Method for monitoring a brake system with at least one brake actuator of a brake arrangement having a plurality of brake systems of a rail vehicle, wherein • a deceleration of the rail vehicle is detected by obtaining a deceleration measured variable, and • a deceleration difference actual value (Δd act) is formed from a measured deceleration actual value (d act) and a predefined deceleration setpoint value (d setp) as a deceleration measured variable, characterized in that • the deceleration difference actual value (Δd act) is compared with a deceleration difference threshold value (Δd setp) by forming a deceleration difference intermediate value (Δd int), and in the case of a deceleration difference intermediate value (Δd int) which is above a tolerance value, a deceleration defect signal is generated, which is supplied to an AND element, • a braking force (f) of the at least one brake actuator is measured, • a force difference actual value (Δf act) is formed from a measured force actual value (f act) and a predefined force setpoint value (f setp), • the force difference actual value (Δf act) is compared with a force difference threshold value (Δf setp) by forming a force difference intermediate value (Δf int), and in the case of a force difference intermediate value (Δf int) which is above a tolerance value, a force defect signal is generated, which is fed to the AND element, and • an error message signal is generated from the deceleration defect signal and force defect signal which are fed to the AND element, • wherein a speed actual value (v act) of the rail vehicle is compared with a speed limiting value (v limit), and in the case of a speed actual value (v act) which is below the speed limiting value (v limit), the formation of the error message signal is blocked. • a deceleration of the rail vehicle is detected by obtaining a deceleration measured variable, and • a deceleration difference actual value (Δd act) is formed from a measured deceleration actual value (d act) and a predefined deceleration setpoint value (d setp) as a deceleration measured variable, characterized in that • the deceleration difference actual value (Δd act) is compared with a deceleration difference threshold value (Δd setp) by forming a deceleration difference intermediate value (Δd int), and in the case of a deceleration difference intermediate value (Δd int) which is above a tolerance value, a deceleration defect signal is generated, which is supplied to an AND element, • a braking force (f) of the at least one brake actuator is measured, • a force difference actual value (Δf act) is formed from a measured force actual value (f act) and a predefined force setpoint value (f setp), • the force difference actual value (Δf act) is compared with a force difference threshold value (Δf setp) by forming a force difference intermediate value (Δf int), and in the case of a force difference intermediate value (Δf int) which is above a tolerance value, a force defect signal is generated, which is fed to the AND element, and • an error message signal is generated from the deceleration defect signal and force defect signal which are fed to the AND element, • wherein a speed actual value (v act) of the rail vehicle is compared with a speed limiting value (v limit), and in the case of a speed actual value (v act) which is below the speed limiting value (v limit), the formation of the error message signal is blocked.