TOEFL Write an Email: Problem With a Group Project
Email a classmate tactfully about a problem in your group project and propose a solution, in seven minutes.
- Time
- 7 min
- Length
- 100-150 words
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
NameClassDate
The situation
You are working on a group presentation with three classmates. One member, Jordan, has missed two planning meetings and has not sent his part of the slides. The presentation is next Thursday.
Your task
Write an email to Jordan. In your email:
- remind him about the deadline and what is missing
- explain why his part is important for the group
- suggest a way to solve the problem
You have 7 minutes.
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- Tone: friendly but clear. Don't accuse.
- Start positively, then state the problem.
- Explain the effect on the group.
- Offer a practical solution with a time.
- End by inviting a reply.
Useful phrases
Opening
The problem
Importance
Solution
Closing
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- check in
- contact someone to see how things areI'm checking in about the slides.
- section
- a part of something largeryour section of the talk
- run through
- practise from start to finisha full run-through
- tactful
- careful not to upset someonea tactful email
Model answer (116 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
Hi Jordan,
Hope your week is going OK. I just wanted to check in about our presentation next Thursday.1
We still need your slides on the survey results, and we missed you at the last two planning meetings.2 I know things can get busy, so I'm not sure if you saw our messages.
Your section is really important because it connects the background research to our recommendations. Without it, the rest of the presentation doesn't make much sense.3
Could you send what you have by Sunday evening? If it helps, I'm happy to meet on Monday afternoon to go through the data together before our final run-through.4
Let me know what works for you.
Thanks, Sara
- Friendly opening, then the topic.
- Point 1: what is missing, stated factually.
- Point 2: why it matters.
- Point 3: a concrete, helpful solution.
Teacher notes
Pragmatics: this task rewards tact. Compare "You didn't send your slides" with "We still need your slides". Ask students to soften two more sentences.
Extra challenge
Rewrite the email to your professor, explaining the same problem (more formal).
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: check in, section, run through, tactful.
- 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: “Hope your week is going OK.”, “I just wanted to check in about ...”, “We still need your slides on ...”.
- 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 stated the problem without blaming.
- I explained why the section matters.
- My solution includes a day or time.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- I stated the problem without blaming.
- I explained why the section matters.
- My solution includes a day or time.
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Assessment rubric: TOEFL Write an Email: Problem With a Group Project
| 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 stated the problem without blaming.
- I explained why the section matters.
- My solution includes a day or time.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Peer-review sheet: TOEFL Write an Email: Problem With a Group Project
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I stated the problem without blaming. | |||
| I explained why the section matters. | |||
| My solution includes a day or time. |
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?
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Writadia · B2 · TOEFL Write an Email
Lesson plan: TOEFL Write an Email: Problem With a Group Project
- 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: check in, section, run through, tactful.
- 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: “Hope your week is going OK.”, “I just wanted to check in about ...”, “We still need your slides on ...”.
- 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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