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

221 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Ms. McKeen, My name is Nadeem Nirban and I am a first-year student in your Engineering class at Mahavir College. I am writing to you because I have a problem with the project you set about design a bridge. The due date was last week but I’m afraid I haven’t finished it yet. As I have completed most of the research and initial design, I need a little more time to finish the calculations and prepare the final draw…

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AI-completed learning example

222 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Mr. Gagan, I am Paramvir Singh, student of final year pursuing Ph.D. in Business Administration in your college. I am writing to you to apologize and seeking an extension for not meeting the deadline for the marketing project you assigned to me. First of all, I deeply regret for the inconvenience caused by me. The delay occurred because the information I first collected for the marketing project was not sufficie…

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AI-completed learning example

211 words · Illustrative target band

Dear Mr. smith I am Andrea Pinco, a second-year student of your course of “business management”. Last month I took part at the Group B in the class. The project that was assigned to us was named “the effect of green ecomony on the environment” and I had to develop a complex analysis on the topic. I have gathered the relevant material, but I have not yet completed the final comparison and written discussion. The proje…

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