TOEFL Write an Email Practice
About this task
Write an Email is one of three tasks in the TOEFL 2026 Writing section. You get seven minutes to read a short scenario, three bullet points telling you what to cover, and write a reply of about 100 to 120 words. An AI engine rates each response from 0 to 5 on whether you addressed every point, matched the right tone for the recipient, and used accurate grammar and vocabulary, then folds that into your 1 to 6 Writing band. This practice mode runs the task in the real format: a fresh scenario, a live countdown timer, a pre-filled recipient and subject line, and a word counter. Submit your email and you get a 0-to-5 score with an inline markup showing exactly which words to fix and why, plus notes on elaboration, tone and structure.
- Cover all three bullet points and make each one easy to spot; missing a single point caps your score no matter how clean the English is.
- Spend your words on the body, not the wrapper: a long 'Dear/Best regards' frame earns nothing the rubric measures.
- Invent specific names, dates, and reasons freely; the scorer rewards concrete detail and never checks whether it is true.
- Match your tone to the recipient and keep it steady: contractions are fine for a classmate, wrong for a stiff request to a dean.
Free Practice: 1 free today
Practice these item today (fair usage applies). Questions rotate daily. Upgrade for full access.
Write an Email
TOEFL 2026 Writing Task - 7 minutes
Time Remaining
Scenario:
You are currently in your third semester as an undeclared student. After taking several courses in different departments, you have decided that you want to major in sociology. Your academic advisor mentioned that you should formally declare your major before registering for upper-level courses next semester.
In your email, do the following:
- Introduce yourself and express your interest in declaring sociology as your major
- Ask about the formal declaration process and any required paperwork
- Inquire about major requirements and request guidance on planning your remaining coursework
Write as much as you can and in complete sentences.
0 characters | 0 words
Start typing to begin. You have 7 minutes to complete your email.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the TOEFL Write an Email task?
You get 7 minutes to read the scenario and write your reply. It is one of three tasks in the 23-minute 2026 Writing section, alongside Build a Sentence and the Academic Discussion. The three tasks run back to back with separate timers, so unused time does not carry over.
How many words should I write for the TOEFL email?
Aim for about 100 to 120 words. Most prep sources put the workable range at 80 to 120, and responses under 80 words tend to score lower because they cannot develop all three required points. Going much past 120 wastes time you need for proofreading and risks more errors.
How is the Write an Email task scored?
Each response is rated 0 to 5 against a rubric covering whether you address all the points, your tone and social conventions, grammar and vocabulary, and mechanics. That task score combines with your other two writing scores into the 1 to 6 Writing band on your report. ETS uses automated scoring for the new writing tasks.
Do the details in my TOEFL email have to be true?
No. The scorer never checks whether your reasons, names, or dates are real. Invented specifics are encouraged because concrete detail reads as natural and gives you more correct language to display than vague statements do.
What tone should I use in the TOEFL email?
A neutral, polite register that matches the recipient. Be a little more formal for a professor or an office, more relaxed for a classmate or friend. Contractions are fine. Avoid slang and text-message abbreviations on one side, and stiff, archaic phrasing like 'I humbly beseech you' on the other.