Flashcard phrase list
Write an Email — what to say and how to say it
28 words
How this list was built
These 28 phrasings cover the 7 things you have to do in this part of the test. Each card gives the job you are doing, the phrasing that does it well, and the weaker phrasing it replaces — a low-scoring answer usually says the same thing, in worse words. Reach120 compared the 254 Write an Email answers it has scored 24 or above with the 239 scored below 18, keeping words used in at least 15% of the high-scoring group and at least 2.5 times as often as in the low-scoring one. Not one phrasing here is built on a word that cleared all three bars. 3 rest on a word that is genuinely commoner in strong answers (inquire, please) but that our own prompts hand the writer, so it counts as what we asked about rather than how the answer was written. The card shows the rate and says where it came from. The other 25 carry no qualifying rate, because a phrasing assembled from ordinary words is invisible to word counting. That is exactly why this deck is built by function instead. Reach120 wrote this practice material for the 2026 format — it is not ETS content, and any band figure beside it is a Reach120-scored estimate, not an ETS score.
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Every word in this list
requesting
at your earliest convenience
Asking someone to do something — Asking for a quick reply without ordering the reader to hurry.
Instead of as soon as possible
C1requesting
could you possibly
Asking someone to do something — Asking for a favour that costs the other person real effort.
Instead of can you
B1requesting
would appreciate it if you could
Asking someone to do something — Making a request of someone senior to you without sounding demanding.
Instead of i want you to
B2requesting
would be grateful if you could
Asking someone to do something — Asking a member of staff to do something you have no right to demand.
Instead of please can you
B2complaining
draw your attention to
Raising a problem — Pointing out a problem the reader may not know about.
Instead of i want to tell you about
B2complaining
the issue remains unresolved
Raising a problem — Saying that an earlier complaint was not acted on.
Instead of the problem is still there
C1complaining
this has caused considerable inconvenience
Raising a problem — Explaining the cost of a problem without sounding angry.
Instead of this was very annoying
B2complaining
writing to raise a concern about
Raising a problem — Opening an email about something that has gone wrong.
Instead of i want to complain about
B2apologising
apologize for any inconvenience caused
Apologising — Closing an apology for something that disrupted the reader.
Instead of sorry for the trouble
B2apologising
please accept my apologies for
Apologising — Apologising formally to someone you do not know well.
Instead of sorry about
B2apologising
regret that i was unable to
Apologising — Explaining a failure to do something you had agreed to do.
Instead of sorry i could not
B2apologising
take full responsibility for
Apologising — Accepting blame without excuses.
Instead of it was my fault
B2confirming
as previously agreed
Confirming an arrangement — Referring back to something already settled between you.
Instead of like we said
B2confirming
can confirm my attendance on
Confirming an arrangement — Replying to an invitation you intend to accept.
Instead of i will be there on
B2confirming
please confirm receipt of this message
Confirming an arrangement — Asking the reader to acknowledge that something arrived.
Instead of tell me you got this
B2confirming
writing to confirm that
Confirming an arrangement — Putting an arrangement in writing so both sides have a record.
Instead of i just want to say
B1declining
afraid i will not be able to
Turning something down — Refusing an invitation or a request politely.
Instead of i cannot
B1declining
must respectfully decline
Turning something down — Turning down a formal offer without giving offence.
Instead of i do not want to
C1declining
this will not be possible
Turning something down — Saying no to a proposed arrangement.
Instead of i cannot do this
B1declining
unable to commit to
Turning something down — Declining an ongoing obligation rather than a single event.
Instead of i cannot do
B2enquiring
could you clarify whether
Asking for information — Asking about one specific point you are unsure of.
Instead of i do not understand if
B2enquiring
grateful for any information regarding
Asking for information — Asking an office for details when you do not know who handles it.
Instead of please tell me about
B2enquiring
know what the procedure is for
Asking for information — Asking how something official is done.
Instead of how do i do
B2enquiring
would like to inquire about
Asking for information — Asking for information from someone you do not know.
Instead of want to ask about
B2thanking
appreciate your prompt response
Thanking someone — Thanking someone who answered quickly, usually before a request.
Instead of thanks for replying fast
B2thanking
grateful for your assistance with
Thanking someone — Thanking a member of staff who solved a problem for you.
Instead of thanks for helping
B2thanking
thank you for taking the time to
Thanking someone — Thanking someone who spent effort on you rather than money.
Instead of thanks for
B1thanking
your help has been invaluable
Thanking someone — Closing a thank-you when the help genuinely mattered.
Instead of you helped a lot
C1