TOEFL Write an Email: Complaint Emails — Practice Prompts & Strategies 2026

Practice Prompt 1

Your dormitory neighbor in the room next to yours plays loud music every night past midnight. You have spoken to them twice, but the noise has not stopped. You are losing sleep and your academic performance is suffering.

Write an email to the Housing Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the noise problem and how long it has been happening
• Explain how the situation is affecting your sleep and studies
• Request a specific action the housing office can take to resolve the issue

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 2

The heating system in your dormitory room has not been working for over a week. You submitted a maintenance request online five days ago but have received no response. Winter temperatures are making the room uncomfortably cold.

Write an email to the Campus Housing Maintenance Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the heating problem and mention your earlier maintenance request
• Explain the impact the cold temperature is having on your daily life
• Request an urgent repair and ask for a timeline

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 3

You moved into your assigned dormitory room at the beginning of the semester and discovered that the bathroom faucet leaks constantly. Water drips even when the handle is fully closed, creating a puddle on the bathroom floor.

Write an email to the Housing Maintenance Team. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the faucet problem and when you first noticed it
• Explain any concerns you have about damage or safety
• Request a repair and suggest times when you are available

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 4

Your assigned roommate frequently leaves dirty dishes, food wrappers, and laundry scattered around the shared living area. You have tried discussing the issue directly, but your roommate has not changed their behavior.

Write an email to your Resident Advisor. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the cleanliness problem and how long it has been going on
• Explain the steps you have already taken to resolve it on your own
• Request that the Resident Advisor arrange a mediation or set shared expectations

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 5

Your dormitory building's elevator has been out of service for two weeks. You live on the sixth floor and have a knee injury that makes climbing stairs painful. You need to know when the elevator will be repaired.

Write an email to the Building Management Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the elevator outage and how long it has lasted
• Explain the specific hardship it causes you because of your injury
• Request an estimated repair timeline or a temporary accommodation

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 6

You purchased a meal plan at the beginning of the semester, but the campus cafeteria recently reduced its operating hours from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. without advance notice. Your evening classes end at 7:30 p.m., so you can no longer use your meal plan for dinner.

Write an email to the Dining Services Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the change in cafeteria hours and the lack of advance notice
• Explain how the new hours conflict with your class schedule
• Request that the original hours be restored or an alternative dining option be provided

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 7

You have a severe nut allergy and informed the campus dining hall at the start of the semester. On two recent occasions, you purchased items labeled 'nut-free' that contained traces of peanuts.

Write an email to the Dining Services Manager. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the two specific incidents with dates and details
• Explain the health risk these mislabeled items pose to you
• Request that the allergen labeling procedures be reviewed and improved

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 8

You visited the campus cafeteria and noticed that the salad bar area was poorly maintained. The lettuce was wilted, several dressing containers were empty, and the serving area appeared unclean. This has happened on multiple visits over the past week.

Write an email to the Dining Services Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the specific conditions you observed at the salad bar
• Explain how frequently you have noticed these problems
• Suggest practical improvements and request action

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 9

You were charged $25 for a premium dining event on campus called 'Special Dining — Spring Banquet' that you did not attend or register for. The charge appeared on your student account without explanation.

Write an email to the Dining Services Billing Department. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the specific charge, amount, and date it appeared
• Explain that you did not attend or register for the event
• Request a review of your account and a refund

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 10

The campus cafeteria recently removed several vegetarian options from its daily menu without explanation. As a vegetarian student, you now have very limited meal choices, often only a plain side salad or pasta with no protein.

Write an email to the Dining Services Director. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the change to the menu and what options are now missing
• Explain the impact this has on your ability to eat balanced meals
• Request that vegetarian entrees be restored to the daily rotation

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 11

Several desktop computers in the university library's computer lab have been out of order for the past two weeks. With midterms approaching, all remaining workstations are constantly occupied, and you cannot complete your research assignments.

Write an email to the Library Director. In your email, do the following:

• Describe how many computers are broken and how long they have been down
• Explain the impact on your ability to complete research during midterms
• Request that the computers be repaired or replaced as soon as possible

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 12

You reserved a group study room at the library for a team project meeting, but when you arrived, the room was already occupied by another group that had no reservation. Your team had to postpone the meeting.

Write an email to the Library Services Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the reservation details and what happened when you arrived
• Explain the consequences of not being able to use the room
• Suggest an improvement to the reservation system and request follow-up

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 13

The air conditioning in the main reading room of the library has been broken during a heat wave. Temperatures inside exceed what is comfortable for studying, and many students have been leaving. Final exams are approaching.

Write an email to the Facilities Management Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the air conditioning problem and how long it has persisted
• Explain how the heat is affecting students' ability to study for finals
• Request an urgent repair and suggest a temporary solution

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 14

You returned a library book on time and have the return receipt as proof, but your student account still shows an overdue fine of $15.00. The fine is blocking you from borrowing additional books for your research paper.

Write an email to the Library Circulation Desk. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the book, the fine amount, and your return date
• Explain that you have proof of the on-time return
• Request that the fine be removed from your account

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 15

The library's printing station has been frequently jamming and producing low-quality prints with streaked ink. You have an important paper due tomorrow and need reliable printing access on campus.

