TOEFL Write an Email: Emailing a Professor — Practice Prompts & Strategies 2026

You are taking an introductory biology course and have been struggling with the material covered in the last two lectures. You have an upcoming midterm exam next week and would like to meet with your professor to clarify some concepts.

Write an email to Professor Chen. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which topics you are finding difficult and why.
• Explain why meeting before the midterm would be helpful for you.
• Request a specific time to meet during office hours or suggest an alternative.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Chen

Subject: Request for office hours appointment

You are enrolled in an advanced literature course. Your research paper is due this Friday, but you experienced a family emergency over the weekend that prevented you from making progress on the assignment.

Write an email to Professor Johnson. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the circumstances that have affected your ability to complete the paper on time.
• Explain how much of the paper you have already completed and what remains.
• Request a specific new deadline and offer to provide documentation if needed.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Johnson

Subject: Extension request for research paper

You are taking an economics course and have a midterm exam scheduled on the same day your analytical essay is due. You are worried that preparing for both will lower the quality of your essay.

Write an email to Professor Kim. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the scheduling conflict between your exam and the essay deadline.
• Explain how the conflict may affect the quality of your work.
• Request a specific extension period and describe your current progress on the essay.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Kim

Subject: Request for two-day essay extension

You are working on a homework assignment for your computer science course. Your laptop crashed yesterday evening and you lost a significant portion of your work. The assignment is due tomorrow.

Write an email to Professor Martinez. In your email, do the following:

• Describe what happened to your computer and what work was lost.
• Explain what steps you have taken to try to recover the work.
• Request additional time and describe how you plan to prevent this in the future.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Martinez

Subject: Extension request due to data loss

You are part of a four-person group project in your management course. One of your team members recently dropped the course, and your group needs to redistribute the remaining work among three people. The project is due next Monday.

Write an email to Professor Adams. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the situation with your team member leaving the course.
• Explain what sections of the project have already been completed.
• Request a specific new deadline and explain why the extra time is necessary.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Adams

Subject: Group project extension request

You are a senior undergraduate student applying to several master's programs in environmental science. You took an Environmental Policy course with your professor last semester and earned a high grade. Application deadlines are in December.

Write an email to Professor Carter. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which programs you are applying to and when the deadlines are.
• Explain why you believe this professor's recommendation would strengthen your application.
• Offer to provide supporting materials such as your resume or personal statement.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Carter

Subject: Request for letter of recommendation

You are an undergraduate student interested in a summer research internship at a national science organization. You previously completed a marine biology course with your professor and served as a lab assistant in their department.

Write an email to Professor Nguyen. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the internship opportunity and its application deadline.
• Explain your relevant experience that the professor can speak to.
• Offer to provide application details and your updated resume.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Nguyen

Subject: Recommendation letter for summer research internship

You are applying for a merit-based scholarship at your university. You need a recommendation letter from a professor who taught you two semesters ago in an Introduction to Psychology course. The professor may not remember you immediately.

Write an email to Professor Thompson. In your email, do the following:

• Reintroduce yourself by mentioning the course, semester, and a notable project you completed.
• Describe the scholarship you are applying for and its deadline.
• Offer to meet in person to discuss your academic goals and provide materials.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Thompson

Subject: Scholarship recommendation letter request

Your professor previously agreed to write you a recommendation letter for a graduate program application. The submission deadline is approaching in one week, and you want to send a polite reminder without being pushy.

Write an email to Professor Robinson. In your email, do the following:

• Remind the professor of the specific program and submission deadline.
• Express your appreciation for their willingness to help.
• Offer to provide any additional information they may need to complete the letter.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Robinson

Subject: Follow-up on recommendation letter

You recently received an acceptance letter from a graduate program. Your professor wrote you a recommendation letter that you believe contributed to your admission. You would like to share the good news and express your thanks.

Write an email to Professor Harris. In your email, do the following:

• Share the news of your acceptance and name the program.
• Express your gratitude for the recommendation letter and explain its importance.
• Mention how the professor's teaching or mentorship influenced your academic path.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Harris

Subject: Thank you for your recommendation

You are working on a term paper for your history course. The syllabus mentions a research paper requirement but does not specify the citation style or expected page length. The paper is due in two weeks.

