Task 1 · letter · 18 samples

You are taking a course at a local college. The deadline for your project was last week but you haven’t finished it. Write a letter to your lecturer. In your letter • introduce yourself • explain why you haven’t handed in the project yet • request more time to do it.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain a specific, credible reason for missing the deadline, such as underestimating the research and organisation required.
  • Show what work is already complete and what remains, so the lecturer can see that the requested extra time has a clear purpose.
  • Acknowledge the course policy and ask about any required process, while keeping the tone respectful and accountable.

Suggested structure

  1. Open with a greeting and identify yourself and your course.
  2. State the missed deadline and apologise briefly.
  3. Explain why the project is unfinished and describe your progress.
  4. Request a specific extension and give a clear submission plan.
  5. Ask about any procedure, thank the lecturer, and close formally.
Useful vocabulary & examples
grant an extension
allow extra time to complete or submit work

I would be grateful if you could grant me an extension of one week.

underestimate the time required
misjudge how long a task will take

I underestimated the time required to research the topic and organise the evidence.

subject to the course policy
dependent on the rules that apply to the course

I understand that late work may be subject to the course policy.

follow a procedure
complete the steps required by an organisation

Please let me know if there is a form or procedure I should follow.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

216 words · Illustrative target band

Dear [Lecturer’s Name], I hope you are doing well. My name is [Your Full Name], and I am a student in your [Course Name] class. I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I was unable to submit my project by the deadline last week. I deeply regret not meeting the deadline, and I would be grateful if you could grant me an additional week to finish it. I underestimated the amount of time required to research the t…

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AI-completed learning example

210 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Anjali, and I am a student enrolled in your course, with student number #1234. I am writing to request an extension for submitting my project, which was originally due last week. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete the project on time due to an unexpected family emergency that required my immediate attention. This disrupted my study schedule and left …

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AI-completed learning example

212 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Sir, My name is Purvik Patel, and I am enrolled in your vehicle structure analysis class. I am writing to inform you that I am unable to submit my project on car crash simulation by the deadline. For the past couple of weeks, I have been dealing with a persistent cough. During my last attempt to work on the simulation, I found it difficult to concentrate for long enough to complete the analysis. As a result, I m…

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AI-completed learning example

215 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Ms. McKeen, My name is Leo Smith and I am a first-year student in your Marketing class at Capilano College. I am writing to you because I have a problem with the project you set about social media. The due date was last week but I’m afraid I haven’t finished it yet. As you know, the project involves researching how social media is used in marketing. I underestimated how much time I would need to organise the mat…

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AI-completed learning example

215 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Alice, This is Benny Tan who is enrolling in your communication class and the module code is NMC 1123 on Wednesday, 9 am. As I am the only one with the name, Benny in this class and I am sure you know me as we had spoken many times. The purpose of this letter is to explain why I have not submitted my project and to ask for a short extension. The deadline was last week, but I could not finish the work on time bec…

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AI-completed learning example

182 words · Illustrative target band

Dear sir/ madam, My name is manjot kaur. I am a psychology student in one of your classes. My student number is 2345. I am writing in regards to get an extention for the lastest project i have been working on. Actually, I had to go to my town because of the family emergency. It was a serious situation in my family, and I had to travel to my hometown to deal with it. Because of this, I was away from college and could …

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AI-completed learning example

219 words · Illustrative target band

Hi dear mam. My name is mandeep kaur. I am one of your recreational therapy students in first year. I have one problem with the research project which was actually due on last week and I couldn’t finish it. So i am very afraid about one of my important assignments. I actually got some family problems at home, and I needed to help them during the last few days. Because of this, I did not have enough time to complete t…

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AI-completed learning example

213 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in regard to the deadline set for our project submission. My name is Annabel Smith, and I am a 400 level Nursing student. I am the student who assisted you in taking your bag to class on Monday last week. On Monday after lectures, I was on my way to the library when I had to return home unexpectedly to help my family with an urgent matter. This situation took up much of my time, and I …

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AI-completed learning example

220 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Mr John, My name is Begoyim Botirova attending the course of Data Management at Tashkent College for six months. The reason why I’m addressing this letter to you is that I want to request more time for this term’s project submission. I sincerely apologize for missing the project deadline. However, I have been experiencing difficulties organising the information needed for the final section. I spent more time tha…

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AI-completed learning example

228 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Mr. Khedo, I hope you are well. I am Sarah Macbeth, a final year student from the B.Sc.(Hons) Mechanical Engineering course. I am writing to address our recent project titled ‘Electromagnetism’ which was due on October 8th last week. Unfortunately, I was unable to submit my project due to ongoing family issues. The recent family difficulties have required me to take on additional responsibilities at home, leavin…

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AI-completed learning example

217 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Mrs. Gupta, I am writing this letter to request more time for this term project submission. My name is Ann Maria Joseph and I am a student of psychology Class Section A in St. Francis College. Koramangala. we were given a project and the deadline for this project was last week. Let me explain why I could not submit it on time. I have been struggling to organise the research and analyse the material for the proje…

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AI-completed learning example

210 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Professor, My name is Ronit Sukheja, and I am a first-year student who started my course on September 1, 2024. I am writing regarding my mistake of not submitting the project due last week. I was not in a correct mental state for the past whole month, due to which I was not able to concentrate properly on the research and writing. I realise that I should have contacted you before the deadline rather than allowin…

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