Write an email to Library Technical Support. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the specific printing problems you have encountered
• Explain the urgency of your situation with an upcoming deadline
• Request a repair and ask about alternative printing locations

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 16

Your tuition bill for the current semester includes a $500 lab fee for a chemistry course that you dropped before the add/drop deadline. The fee should not appear on your account.

Write an email to the Bursar's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the specific charge, amount, and the course it is associated with
• Explain that you dropped the course before the add/drop deadline
• Request that the fee be removed and provide your student ID

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 17

You were awarded a $2,000 scholarship for the current semester. The scholarship office confirmed the award via email last month, but it has not yet appeared on your financial aid summary. The tuition payment deadline is approaching.

Write an email to the Financial Aid Office. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the scholarship name, amount, and confirmation details
• Explain that the award is not reflected on your financial aid summary
• Request that the scholarship be applied before the payment deadline

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 18

You noticed that your student account was charged a $200 'technology fee' even though you are enrolled in an online-only program and do not have access to on-campus technology resources such as computer labs or printing stations.

Write an email to the Billing Office. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the charge and explain your enrollment status
• Explain why you believe the fee does not apply to online students
• Request clarification and a refund if the charge is not required

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 19

You set up a monthly payment plan for your tuition, but this month's automatic payment was deducted twice from your bank account. Your bank confirmed that both charges were processed by the university.

Write an email to the Bursar's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the double charge with the date, amount, and payment plan details
• Explain the financial impact of the duplicate deduction
• Request an immediate refund for the extra payment

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 20

You graduated last semester but recently received a tuition bill for the current semester listing a $150 student activity fee. You are no longer enrolled in any courses and should not be billed.

Write an email to the Registrar's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Explain that you graduated and are no longer enrolled
• Identify the specific charge and why it should not apply to you
• Request that the fee be removed and your account be cleared

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 21

You attempted to register for a required course for your major, but the online registration system shows that all sections are full. There is no waitlist option available, and you need this course to stay on track for graduation.

Write an email to your department's Academic Advisor. In your email, do the following:

• Explain which course you need and why it is required for your degree
• Describe what you found when you tried to register
• Request help getting into the course, such as an override or additional section

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 22

You registered for a Tuesday/Thursday section of a course, but the system placed you in the Monday/Wednesday section instead. The Monday/Wednesday section conflicts with your part-time work schedule.

Write an email to the Registrar's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the section you registered for and the one you were placed in
• Explain the scheduling conflict the incorrect section creates
• Request a transfer to the correct section

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 23

You completed the prerequisite for an advanced course last semester and received a passing grade of B+. However, the registration system is blocking your enrollment because it does not recognize the prerequisite as fulfilled.

Write an email to the Department Chair. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the course you want to take and the prerequisite you completed
• Explain the system error that is preventing your registration
• Request a prerequisite override so you can enroll before the course fills up

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 24

You dropped a course before the add/drop deadline and received a confirmation email, but the course still appears on your schedule. The professor has been marking you absent, which could affect your academic record.

Write an email to the Registrar's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the course you dropped and the date you submitted the request
• Explain the problem with absence marks appearing on your record
• Request that your enrollment records be updated immediately

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 25

You need to register for a course that is restricted to seniors, but you are a junior who has completed 92 credit hours, which exceeds the 90-credit threshold for senior standing. The system will not let you enroll.

Write an email to the Academic Dean's Office. In your email, do the following:

• Explain which course you need and why it is restricted
• Describe your credit situation and why you believe you qualify
• Request an enrollment exception or guidance on the process

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 26

You have been unable to access the university's online learning platform for two days. You have tried clearing your browser cache and using different devices, but the system still shows an error message saying 'Account not recognized.' You have coursework deadlines this week.

Write an email to the IT Help Desk. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the error message and the troubleshooting steps you have already taken
• Explain the urgency of the situation because of upcoming deadlines
• Provide your student ID and username and request technical assistance

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 27

The Wi-Fi in your dormitory building has been extremely slow and frequently disconnects during evening hours, typically between 7 and 11 p.m. This is affecting your ability to attend online lectures and submit assignments on time.

Write an email to the Campus IT Department. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the Wi-Fi problems, including when they occur and how often
• Explain how the connectivity issues are affecting your coursework
• Request that the network be investigated and improved

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 28

You submitted a request to the IT department one week ago to have your university email account activated, but you still cannot send or receive emails. Your professors communicate important updates, assignment details, and schedule changes through email.

Write an email to IT Support. In your email, do the following:

• Reference your original request and how long you have been waiting
• Explain what information you are missing because of the inactive account
• Request that the activation be expedited

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 29

You purchased a software license through the university's IT store for a required engineering course. The activation code you received does not work, and the vendor's website says the code has already been redeemed by someone else.

Write an email to the University IT Store. In your email, do the following:

• Identify the software, your order number, and the date of purchase
• Describe the error message you received when trying to activate the code
• Request a new valid activation code or a full refund

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

Practice Prompt 30

You are unable to connect to the university's virtual private network (VPN), which you need to access library databases from off campus for your thesis research. The VPN client shows a 'connection timed out' error every time you try to connect.

Write an email to the IT Help Desk. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the VPN error and the troubleshooting steps you have tried
• Explain why you need VPN access for your academic work
• Request help resolving the issue or an alternative way to access library databases

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.