How to Improve Your Czech Writing for A2 and B1 CCE Exam
So you’ve survived Czech listening without crying, speaking without panicking, and reading without falling asleep over a 19th-century novel. Congrats! But then comes writing. Suddenly you need to produce Czech, not just recognize it. Spelling, diacritics, cases, word order… they all show up to the party. The good news? Writing doesn’t have to be scary. It’s your secret weapon for locking Czech into your brain.
How Writing Works in the CCE Exam
When it comes to writing, the CCE exam isn’t testing your inner Shakespeare. It’s checking if you can create clear, everyday texts in Czech. Each level has its own focus, so let’s see what the tasks look like at A2 and B1.
The CCE exam isn’t testing your inner Shakespeare…
A2 Level (Permanent Residence)
At A2, writing is about proving you can handle short, everyday texts. You’ll have 40 minutes for 2 tasks:
Task 1: Informal e-mail (MIN. 40 words). Example: invite a friend to your new flat. You must include three points (where, size, what you can do there).
Task 2: Diary entry (MIN. 60 words). Example: write about a film you saw. You must answer all three questions (which film, what it was about, why you liked it/didn’t like it).
If you write too few words (under 35 or 54), the task is scored 0 points. Clear structure matters: greeting, main part, farewell, signature.
B1 Level (Citizenship)
At B1, the exam expects you to produce longer, structured texts that show opinions, reasons, and details. You have 60 minutes for 2 tasks:
Task 1 – Questionnaire (MIN. 75 words, max. 12 points)
You are given a short questionnaire about a service, stay, or product. You must answer all three questions in full sentences with explanations. For example: Jaký byl váš pobyt v hotelu? Co se vám líbilo? Co byste doporučil/a zlepšit?Task 2 – Personal Letter (MIN. 100 words, max. 13 points)
You choose one of two topics. You must write a letter to a friend where you describe the situation and explain how you plan to solve it.
Structure:Greeting (Ahoj Jitko,),
Main body (describe + explain solutions, add details),
Farewell and signature (Měj se hezky, Petr).
If your text is too short (less than 65 words for Task 1 or less than 90 for Task 2), the task is scored 0 points.
At B1, some grammar or spelling mistakes are tolerated, but you must show you can connect ideas with words like protože, takže, ale, potom, zatímco.
Common Struggles
Forgetting word count → automatic 0 points.
Writing only one sentence per bullet → not enough detail.
Mixing formal and informal → don’t start your friend’s e-mail with Vážený pane.
ALL CAPS → not allowed!
Panic writing in English when you forget a word → always try Czech (describe, rephrase).
Smart Writing Tips
Good writing isn’t about fancy words. It’s about being clear, structured, and exam-ready. Here are some simple but powerful strategies that will help you score points in the CCE writing section at both A2 and B1.
Practice Micro-Writing
Your grocery list can be training: mléko, chleba, špagety.
Your calendar too: Pondělí – zubař, Pátek – kino.
Tiny sentences every day build spelling and word order automatically.
Even your grocery list can be training…
Keep a Diary (Even One Sentence)
A2: Dnes jsem byl v obchodě. Koupil jsem banány.
B1: Dnes jsem šel do kina s kamarády. Film byl zajímavý, ale příliš dlouhý.
Write to Real People
Send WhatsApp messages in Czech: Přijdeš dneska na kafe?
Leave YouTube or Instagram comments in Czech. Even short ones give you practice and feedback.
Time Yourself
In the exam, the clock is always ticking and many students lose points simply because they run out of time. The best way to avoid this is to practice writing with a timer. Give yourself 20–30 minutes, set a word target, and stick to it. Don’t stop to check every case ending or verb form just get your ideas down first. Later, spend the last few minutes correcting mistakes and counting words. This habit builds speed and confidence, so when exam day comes, you’ll know exactly how long it takes you to write a solid text.
Use Tools Wisely
TypeIt.cz for diacritics.
ÚJČ Grammar Tool for case endings.
Seznam Slovník for quick lookups.
Practice Sources
A2 learners → write postcards, diary entries, short messages.
B1 learners → try longer texts like opinions, letters, social media posts, or mini-essays about your weekend.
Use prompts from news headlines or YouTube videos: “Write 60 words about this story.”
Writing Czech isn’t extra credit, it’s your shortcut to making grammar stick. With a few minutes a day, your keyboard (or pen) becomes fluent too.
Want structured help? Check out my step-by-step plans:
Together with the Painless Czech Guidebook, they’ll give you more prompts, resources, and confidence than you’ll ever need.