Write an email to Professor Williams. In your email, do the following:

• Describe what specific details are missing from the assignment instructions.
• Explain why this clarification is important for your writing process.
• Request the specific formatting guidelines you need, such as citation style and page length.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Williams

Subject: Clarification on term paper formatting requirements

You are enrolled in a communications course that has a presentation assignment due on April 5. The course syllabus does not indicate whether the presentation should be completed individually or in groups.

Write an email to Professor Chen. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the specific detail that is unclear in the assignment description.
• Explain that other classmates share the same confusion.
• Ask whether the presentation is individual or group-based, and if groups, how they should be formed.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Chen

Subject: Question about presentation format

Your business professor assigned a case study analysis due in two weeks. The instructions say to select a relevant case, but you are unsure whether you should choose from cases discussed in class or find an external one.

Write an email to Professor Davis. In your email, do the following:

• Describe what part of the assignment instructions is unclear to you.
• Explain which topic you are considering and how it relates to the course material.
• Ask whether your proposed topic would be an appropriate choice.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Davis

Subject: Question about case study topic selection

You have an analytical essay due next week in your philosophy course. The assignment sheet lists several evaluation criteria but does not indicate how they are weighted. You want to know which areas matter most.

Write an email to Professor Evans. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which aspects of the grading criteria you are uncertain about.
• Explain why understanding the weighting would help you write a better essay.
• Ask the professor to clarify how the grade will be distributed across the criteria.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Evans

Subject: Question about essay grading criteria

Your professor briefly mentioned extra credit opportunities during a recent lecture but did not provide specific details. You are interested in improving your grade and want to learn more about the options available.

Write an email to Professor Mitchell. In your email, do the following:

• Describe what the professor mentioned in class and note that details were not provided.
• Explain your motivation for pursuing extra credit.
• Ask for specific details about the extra credit options, including topics, format, and deadlines.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Mitchell

Subject: Inquiry about extra credit opportunities

You are enrolled in a statistics course and have been struggling to understand the concept of regression analysis covered in last Tuesday's lecture. You would like to visit your professor during office hours for help.

Write an email to Professor Taylor. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which concept you are struggling with and what specifically confuses you.
• Explain what you have already tried to understand the material on your own.
• Request a specific day and time to meet and mention that you will come prepared with questions.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Taylor

Subject: Request to meet during office hours

You are taking a political science course but your professor's regular Tuesday office hours conflict with another required class. You need to discuss your progress on the final project.

Write an email to Professor Patel. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the scheduling conflict with the professor's regular office hours.
• Explain what you would like to discuss during the meeting.
• Suggest alternative times when you are available.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Patel

Subject: Request for alternative meeting time

You are an undergraduate engineering student who is interested in your professor's research on renewable energy systems. You would like to explore the possibility of joining a research project or conducting an independent study.

Write an email to Professor Walker. In your email, do the following:

• Describe your interest in the professor's research area and how you learned about it.
• Explain what kind of involvement you are hoping for, such as assisting or independent study.
• Request a meeting and offer to accommodate the professor's schedule.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Walker

Subject: Interest in research opportunities

You are enrolled in an Organic Chemistry course. Your grades on the first two exams were lower than you expected, and the final exam is in three weeks. You would like to meet your professor to get advice on study strategies.

Write an email to Professor Scott. In your email, do the following:

• Describe your current academic performance and what concerns you.
• Explain what study methods you have been using so far.
• Request a meeting to get advice on how to improve before the final exam.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Scott

Subject: Request for meeting about study strategies

You are participating in your Sociology course remotely this semester and cannot visit your professor's office in person. You have questions about the group project guidelines and would like to arrange a virtual meeting.

