TOEFL Write an Email: Asking a Professor for an Extension
Write a polite email to a professor in seven minutes, covering three required points, as in the 2026 TOEFL Write an Email task.
- Time
- 7 min
- Length
- 100-150 words
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
NameClassDate
The situation
You are taking a history course. Your research paper is due on Friday, but you were ill for several days this week and could not go to the library.
Your task
Write an email to your professor, Dr. Alvarez. In your email:
- explain why you have not been able to finish the paper
- ask for more time and suggest a new deadline
- say what you have already completed
You have 7 minutes. Write as much as you can in clear, complete sentences.
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- Spend 1 minute reading and noting the three points.
- Greeting with the professor's title and name.
- One or two sentences for each point, in order.
- Polite, semi-formal tone: no slang, but contractions are acceptable.
- Close with thanks and your full name.
Useful phrases
Opening
Explaining
Requesting
What you have done
Closing
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- extension
- extra time to finish somethingan extension until Tuesday
- submit
- hand in officiallysubmit the paper
- draft
- an early versiona first draft
- source
- a book or article you use for researchprimary sources
Model answer (131 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
Dear Dr. Alvarez,
I hope you are well. I am writing to ask whether I could have a short extension for my research paper, which is due this Friday.1
Unfortunately, I was ill with a high fever from Monday to Wednesday, so I was unable to visit the library to consult the remaining sources.2 I have a note from the campus health center if you need it.
Would it be possible to submit the paper next Tuesday instead?3 That would give me enough time to finish the research and check my references carefully.
So far, I have completed the introduction and the first two sections, about 1,500 words in total, and I have a detailed outline for the rest.4
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Best regards, Mina Park
- Purpose in the first lines.
- Point 1: the reason.
- Point 2: request + specific new deadline.
- Point 3: progress made.
Teacher notes
Scoring: the email is scored on a rubric that rewards covering all points, clear organisation and appropriate language. In 7 minutes, 100–130 words is a realistic target.
Spelling note: TOEFL accepts both American and British spelling; this model uses American "center" because the context is a US-style campus.
Extra challenge
Write Dr. Alvarez's reply in 50 words, agreeing to Monday instead of Tuesday.
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: extension, submit, draft, source.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “I hope you are well.”, “I am writing to ask whether ...”, “Unfortunately, I was ill from ... to ...”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (100-150 words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 or below | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task fulfilment | Everything asked for, fully on purpose. | Almost all; a small gap. | Partly; one request missed. | Task largely not met. | |
| Development and organisation | Ideas explained, illustrated and easy to follow. | Clear but thin in places. | Ideas present, connections weak. | Ideas undeveloped. | |
| Language use | Varied and accurate; natural tone. | Minor errors, meaning clear. | Noticeable errors, limited range. | Errors block meaning. | |
| Total | / 15 | ||||
TOEFL responses get one holistic 0–5 score. This grid splits that score into three headings so you can explain it in class.
Task checklist
- I covered all three points.
- I suggested a specific new deadline.
- My tone is polite and semi-formal.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- I covered all three points.
- I suggested a specific new deadline.
- My tone is polite and semi-formal.
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Assessment rubric: TOEFL Write an Email: Asking a Professor for an Extension
| Criterion | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 or below | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task fulfilment | Everything asked for, fully on purpose. | Almost all; a small gap. | Partly; one request missed. | Task largely not met. | |
| Development and organisation | Ideas explained, illustrated and easy to follow. | Clear but thin in places. | Ideas present, connections weak. | Ideas undeveloped. | |
| Language use | Varied and accurate; natural tone. | Minor errors, meaning clear. | Noticeable errors, limited range. | Errors block meaning. | |
| Total | / 15 | ||||
TOEFL responses get one holistic 0–5 score. This grid splits that score into three headings so you can explain it in class.
Task checklist
- I covered all three points.
- I suggested a specific new deadline.
- My tone is polite and semi-formal.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Peer-review sheet: TOEFL Write an Email: Asking a Professor for an Extension
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I covered all three points. | |||
| I suggested a specific new deadline. | |||
| My tone is polite and semi-formal. |
Questions
- Does the text cover every point in the task?
- Are there paragraphs? What is each one about?
- Write two linking words the writer used.
- Is there a sentence you had to read twice?
Two stars and a wish
★ Something I liked
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Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Lesson plan: TOEFL Write an Email: Asking a Professor for an Extension
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: extension, submit, draft, source.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “I hope you are well.”, “I am writing to ask whether ...”, “Unfortunately, I was ill from ... to ...”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (100-150 words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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