Lesson 9, Request & Inquiry Emails

Home of the single most expensive error in Task 1.

Assumes Lesson 6. This lesson covers only what’s different about requests and inquiries.

When you’ll see it

• “…write to ask about…” / “…find out…” / “…enquire…”
• “…request permission to…”
• “…you would like more information about…”
• “…ask your friend for a favor…”
• “…you want to apply for…”

Typical situations: asking a school or college about a course · requesting time off · asking a company for information about a product or service · asking a friend or neighbor for a favor · requesting a document, refund, or extension.

What the bullets usually ask

The pitfall that defines this type: ask, don’t tell

This is the error that costs more marks than any grammar mistake on the entire Writing test, and it lives here.

Bullet: “Find out how important the book is to your friend.”

❌ “The book is very important to you, I know.” ✅ “Could you let me know how much the book actually means to you? I’d like to understand before I decide what to do.”

The first version is grammatically perfect and fails the bullet. The candidate told when the bullet said find out. That’s a Task Fulfillment failure, and no amount of good English rescues it.

The rule

If a bullet contains ask, find out, enquire, check, or request information - that paragraph must contain a question mark.

Make it a physical check in your proofreading: scan for question marks. If a bullet asked you to find something out and there’s no ? anywhere in that paragraph, you have not answered it.

Why strong writers fall for it

The question gives you context, “your friend lent you a book that is important to them” - and your instinct is to demonstrate you understood it. So you restate it. But the bullet asked you to discover something, not to display that you already know it.

Whenever a bullet gives you information and asks you to find out about it, the information is background, not your answer.

The tone rule: make it easy to say yes

A good request is specific, reasonable, and low-friction. Vague requests are hard to grant and read as undeveloped.

Three things that make a request easy to grant:

1. Name exactly what you want: a document, a date, an amount
2. Give a deadline: “by Friday,” “before the end of the month”
3. Offer flexibility: “if that isn’t possible, [alternative] would work too”

For informal requests, add a fourth: acknowledge the imposition. “I know it’s a big ask” costs four words and completely changes how a favor lands.

Model answer, FORMAL

Question: You are interested in a part-time evening course at a local college. Write to the college. • Explain your situation and which course interests you • Find out about the schedule and cost • Ask what you need to do to apply

Dear Mr. Sandhu,

I am writing to enquire about the part-time Business Administration certificate advertised on your website for the spring term.

I currently work full-time on weekdays and am hoping to study alongside my job. The evening format appears well suited to my situation, although I would like to confirm a few details before applying.

Could you let me know how many evenings per week the course runs, and whether the timetable is fixed or varies by term? I would also be grateful if you could confirm the total tuition fee, and whether the college offers any instalment plan for students paying independently.

Finally, could you tell me what the application process involves? In particular, I would like to know whether an interview is required and what the deadline is for spring entry.

I would be very grateful for any information you can provide, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, Marta Kowalczyk

181 words.

Why it scores: purpose in sentence one · bullet 1 gives genuine context (works weekdays, needs evenings) · bullets 2 and 3 contain five actual questions: the defining requirement of this type · questions are specific (how many evenings, fixed or varying, total fee, instalment plan, interview, deadline) rather than “please send information” · formal throughout, full name.

Model answer, INFORMAL

Question: You are going away for two weeks and need someone to look after your cat. Write to a friend. • Explain the situation • Find out whether they are available and what would work for them • Say what you would do in return

Hi Dev,

Hope you’re doing well! I’ve got a bit of a favor to ask, and genuinely no pressure if it doesn’t work for you.

I’m away from the 8th to the 22nd for work, and I’m trying to sort out someone to look after Mango. It’s not a big job, she mostly sleeps, but she does need feeding twice a day and a bit of company so she doesn’t sulk for a fortnight.

Would you be around during those dates at all? And if you are, what would actually suit you better, popping in each day, or staying at mine for the week? I’m easy either way, so whatever’s less hassle. Also, is there anything you’d need me to sort out beforehand?

Obviously I’d return the favor whenever you need it, and I’d stock the fridge properly so you’re not out of pocket. I owe you dinner too, at minimum.

Let me know either way, honestly, no worries if you’re busy!

Cheers, Nina

189 words.

Why it scores: warm, clearly informal, contractions throughout · bullet 2 asks three real questions with question marks · acknowledges the imposition twice (“no pressure,” “no worries if you’re busy”) · offers flexibility (“whatever’s less hassle”) · bullet 3 gives two concrete returns · one exclamation mark per paragraph maximum, first name sign-off.

The second pitfall: burying the ask

Some candidates ask so politely that the request disappears. Three lines of apologizing for asking, and the actual request never quite arrives.

❌ “I hope you don’t mind me writing, and I’m sorry to bother you, and I know you’re very busy, and I hate to ask…” ✅ “I’ve got a favor to ask, no pressure at all. Would you be around from the 8th to the 22nd?”

Politeness is a frame, not a substitute. One line of acknowledgement, then ask clearly.

Grade your own request email

• Every ask / find out / enquire bullet contains a question mark
• My questions are specific: named documents, dates, amounts
• At least three genuine questions across the email
• Context given in bullet 1 justifies the request
• A deadline or timeframe stated
• Flexibility offered (“if that isn’t possible…”)
• (Informal) The imposition acknowledged
• The request is easy to find, not buried in politeness
• Register consistent (Lesson 6 swap table)
• 175–190 words

8+ ticks = Level 9 territory. All 10 = you’re competing for 11–12.

Your practice

Open one set on Celpora and put today’s lesson to work.

Request email template. Structure, phrases, and worked model for requests