The DELF B2 production écrite most commonly takes the form of a formal letter or email — a complaint, a request, a response to a professional situation, or a structured opinion. The task requires approximately 250 words, formal register throughout, and a layout that French readers and examiners recognise immediately. Here is exactly how to write it.
The Standard Format of a French Formal Letter
A formal French letter follows a conventional structure that signals register and organisation before the examiner reads a single word of content. Deviating from it costs marks in both the register and coherence categories.
Opening and Closing Formulas You Must Know
French formal letters open and close with fixed expressions. Using them correctly is not optional at DELF B2 — it is assessed as part of the register mark. Opening with Bonjour or closing with Cordialement signals informal register and will cost you points immediately.
- Standard openings
- Reason-for-writing sentences
- Standard closing formulas
The opening formula must be mirrored in the closing. If you open with Madame, the closing must repeat Madame — not Madame, Monsieur.
How to Structure the Body of Your Letter
At DELF B2, your letter body should have two or three clear paragraphs, each developing one main idea in 3–5 sentences. Switching topics mid-paragraph is a structure error that examiners penalise explicitly.
Paragraph 1 — Context: Why are you writing? What situation prompted the letter? Be direct. Examiners do not reward long preambles.
Paragraph 2 — Your request, complaint, or position: What do you want the recipient to do or acknowledge? Use conditional and subjunctive where natural — they demonstrate B2 grammatical range:
Paragraph 3 — Close the body: Invite a response, thank the recipient, or summarise your expectation in one or two sentences before the closing formula.
Word Count: What Counts and What It Looks Like
The DELF B2 production écrite target is approximately 250 words. The subject line, opening formula, body paragraphs, closing formula, and your name all count toward the total.
A complete formal letter — subject line, opening, three body paragraphs, closing formula, name — typically reaches 240–270 words when written with appropriate development. The opening and closing formulas alone contribute 30–40 words. Use the full structure every time: it serves your word count and demonstrates register competence simultaneously.
Common Errors in DELF B2 Formal Letter Writing
These mistakes appear repeatedly in DELF B2 written production and consistently cost marks in the register and structure categories:
How the DELF B2 Letter Is Scored
The DELF B2 production écrite is scored across four dimensions. Understanding what each dimension rewards helps you prioritise effort in the exam:
Register consistency (part of compétence linguistique) carries the most weight. A letter with minor grammatical errors but consistent formal register and well-developed content outscores a technically cleaner letter that mixes formal and informal vocabulary throughout.
How to Practise DELF B2 Formal Letter Writing
Write at least one formal letter per week in the four weeks before your exam, varying the scenario each time — complaint, request, opinion, job application — so you can adapt the structure fluently to whatever prompt appears.
Use the French Writing Editor to draft each letter without interruption, then paste it into the French Word Counter to verify your total against the DELF B2 preset (250 words). Candidates who practise with accurate word-count feedback consistently perform better than those who estimate.
