The instruction says: "Reply to the email. In your reply, ask TWO questions and make ONE suggestion." What must the reply contain?

Two questions and one suggestion.

One question and two suggestions.

Which is the most appropriate opening for a reply to a supplier you have not met?

Dear Mr Adeyemi, Thank you for your email about invoice 4471.

To whom it may concern, I have a problem.

Which question is best suited to a formal business reply?

Could you let me know when delivery is expected?

I want to know the delivery date.

The original email asks when your team can attend training and how many people will come. What must your reply do first?

Answer both of those questions.

Apologise for the delay in replying.

Describe your department's work.

Ask your own questions before answering.

Write the first two lines of a reply to an email from a customer whose order arrived incomplete.

Dear Ms Chen, Thank you for letting us know that only part of your order arrived. I am sorry for the inconvenience, and I have checked what happened with our warehouse.

Which sentence makes a suggestion in the right register?

I would suggest scheduling the installation for a weekday morning.

You should do it on a weekday morning.

Do the installation on a weekday, it is better.

Maybe you want weekday, I don't know.

How should the required points be organised in the reply?

One short paragraph or a clear signal phrase for each.

In a numbered list with no sentences.

Which closing line covers a required next step as well as ending the email?

Please let me know whether Thursday at ten works for your team.

The instruction says to give THREE pieces of information. Which reply meets it?

One that states the date, the location and the cost.

One that states the date and the cost.

Write a three-point reply plan for this instruction: "Reply to the email. Ask ONE question, make ONE suggestion and give ONE piece of information."

Question: could you let me know how many attendees to expect? Suggestion: I would suggest holding the session in the training room rather than the meeting room. Information: the equipment will be available from Monday.

Which sentence shows the wrong register for a reply to a manager?

Gonna sort it out today, no worries.

I will look into it today and update you by five.

I have already contacted the supplier about this.

Please let me know if you would prefer a different approach.

What should you do if you are running out of time?

Shorten the remaining point and finish with a proper closing.

Delete the first paragraph to save time.

An email from a client says: "We have not received the revised quote." Which opening is best?

Thank you for your message. I am sorry the revised quote did not reach you.

I am writing to ask about your order.

Which indirect question is correctly formed?

Could you tell me whether the invoice has been paid?

Could you tell me the invoice is paid?

Could you tell me when has the invoice been paid?

Could you tell me has the invoice been paid?

What is the best use of the last minute?

Checking that every required point is present and the verbs are correct.

Adding two more sentences of detail.

Write a complete short reply to: "Our training session is on the 14th. Can your team attend, and do you need any equipment?" The instruction is to answer both questions and ask ONE question.

Dear Mr Kaur, Thank you for the details of the session on the 14th. Four members of my team will attend, and we will need a projector and two extension cords. Could you let me know what time we should arrive? Best regards, Ana Silva

Which of these is a content failure rather than a language error?

Making no suggestion when the instruction asked for one.

Writing *a information* instead of *information*.

Using a comma where a full stop belongs.

Spelling *received* incorrectly.

Which reply structure is most likely to cover every required point clearly?

Greeting, reference to their email, one point per paragraph, closing line, sign-off.

A single long sentence covering everything.

Greeting, all points in one paragraph, sign-off.

Points first, greeting at the end.

The instruction says: "Reply to the email. Make TWO suggestions and ask ONE question." Write the three signal phrases you would use to make the coverage obvious.

One suggestion would be to … ; Alternatively, we could … ; Could you let me know whether …? Each phrase marks a required point so the reader can find all three without rereading.

TOEIC Writing: respond to a written request practice

B1Speaking & Writing40 questionsUpdated 22 September 2026

In this TOEIC Writing task you read a short business email and reply to it, following an instruction that tells you exactly what to include — ask two questions, make one suggestion, give three pieces of information. The score depends on covering every point the instruction names, in a tone the original email would expect. This page drills the counting, the structure and the formulas that do the work.

What this task tests

Reading the instruction line and extracting the exact number of points required.
Answering an email that has more than one question in it.
Forming polite indirect questions: could you let me know whether…
Making a suggestion in a businesslike way: would it be possible to…
Giving information clearly, with dates, numbers and next steps.
Opening and closing an email appropriately for the relationship.
Paragraphing a short reply so each point is easy to find.
Register: neither casual nor over-formal, and consistent throughout.
Accuracy under time pressure, especially articles, tenses and prepositions.
Finishing within the time, with a closing line and a sign-off.

