The short answer
CILS B1 writing has two tasks — a short functional text (a message that does a practical job) and a longer connected text of around 100 words. The winning approach is the same for both: answer every part of the prompt, organise it with a clear beginning–middle–end, keep the grammar everyday and accurate, and match the tone to the situation. Clarity beats complexity. Aim for at least 7/12 here, and 28/48 overall.
The two writing tasks
A brief, practical piece — a note, message, or short reply that accomplishes something: making a request, leaving information, apologising, inviting, or responding to a message. Short, but it must hit every point the prompt asks for and use the right tone (friendly vs. polite/formal).
A more developed text where you describe an experience, narrate something, or give and explain an opinion on a familiar topic. Here the examiner wants to see you connect ideas across several sentences, not just list them.
For where writing sits in the wider exam, see what's on the CILS B1 Cittadinanza.
A reusable structure (build your own, don't memorise text)
The point of a template isn't a canned paragraph you copy in — examiners spot that, and it rarely fits the prompt. The point is a thinking frame you fill with your own words on the day. Here's ours.
For the short functional text
- Greeting / opener that matches the tone (warm for a friend, polite for someone formal).
- Reason — say why you're writing in one clear sentence.
- The required points — address each thing the prompt asks for, in order. This is where most marks live.
- Close — a short sign-off that fits the relationship.
For the longer connected text
- Opening sentence — state your topic or position so the reader knows where you're going.
- Two or three developed points — each with a small detail, reason, or example, joined with connectors (and, but, because, so, then).
- A personal angle — what you think, felt, or would do; it shows real production, not recitation.
- Closing sentence — a brief wrap-up so the text lands instead of stopping mid-air.
Plan for 2 minutes before you write. Jot the prompt's required points and one idea for each. Two minutes of planning prevents the most expensive mistake — forgetting to answer part of the task — and keeps you on the word count.
How CILS B1 writing is graded
Writing is scored out of 12; you need at least 7 to pass the section and 28/48 overall (see CILS B1 scoring and pass mark). Examiners weigh a few things together — not your vocabulary showmanship:
| What's assessed | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Task completion | Did you do what the prompt asked — every point, right format, right length? |
| Organisation & cohesion | Clear order, sentences linked with connectors, easy to follow. |
| Range | Enough everyday vocabulary and varied-enough sentences for B1. |
| Accuracy | Control of everyday grammar — verb forms, agreement, prepositions, spelling. |
| Appropriacy | Tone and register suited to the reader and situation. |
Notice what's not on the list: rare words and complicated grammar. A clear, correct, on-task text scores better than an ambitious one full of errors.
Common mistakes that cost marks
- Missing part of the prompt. The number-one score-killer. If the task asks for three things, deliver three things.
- Wrong tone. Writing to a friend like an official letter, or vice versa, loses appropriacy marks.
- Going way over or under length. Padding adds errors; under-writing leaves the task incomplete.
- No connectors. A wall of short, unlinked sentences reads as below B1, even when each is correct.
- Reaching for words you can't control. A misused "impressive" word costs more than the simple word you actually know.
- No time to check. Leave two minutes to fix agreement, verb endings, and accents — cheap points most people leave on the table.
How to practise writing for B1
Writing improves only by writing, then seeing what to fix. A simple loop:
- Write to the clock. Practise both tasks in the real time you'll have, so planning and checking become automatic.
- Get specific feedback. A word count and a "looks fine" don't help. You need to know which errors recur and how the text scores against the criteria.
- Track your recurring errors. Most learners make the same five mistakes repeatedly — fix those and your accuracy score jumps.
How our prep helps: our AI writing feedback reviews your CILS-format responses and shows you what to improve — task completion, structure, recurring grammar slips, and tone — so each draft is better than the last. It's targeted practice on your schedule, mapped to the way the exam actually scores writing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the CILS B1 writing tasks?
Two: a short functional text (a message or note that does a practical job) and a longer connected text of around 100 words where you develop a topic, describe an experience, or give an opinion.
How long should my writing be?
Follow the task's word guidance — the longer text is typically around 100 words. Meet the length without padding; covering every part of the prompt matters more than extra words.
How is it graded?
Out of 12; you need at least 7 to pass the section and 28/48 overall. Examiners reward task completion, clear organisation, appropriate tone, and accurate everyday language — not rare vocabulary.
What's the most common mistake?
Not answering every part of the prompt. A well-written text that misses a required point loses task-completion marks. Address each element first, then polish.
Turn good drafts into passing ones.
Get our free guide to the CILS B1 Cittadinanza and join the waitlist for exam-specific prep: full-length mock exams, AI feedback on your writing that maps to the exam criteria, and a 24/7 AI speaking partner that simulates the oral.
Download the free guide + join the waitlist