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

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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