How to Send Your Professor an Email Requesting a Changed Exam Date

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Have you ever needed a couple of extra days to study for an upcoming exam? If unavoidable life circumstances have stopped you from being ready for a big test date, it doesn't hurt to ask for an extension. The easiest way to ask for more time to prepare is through an email. Your professor’s response to your request to change an exam date is very much dependent on the way you write the email to them and its content. These steps will ensure that your email is polite, informative, and properly formatted.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Drafting and Sending the Email

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Make sure you have a legitimate reason(s) that you would like the exam date to be changed. Not having studied for the exam is not a good enough excuse for the exam date to be changed.
    • Reasons like having multiple exams on the same day, or not being able to attend the exam session due to other university or familial obligations are more appropriate. Medical issues can also be grounds for an extension.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/EmailSubjectExample.png\/460px-EmailSubjectExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/EmailSubjectExample.png\/648px-EmailSubjectExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":386,"bigWidth":648,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    2
    Write a proper email subject line.
    • This subject should include the class’s course number and a short (1-3 word) description of the email's content.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/EmailGreetingExample.png\/460px-EmailGreetingExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/EmailGreetingExample.png\/632px-EmailGreetingExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":388,"bigWidth":632,"bigHeight":533,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    3
    Begin the email with an appropriate greeting. This greeting can depend on the professor you are emailing and the level of professionalism you feel is appropriate. Usually a "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon" should suffice.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/EmailIntroductionExample.png\/460px-EmailIntroductionExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/EmailIntroductionExample.png\/638px-EmailIntroductionExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":390,"bigWidth":638,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    4
    Introduce yourself. Unless you email with your professor often, your introduction should include your name, the class, and section you are a part of.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/EmailPurposeExample.png\/460px-EmailPurposeExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/EmailPurposeExample.png\/631px-EmailPurposeExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":388,"bigWidth":631,"bigHeight":532,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    5
    Explain your purpose of emailing. At this point you would state that you are emailing to ask for an exam extension.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/ExtensionReasonsExample.png\/460px-ExtensionReasonsExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/ExtensionReasonsExample.png\/632px-ExtensionReasonsExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":391,"bigWidth":632,"bigHeight":537,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    6
    State your reasons for needing an extension. These reasons need to be valid and need to prove that the current exam date would be inconvenient for you.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/PurposeRestatementExample.png\/460px-PurposeRestatementExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/PurposeRestatementExample.png\/625px-PurposeRestatementExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":389,"bigWidth":625,"bigHeight":529,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    7
    Politely restate your purpose after stating your reasons.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/19\/EmailConclusionExample.png\/460px-EmailConclusionExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/19\/EmailConclusionExample.png\/637px-EmailConclusionExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":385,"bigWidth":637,"bigHeight":533,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    8
    Conclude the email. Be polite; thank the professor for his/her time and/or consideration.
    • It can also be beneficial to add a sentence towards the end to encourage a response to your email.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/EmailClosureExample.png\/460px-EmailClosureExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/EmailClosureExample.png\/636px-EmailClosureExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":388,"bigWidth":636,"bigHeight":536,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    9
    Close the email with your name.
    • You may choose to leave your contact information if you wish to be reached via another source.
  10. 10
    Double check the email before you send it. At this point after making sure that you don’t have any spelling/grammar mistakes, you are ready to send your email.
    11. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Following Up

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/FollowUpEmailExample.png\/460px-FollowUpEmailExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/FollowUpEmailExample.png\/640px-FollowUpEmailExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":394,"bigWidth":640,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    1
    Follow up on email.
    • If the professor does not respond to your email within a few days, you may choose to send a follow up email to them to inform them of your previously sent email and ask for a response.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/ThankYouEmailExample.png\/460px-ThankYouEmailExample.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/ThankYouEmailExample.png\/638px-ThankYouEmailExample.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":397,"bigWidth":638,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    2
    Thank your professor.
    • If you receive a response and the professor has chosen to change the exam date, it's important to thank the professor for taking your circumstances into consideration. This can be done through another email or in person.
    • If you receive a response and the professor has chosen not to change the exam date, send them a reply thanking them for their time and consideration anyway.
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Remember you are not writing an email to a friend. Be sure to use formal and appropriate language throughout your email.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Be sure to reread you email before sending to check for coherency and any other mistakes you could have made.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0


      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Write an Email
      The Best Practices for Emailing a Teacher About Being Absent
      How to
      Ask for Feedback Over Email: Guide, Expert Tips, & More
      How to
      Write a Formal Email
      How to
      Put a Link in an Email
      How to
      Write an Email to a Friend
      How to
      Properly Address & Greet Two People in an Email
      How to
      Address Email with ATTN
      How to
      Email Professor About Late Work
      How to
      Write an Email to a Customer Service Agent
      23 Polite Ways to Say “Please Find Attached” in Emails
      How to
      Reply to an Email
      How to
      Write a Knowledge Sharing Email
      How to
      Use “Please Confirm Receipt” (Plus, Examples & Alternative Phrases)
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 152,511 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement