini-structure in rough.
  • 15 minutes: write the letter in rough.
  • 7 minutes: write up the clean version, taking care with spelling, connectors and length.
  • 3 minutes: count the words and check the accents.

It's best not to write straight onto the clean copy. Almost nobody comes out of that well.

What I see through an examiner's eyes

When I mark B1 letters, there's something that separates the students who pass from those who don't.

It's not the richest vocabulary, nor the most perfect grammar.

It's order.

A well-structured letter (greeting, reason, clear point-by-point body, sign-off) with varied connectors and a consistent tone, even with the odd lexical mistake, usually passes without a problem. A confused letter, with no structure, with everything piled together, even with more sophisticated vocabulary, usually fails.

That's why I insist so much on structure. It's not a detail; it's the most important thing.

Frequently asked questions about the DELE B1 informal letter

How many words does the DELE B1 informal letter have to be?

The recommended length is between 100 and 120 words. Going over 120 isn't penalised, so don't panic if you end up slightly above: the real limit is the space on the answer sheet, it has to fit there. That said, the more you write, the more you can get wrong, and falling too short does bring your mark down. Always count before you hand in.

Can I use abbreviations or emoticons in the informal letter?

No. Even though it's informal, it's not a WhatsApp conversation. No "xq", "tb", "ke tl". Write everything out in full and forget about emojis.

What happens if I don't respond to one of the points in the prompt?

You're penalised on the "task fulfilment" criterion. It's one of the criteria with the most weight, so always make sure you cover ALL the points before focusing on style.

Is the informal letter the same as the informal email in the DELE B1?

Yes. Task 1 can appear as a letter or as an email. The structure, the register and the criteria are the same. The only thing that changes is the presentation format, but it doesn't affect your mark.

How many times can I use "y" in the letter?

The fewer, the better. It's not that it's forbidden, but if you overdo it, the text sounds childish. Swap "y" for "además", "también", "por cierto" or a full stop and a new paragraph.

What if I make up details in the letter?

Make things up without fear. The examiner isn't going to check whether your cousin is really called Marta or whether you went to Madrid on 5 May. What matters is that you respond to what you're asked in a coherent way.

The essentials

  • The DELE B1 informal letter has a fixed structure: greeting, reason, body, sign-off and signature. Memorise it.
  • Respond to ALL the points in the prompt. It's the most heavily penalised criterion.
  • Aim for around 100-120 words. Going over isn't penalised, but the letter has to fit on the answer sheet and, remember, the more you write, the more mistakes you make.
  • Use varied connectors and keep the informal tone from start to finish.
  • Write in rough first, then write up the clean version. You'll save yourself silly mistakes.
  • And, above all, practise. The informal letter improves enormously when you write one a week and review it calmly.

If you're preparing for the DELE B1 and fancy a task-by-task guide, with letter templates, annotated examples and strategies for every part of the exam, here's my online course: https://b1.aporeldele.com/

If you prefer to practise with materials on paper and complete exam models, I also have the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4e66lV6

If you're still not entirely sure your level is B1, before you start you can take the level test to confirm it: https://nivel.aporeldele.com/

And if you'd like free resources, templates and useful reminders before each exam session, you can sign up to the newsletter: http://recursos.aporeldele.com/boletin