Write an email to Professor Lewis. In your email, do the following:

• Describe why you are unable to meet in person.
• Explain what topics you would like to discuss during the meeting.
• Suggest a virtual meeting format and offer your available times.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Lewis

Subject: Request for virtual meeting

You have a medical appointment scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon that cannot be rescheduled. It conflicts with your psychology class. You want to notify your professor in advance and find out how to make up any missed work.

Write an email to Professor Young. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the reason for your absence and explain that it cannot be rescheduled.
• Ask about any assignments or activities you will miss.
• Explain how you plan to stay caught up with the course material.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Young

Subject: Notification of absence on Wednesday

You are a member of the university track team. Your team has a regional competition on November 10 that conflicts with your afternoon lecture. You need to inform your professor and arrange to cover the missed material.

Write an email to Professor Hall. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the scheduling conflict between the competition and the lecture.
• Explain that you understand the importance of attending class regularly.
• Ask for advice on how to cover the material you will miss.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Hall

Subject: Schedule conflict with athletics competition

You had to travel home unexpectedly for an urgent family obligation and missed your English literature class on Monday and Wednesday. You are returning to campus this weekend and want to get caught up.

Write an email to Professor King. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the reason for your absence and how many classes you missed.
• Explain what steps you have already taken to catch up.
• Ask the professor about any specific assignments or announcements you may have missed.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor King

Subject: Explanation for two-day absence

An important religious holiday falls on October 12, the same day as a scheduled quiz in your anthropology course. You need to request an alternative date to take the quiz.

Write an email to Professor Wright. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the religious holiday and explain that it conflicts with the scheduled quiz.
• Express your commitment to completing all course requirements.
• Propose taking the quiz before or after the scheduled date and ask for the professor's preference.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Wright

Subject: Request for alternative quiz date

You are a student athlete whose practice schedule recently changed. The new practice time conflicts with the exam review session your professor announced for next Thursday evening.

Write an email to Professor Green. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the schedule change and explain how it conflicts with the review session.
• Express that you are disappointed about missing the session and want to prepare thoroughly.
• Ask whether the session will be recorded or if alternative review materials are available.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Green

Subject: Conflict with review session

You received your midterm essay back in your English composition course with a lower grade than you expected. The professor's written comments were brief, and you would like a more detailed explanation of where you lost points.

Write an email to Professor Clark. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which assignment you are writing about and what grade you received.
• Explain why you would like more detailed feedback.
• Request a way to receive that feedback, such as a meeting or written comments.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Clark

Subject: Request for feedback on midterm essay

You submitted a group project in your marketing course three weeks ago, but the grade has not been posted on the course portal. The deadline for grade appeals is approaching next Friday.

Write an email to Professor Baker. In your email, do the following:

• Describe which assignment you are asking about and when it was submitted.
• Explain that the grade appeal deadline is approaching and you need the grade soon.
• Offer to assist if there is anything your group can provide to help with the grading process.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Baker

Subject: Inquiry about group project grade

You recently received your score on Quiz 3 in your biology course. After comparing your answers with the posted answer key, you believe one of your responses may have been marked incorrectly.

Write an email to Professor Turner. In your email, do the following:

• Describe your score and which specific question you believe was marked incorrectly.
• Explain why you think your answer aligns with the answer key.
• Politely request that the professor review your quiz and offer to accept the result if correct.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Turner

Subject: Request to review Quiz 3 score

You have completed a full draft of your final paper for your political science course. The submission deadline is December 5, and you would like your professor to review the draft and offer feedback before you submit.

Write an email to Professor Morgan. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the current state of your draft and the final submission deadline.
• Explain which specific aspects of the paper you would like feedback on.
• Offer flexible options for how the professor could review the draft.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Morgan

Subject: Request for feedback on final paper draft

You just received your final course grade in History of Art and it is lower than what you calculated based on your individual assignment scores and the grading weights listed in the syllabus.

Write an email to Professor Reed. In your email, do the following:

• Describe the discrepancy between your calculated grade and the posted grade.
• Explain that you are not disputing the grade but would like to understand the calculation.
• Request a detailed breakdown of how your final score was determined.

Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.

To: Professor Reed

Subject: Question about final grade calculation