TOEFL Write an Email: Complete Guide | TOEFL 2026 New Format
Write an Email is one of the new question types introduced in the TOEFL iBT® overhaul that took effect on January 21, 2026. It is one of three tasks in the redesigned Writing section, along with Build a Sentence and Write for an Academic Discussion. It was added on January 21, 2026, when ETS removed the Integrated Writing task, so if you prepared before 2026 this task will be new to you.
The task is practical: you read a short situation and write a suitable email. It looks easy, but small mistakes with the task instructions cost real points. This guide explains exactly what Write an Email is, how it is scored using the official ETS numbers, and the strategies that raise your score.
Table of Contents
- What is the "Write an Email" question type?
- How "Write an Email" is scored
- Tips to do well on "Write an Email" questions
- How to practice "Write an Email" questions
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
What is the "Write an Email" question type?
According to ETS, in Write an Email you "write an email in an academic or social situation, such as making a request, giving information, or proposing a solution." The task measures your ability to write clearly, stay on topic, and follow basic writing conventions.
You read a short scenario that describes a real situation, such as a message to a professor, a classmate, or a service on campus. The scenario tells you what your email needs to cover, usually as a few separate points. Your job is to write one complete, well organized email that handles every point in a tone that fits the reader.
Here is a short example of how the task works:
A strong reply covers all three points clearly: "Hi everyone, I am sorry, but I have a class at the new meeting time on Thursday, so I cannot join. Could we meet on Friday afternoon instead? I am happy to share my notes from chapter four with the group beforehand. Thanks, Maria."
For more worked examples like this one, see our 50 Write an Email practice questions with answers, which cover the full range of contexts and patterns you may face.
How "Write an Email" is scored
Be clear on how points work before you practice. The official ETS 2026 Test Blueprint states:
- There is 1 Write an Email task.
- It is scored by AI, not by a machine match or a human rater.
- The maximum is 5 points.
- The target level runs from B1 to C2.
The score reflects how clearly you communicate, whether you stay on topic, and whether you follow basic writing conventions. A clear, simple, correct email scores higher than a long one with advanced words and grammar mistakes. The reader should be able to act on your email without rereading it.
Write an Email sits in the Writing section, which ETS estimates at about 23 minutes in total for all three tasks. ETS prep materials allocate 7 minutes to the Write an Email task. Plan to use that time well and to leave enough time for the other two writing tasks.
Tips to do well on "Write an Email" questions
Cover every point the scenario asks for
The scenario lists what your email must do. Treat that list as a checklist and address each item in its own sentence or short paragraph. Before you submit, reread the scenario and confirm nothing is missing.
Match the tone to the reader
An email to a professor is more formal than one to a classmate. Most TOEFL scenarios expect a polite, neutral tone. Use a suitable greeting and closing, and avoid slang or very casual phrasing unless the reader is clearly a friend.
State your purpose in the first sentence
Make it clear right away why you are writing. The reader should understand the point of the email from the opening line, not after a long introduction. Get to the request or the information quickly.
Use a clear structure: greeting, body, closing
Open with a short greeting, handle each required point in the body in a logical order, then close politely with your name. A predictable structure makes your email easy to follow and easy to score.
Keep it clear, not complex
Short, correct sentences score better than long sentences with mistakes. Choose words you can use accurately. The goal is an email the reader can act on, not a display of difficult vocabulary.
Connect your ideas with simple linking words
Words such as because, however, and in addition show how your points relate. They make your email flow and help the reader follow your reasoning without effort.
Stay on topic
Answer only what the scenario asks. Extra information that the reader did not request adds length without adding points and can make the email harder to follow.
Write enough, but do not pad
You need enough detail to handle every point fully, but filler does not raise your score. Aim for a complete, focused email rather than a long one stretched with repetition.
Leave time to check before you submit
Save a short window at the end to reread your email for missing points, clarity, and obvious grammar or spelling slips. A quick check often recovers easy points.
Manage the whole Writing section clock
Write an Email shares the Writing section time with Build a Sentence and Write for an Academic Discussion. Do not overspend here; leave enough time to give the academic discussion task the development it needs.
How to practice "Write an Email" questions
Writing many emails quickly without review does not build the skill this task needs. Two things make the difference: practicing at your own level, and learning from the emails that fall short. A weak response only helps if you find out which point you missed or where the tone slipped.
Arno makes both of those easy, and free. You practice Write an Email scenarios matched to your level instead of a random set that is too easy or too hard, and you get feedback on what you got wrong so each attempt teaches you something. That is how you turn the tips in this guide into real points on test day.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Write an Email tasks are on the TOEFL?
There is 1 Write an Email task. It is one of three tasks in the 2026 Writing section, along with Build a Sentence and Write for an Academic Discussion.
How is Write an Email scored?
It is scored by AI on a 0 to 5 scale. The score reflects how clearly you communicate, whether you stay on topic, and whether you follow basic writing conventions.
How long do you get to write the email?
ETS prep materials allocate 7 minutes to the Write an Email task. The whole Writing section is estimated at about 23 minutes for all three tasks.
What is the most common mistake on Write an Email?
Missing one of the points the scenario asks you to cover. A well written email that skips a requested point cannot reach the top scores, so treat the scenario as a checklist.
What does Write an Email measure?
Your ability to write clearly, stay on topic, and follow basic writing conventions in a practical academic or social situation.
Is Write an Email new on the 2026 TOEFL?
Yes. It was added in the TOEFL iBT update that took effect on January 21, 2026, when ETS removed the Integrated Writing task. Write an Email did not exist on earlier versions of the test.
Conclusion
Write an Email rewards clear, practical communication. There is one task, AI scores it out of 5, and points are lost most often by missing something the scenario asked for. Cover every point, match the tone to the reader, write simply, and leave a moment to check. With steady practice at the right level, this becomes one of the more dependable parts of the Writing section.