How to do it

Step 1:
Read the instruction before the email
It tells you what the reply must contain. Knowing you need two questions and one suggestion changes what you look for when you read the message itself.
Step 2:
Count the required points with your finger
Write the number down if you can. A reply that answers two of the three required points cannot score at the top however well it is written.
Step 3:
Identify who is writing to whom
A supplier, a customer, a colleague or a manager. The relationship sets the greeting, the level of politeness and whether an apology is expected.
Step 4:
Plan in four lines before typing
Greeting, purpose sentence, one paragraph per required point, closing. Thirty seconds of planning prevents the rambling reply that misses a point.
Step 5:
Open by referring to their message
*Thank you for your email about the delayed shipment.* It sets the topic, sounds businesslike and takes no thinking time.
Step 6:
Signal each required point
*First*, *I would also like to ask*, *One suggestion would be*. The reader — and the rater — can then see every point has been covered.
Step 7:
Use indirect questions for politeness
*Could you let me know whether the units are in stock?* is safer and more appropriate than *Are the units in stock?* in a formal reply.
Step 8:
Close with a next step
*I look forward to hearing from you* or *Please let me know if Thursday works.* It ends the email properly and often covers a required point at the same time.
Step 9:
Leave a minute to check
Read for three things: every required point present, verb endings, and articles. That check is worth more than another two sentences of content.

Mistakes that cost marks

Not this~~Writing a long, fluent reply that asks only one question when two were required.~~
ThisAsking both, even briefly.
The instruction is a checklist. Coverage is assessed directly, and fluency does not compensate for a missing point.
Not this~~Hi there! Just wanted to check about the order…~~
ThisDear Ms Alvarez, I am writing about order 4471…
The reply should match the register of the email it answers. A customer or supplier email expects businesslike English.
Not this~~I want to know when you will deliver.~~
ThisCould you let me know when delivery is expected?
Direct demands read as rude in written business English. Indirect questions carry the same content politely.
Not this~~Answering the email but never actually replying to its question.~~
ThisAddressing what was asked before adding your own points.
The original message usually contains a question of its own. Ignoring it is a content failure regardless of the instruction.
Not this~~One long paragraph containing all three points.~~
ThisA short paragraph or a clear signal for each.
Organisation is assessed. A rater should be able to find each required point without rereading.
Not this~~Running out of time and stopping mid-sentence.~~
ThisWriting less and finishing properly.
A complete short email with a sign-off scores better than a longer one that breaks off without a closing.

Language this task keeps reusing

I am writing regarding…: A standard formal opening naming the topic.
Thank you for your email about…: A slightly warmer opening that also names the topic.
Could you let me know whether…: A polite indirect question.
Would it be possible to…: A polite way to make a request or a suggestion.
I would suggest…: A businesslike way to propose an option.
Please find attached: Standard phrase introducing a file sent with the email.
at your earliest convenience: As soon as you reasonably can.
I look forward to hearing from you: A standard closing line before the sign-off.
apologize for: American spelling of the verb used in written apologies.
in the meantime: Until the matter is resolved.
as discussed: Referring to an earlier conversation.
further to: Following on from: further to your message of May 2.
confirm: To state definitely that something is agreed or booked.
arrange: To organise a time or a service.

Frequently asked questions

How long should the reply be?

Long enough to cover every required point with a sentence or two each, plus an opening and a close. Extra length beyond that adds risk, not marks.

Do spelling mistakes matter?

They count, but coverage and organisation count more. Leave your final check for the required points and the verbs rather than hunting single letters.

Should I use contractions?

Keep them light. *I'll* and *we're* are acceptable in a reply to a colleague; a customer or supplier email reads better in full forms.

What if the email asks something I cannot answer?

Say so and offer a next step: *I will confirm the date with our warehouse and come back to you tomorrow.* That is a complete, businesslike answer.

How do I practise this without feedback?

Write the reply, then mark your own against the instruction line: one tick per required point. Most lost marks on this task are visible without a teacher.

TOEIC Writing: respond to a written request practice

What this task tests

How to do it

Read the instruction before the email

Count the required points with your finger

Identify who is writing to whom

Plan in four lines before typing

Open by referring to their message

Signal each required point

Use indirect questions for politeness

Close with a next step

Leave a minute to check

Mistakes that cost marks

Language this task keeps reusing

Practice: respond to a written request

30 more questions on this page

Frequently asked questions

TOEIC Writing: respond to a written request practice

What this task tests

How to do it

Read the instruction before the email

Count the required points with your finger

Identify who is writing to whom

Plan in four lines before typing

Open by referring to their message

Signal each required point

Use indirect questions for politeness

Close with a next step

Leave a minute to check

Mistakes that cost marks

Language this task keeps reusing

Practice: respond to a written request

30 more questions on this page

Frequently asked questions

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