The e-mail in depth: answer every question, clearly and politely
IntroducidoOne e-mail, seven minutes
- In the E-mail task you read a school e-mail that asks you some questions, then write a reply. You have seven minutes for both.
- ETS describes a top answer as clear, complete and appropriate: every question answered, easy to follow, in the right tone.
How many minutes do you have to read the e-mail and write your reply?
Dificultad 2/5 · 140 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Seven minutes for reading and writing together.
Which words does ETS use for a top E-mail answer? Choose all that apply.
Dificultad 2/5 · 140 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Clear, complete and appropriate; length alone is not the goal.
This lesson's e-mail
From: Mr Brown (Science teacher) Subject: Class trip to the science museum
Hi everyone, Next month our class is visiting the City Science Museum. I'd like your help to plan the day. Which part of the museum would you most like to visit, and why? Should we take the bus or the train? And what is one thing we should bring? Thanks, Mr Brown
How many questions does Mr Brown ask?
Dificultad 2/5 · 140 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Which part and why; bus or train; one thing to bring.
Turn the questions into a checklist
- Underline every question. Mr Brown asks three: which part and why, bus or train, one thing to bring.
- "Which part … and why" is two parts. Missing the why makes the answer incomplete.
- Write a tiny checklist before you start: ① part + why ② bus/train + reason ③ bring + reason. Tick each one as you write.
"Which part would you most like to visit, and why?" is answered completely by "The space room."
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
The question has two parts; the why is missing.
What should you write before starting the reply?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
A checklist makes sure you answer everything.
Spend the seven minutes in three blocks
- 1 minute: read the e-mail and make the checklist. 5 minutes: write. 1 minute: check the checklist and the grammar.
- Aim for about 80–120 words. There is no word count on screen in the real test, so practise to feel the length.
Put the seven minutes in order.
Dificultad 3/5 · 200 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Reading and checking take two minutes; writing gets five.
Five parts of a good reply
- Greeting (Dear Mr Brown,) → opening line (Thank you for planning the trip.) → answers in order, one short paragraph each.
- → an optional question back (What time will we leave?) → closing (Best wishes, Lin).
Put the parts of the reply in order.
Dificultad 3/5 · 200 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Greeting, opening line, answers, optional question back, closing.
Which is the best opening line?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
A short thank-you is friendly and natural.
Add a reason or detail to every answer
- A bare answer (The space room.) is basic. Add because, so or for example: I'd like to visit the space room because I want to see the real moon rock.
- Detail turns a basic answer into a clear and complete one.
Basic or complete answer?
Add a reason to each answer in a friendly, polite tone
Which answer is clear and complete?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
An answer plus a reason.
Everyone should bring a notebook, ___ we can write down facts for our project. (one word)
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
"Because" (or "so", "since") links the answer to its reason.
Get the tone right
- Write to a teacher in friendly but polite English: I'd like to…, I think we should…, Could we…?
- Avoid text-message style (hey, gonna, u, !!!) and very formal words (I hereby request).
Match each line to its tone.
Dificultad 2/5 · 140 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Write to a teacher in friendly but polite English.
Which question back is the most polite?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
"Could you tell me…" is polite.
Show some complex sentences
- Use a few joined sentences: If we take the train, we will arrive faster. I think the bus is better because it stops right outside the museum.
- Keep most sentences short and clear. One or two complex sentences per answer are enough.
Which is a correct complex sentence?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
First conditional: if + present, will + verb.
Join: "The bus is cheaper. It is slower."
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
"But" shows the contrast.
A model reply
Dear Mr Brown,
Thank you for planning our trip. I would most like to visit the space room, because I have never seen a real piece of moon rock.
I think we should take the train. It is faster than the bus, and the station is only five minutes from the museum, so we will not waste time in traffic.
Everyone should bring a notebook, because we can write down facts for our project.
Will we have time to visit the gift shop?
Best wishes, Lin
Which questions does Lin's model reply answer? Choose all that apply.
Dificultad 2/5 · 140 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
All three, each with a reason; ticket cost was never asked.
Common mistakes
- Answering two of three questions, or missing the why.
- Copying long phrases from the e-mail instead of answering in your own words.
- No greeting or closing, or a closing like Bye!!
Copying long phrases from the e-mail is a good way to fill the reply.
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Answer in your own words; copied phrases add no answers.
Which closing fits a reply to a teacher?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
"Best wishes" or "Thank you" plus your name.
A student wrote: "Dear Mr Brown, I want the space room. Bye." What is the biggest problem?
Dificultad 1/5 · 100 monedas + un pequeño bono en el primer intento de hoy
Bus or train and what to bring are missing, and no why is given.
Recap
- Checklist first; one minute read, five write, one check.
- Greeting, opening line, answers in order with a reason each, closing.
- Friendly, polite tone; a few complex sentences with because, if, so.
Your teacher, Ms Diaz, writes: "Our class will plant a garden. Which plants should we grow, and why? Which day can you help? What tools should we buy?" Write your reply in seven minutes.
Checklist, reason for every answer, polite frame.
Official sources
- E-mail task format (seven minutes) and Writing score descriptors checked on 15 November 2026 in the TOEFL Junior Test Taker Handbook (ETS, PDF).
- The e-mail and model reply are original practice material. The 80–120 word aim is our teaching advice, not an ETS rule.