Email to school about child's absence (CLB 8)
Task prompt
Your child was absent from school for three days last week due to illness. The school requires a written explanation. Write an email to your child's teacher explaining the absence, confirming your child is now recovered, and asking about any missed work that needs to be completed.
Your task
Write a semi-formal email to your child’s teacher about a recent absence. Your email must:
- Explain the reason for the three-day absence
- Confirm the child is now well and returning
- Ask about missed classwork or assignments
- Be warm but professional
Word count target: 130–160 words
Model answer (CLB 8)
Subject: Re: Noah’s Absence — May 19–21
Dear Ms. Okafor,
I am writing to explain Noah’s absence from school on Monday through Wednesday of last week. He developed a fever on Sunday evening and our family doctor advised that he remain at home until his temperature had been normal for at least 48 hours. He is now fully recovered and looking forward to returning to class tomorrow.
I understand that the class covered new material in both math and language arts during those three days, and I want to make sure Noah does not fall behind. Could you please let me know which assignments he needs to complete and whether there are any upcoming tests he should prepare for?
I have also enclosed a note from our family doctor as requested by the school office.
Thank you for your understanding, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Warm regards, Priya Mehta (Noah’s mother)
Why this scores CLB 8
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Explanation + confirmation + inquiry — all three addressed |
| Detail | Dates, medical reason, doctor’s advice, doctor’s note mentioned |
| Organization | Absence explanation → recovery → missed work request → closing |
| Tone | Warm but organized — right register for parent-teacher communication |
| Vocabulary | ”developed a fever,” “fully recovered,” “enclosed a note” |
| Grammar | Conditional (“Could you please…”), reported speech, varied structure |
Common mistakes at CLB 6–7
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| ”Noah was sick. He is better now.” | No detail on illness, no missed work inquiry |
| ”He had COVID.” | Too specific a claim without documentation — creates problems |
| Forgetting to mention the doctor’s note | The prompt says “school requires written explanation” — the note is part of the response |
| No specific dates | Dates make the absence traceable and official |
Examiner tip
Parent-teacher emails sit between formal and informal. You should avoid contractions in the body but a warm closing (“Warm regards” instead of “Sincerely”) is perfectly appropriate. CLB 8 writers are expected to calibrate register to the relationship, not just default to maximum formality.