What the Write an Email Task Is
On the updated TOEFL (starting NOW), one of the writing tasks asks you to write a short email in response to a given situation. You are given:
- A realistic academic or social scenario (e.g., a problem submitting an assignment, asking for information, giving feedback, making a complaint, etc).
- 3–4 bullet points telling you what specific content you must include in the email. I’ve noticed it’s usually three but can be up to four.
You must type a complete email with greeting, body, and closing within 7 minutes. This includes your time to read the prompt.
What Raters Look For to Score Well (4–5)
Here’s what you need to do to get a strong score on this task:
1. Cover Every Bullet Point Clearly
The most critical requirement is to respond to each bullet point in the prompt.
If you miss even one, you won’t be able to score at the highest levels. Read the prompt carefully!
Example: If the prompt says explain what happened, describe the problem, and ask a question, you must do all three. If you do not, you WILL lose points.
2. Write a Properly Structured Email
Use standard email parts:
- Subject line (clear and relevant)
- Greeting (e.g., Hello Professor Kim,)
- Body paragraphs — usually short, focused 2–3 sentence paragraphs
- Polite closing (e.g., Thank you, Sincerely, plus your name)
3. Use the Right Tone
Match the tone to the situation:
- Formal or academic if writing to a professor or organization.
- Semi-formal but respectful if writing to a peer or coordinator.
I made a video about tone, which you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lis9Uv4SFzc
4. Be Clear and Cohesive
Your email should be logical and easy to follow:
- Use transition words (e.g., First, Additionally, However, Finally)
- Keep ideas in short, connected sentences
- Organize ideas so one flows into the next
Language Quality Matters!!
Even though this is a timed task, quality still counts:
-DO NOT just memorize a template
-Try not to repeat words unless it’s necessary (For example, there is no obvious synonym for "university," but most words have synonyms.)
-Use a range of grammatical structures.
-Keep it simple: Try not to overcomplicate the email task.
Timing Strategy (7 minutes)
To maximize your score under time pressure:
- 1 minute: Read and plan your email (underline each bullet requirement).
- 5 minutes: Write your email — make sure all bullet points are addressed.
- 1 minute: Quickly proofread for clarity, tone, and grammar.
What a High-Scoring Email Looks Like (Score 5)
According to ETS scoring criteria, the highest-level responses:
-Fully address each communicative purpose with good detail
-Use effective language and vocabulary choices
-Follow social conventions (appropriate tone, email structure)
- Have very few or no errors that interfere with meaning
If any of these are missing (e.g., a bullet point is incomplete), your score will likely drop.
Sample Prompt 1
Situation:
You are taking a biology course with Professor Adams. You could not submit an assignment on time due to problems with your internet connection.
Write an email to your professor. In your email:
- Explain why the assignment was late
- Apologize for the situation
- Ask if you may still submit the assignment
Dear Professor Adams,
I am writing to explain why I was unable to submit the biology assignment by the deadline yesterday. Unfortunately, my internet connection stopped working for several hours, and I could not upload the file before the system closed.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I understand the importance of meeting deadlines, and I regret not informing you earlier about the problem.
I would like to ask if it is still possible for me to submit the assignment late. I have completed the work and can upload it immediately if you allow me to do so.
Thank you very much for your time and understanding.
Sincerely,
Kathy Spratt
Why this scores a 5:
- All bullet points covered clearly and directly
- Appropriate formal tone for a professor
- Clear paragraphing and logical flow
- Polite language (“I sincerely apologize,” “I would like to ask”)
- Minor risk-free grammar and vocabulary — no confusion—I kept it simple!
Sample Prompt 2
Situation:
You recently attended a workshop at the student center organized by Ms. Rivera. It was about finding a career path after university.
Write an email to the event organizer. In your email:
- Say what you liked about the workshop
- Mention one problem you experienced
- Suggest an improvement for future events
Hello Ms. Rivera,
Thank you for organizing the career skills workshop last Friday. I found the session on resume writing especially helpful, and the examples you provided were clear and practical.
However, I had some difficulty hearing the speaker because the room was very crowded. As a result, it was sometimes hard to follow the discussion.
For future workshops, you might consider using a microphone or a larger room so that all participants can hear more easily. Overall, I really appreciated the event and hope to attend similar workshops in the future.
Best regards,
Kathy Spratt
Why this scores a 5
- Every task bullet is fully addressed
- Tone is polite and professional, but not too formal
- Ideas are well organized (positive → problem → suggestion)
- Uses varied sentence structures and accurate vocabulary
- Suggestions are clearly explained
Key Patterns to Copy on Test Day
No matter the topic, high-scoring emails usually:
- One paragraph = one bullet point
- Use polite phrases:
- I am writing to…
- I would like to ask if…
- Thank you for your time and consideration
- Avoid slang, jokes, or emojis
- Stay 130–180 words (longer is not better!)
