A strong university recommendation depends on choosing someone who knows your academic work, confirming that they can write positively and specifically, and providing the information needed to meet the correct deadline.
During the September-November application period, ask about willingness, evidence, timing, and submission procedures. For IB students, predicted grades, Higher Level subjects, Internal Assessments, and the Extended Essay may provide useful evidence for the reference.
The most important question to ask first
Ask: “Would you feel comfortable writing me a strong recommendation for university?”
The word strong matters. A teacher may agree to submit a letter but lack detailed examples because they have taught you briefly or do not know your intended course. This wording gives them a respectful opportunity to decline.
If the teacher hesitates or recommends another colleague, accept the advice professionally. A specific letter from someone who has observed your thinking, improvement, and classroom contribution is usually more useful than a generic letter from the most senior teacher.
The Common App recommendation guidance advises students to ask before sending an electronic invitation and to allow at least three weeks. In practice, 4-6 weeks is safer during a busy fall term, especially if many students are approaching the same teacher.
Eight questions to ask your teacher
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Would you be comfortable writing me a strong recommendation? | It confirms whether the teacher can support you positively and honestly. |
| What information would help you? | Teachers may request a résumé, transcript, evidence sheet, or meeting. |
| Which parts of my work do you remember? | This reveals whether they have specific academic examples. |
| Should we discuss my intended course? | The teacher needs to understand the academic direction being supported. |
| What deadline should I follow? | Your school may have an earlier internal deadline. |
| How will the reference be submitted? | Common App, UCAS, and direct portals use different procedures. |
| May I send a one-page evidence sheet? | Useful reminders help without controlling what the teacher writes. |
| When would a reminder be appropriate? | An agreed schedule prevents missed deadlines and excessive messages. |
Ask the main questions in person if possible, then send administrative details in one organized follow-up email.
Ask what evidence would be useful
Your teacher should write the recommendation independently, but you can make accurate evidence easy to find. Ask whether they would like a one-page evidence sheet containing:
- Your intended university subject and why it interests you
- Your earliest external and internal school deadlines
- The application systems you are using
- Relevant IB subjects, with HL and SL identified
- Two or three memorable pieces of work from their class
- Evidence of improvement after feedback or a setback
- Relevant IA, EE, TOK, CAS, research, reading, or project experience
- Essential contextual information and a concise activities list
Use examples the teacher can verify. Instead of claiming that you are intellectually curious, remind your History teacher that you compared two historians’ interpretations and revised your argument after questioning a source’s reliability.
The aim is not to script praise. It is to provide evidence from which the teacher can discuss curiosity, initiative, maturity, work habits, and response to difficulty. The Common App writing guide for recommenders emphasizes the value of classroom examples.
The IB university application checklist can help you coordinate references with transcripts, predicted grades, essays, and course requirements.
Confirm what the teacher can say about your IB profile
Ask which aspects of your IB work the teacher knows well enough to discuss. Strong evidence may include performance in a relevant Higher Level subject, an effective IA decision, improvement between assessments, contributions to discussion, or persistence when an initial approach failed.
A recommendation should explain how you think, learn, respond, and contribute, rather than merely repeat grades and activities. Subject relevance can matter, but firsthand knowledge matters more. A Physics teacher might support engineering through examples of modelling and problem-solving, while an English teacher may demonstrate analytical writing for humanities.
Recommendations can contextualize achievement, but they do not replace entry requirements. RevisionDojo’s explanation of IB predicted grades in university admissions clarifies their separate role.
Clarify Common App and UCAS differences
Application systems do not use references identically.
| Application route | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Common App | Check each college’s recommender requirements and how your school connects its platform. Complete the Recommenders and FERPA section before inviting anyone. |
| UCAS | Normally one reference supports the application. School applicants must follow their school’s internal process and deadline. |
| Direct university portal | Check who qualifies, how many letters are accepted, and whether the teacher receives an upload link. |
Common App distinguishes teachers, counsellors, other recommenders, and advisers. Teacher evaluations focus on classroom performance, while counsellors can provide broader school context. Individual colleges decide how many recommendations they require or accept.
For UCAS, the referee should understand your intended course direction because one reference supports all choices. Official UCAS reference guidance explains that school applicants must meet internal deadlines so staff can check the application, add the reference, and include predicted grades where required.
Students can also use RevisionDojo’s guides to requesting a UCAS reference and understanding the UCAS process.
Ask about confidentiality and context
Common App applicants complete the FERPA Release Authorization. Waiving access indicates that you do not plan to read recommendations, which can reassure colleges that the letters are candid. Review the official Common App FERPA explanation and ask your school counsellor about anything unclear.
Relevant extenuating circumstances may belong in the reference, counsellor report, or another application section. Ask what will be shared and why. Sensitive health or disability information should be handled through the proper school process and disclosed only with your agreement.
A practical September-November timeline
September
Approach the teacher early and at a calm time. Confirm their willingness, provide your earliest deadline, and ask what material they want before sending an online invitation.
October
Send one clearly labelled evidence pack and confirm that the invitation arrived. Follow the reminder schedule you agreed upon, especially if an early deadline is approaching.
November
Verify submission through the platform or school office, then thank the teacher. Update them only if deadlines or requirements change. One uploaded letter may not automatically be assigned to every institution.
RevisionDojo’s guide to requesting recommendations without unnecessary stress provides further request and reminder guidance.
A concise request you can use
Dear Ms Patel,
I am preparing my university applications and would like to ask whether you would feel comfortable writing me a strong academic recommendation. I valued your feedback in HL Chemistry, particularly during my investigation and revisions, and I think you have seen how I approach challenging work.
My earliest school deadline is 10 October. If you are willing, could you let me know what information would be useful and how you would prefer me to send it?
Thank you for considering my request.
Personalize the message and explain why you chose that teacher.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing only by grade or teacher seniority
- Sending an invitation before asking personally
- Hiding the earliest deadline in an attachment
- Providing adjectives instead of verifiable examples
- Asking to read, approve, or edit the letter
- Ignoring the school’s internal deadline
- Sending repeated, unplanned reminders
Conclusion
Before a teacher writes your recommendation, confirm that they can write strongly, ask what evidence they need, explain your academic direction, and agree on deadlines and submission procedures. Provide concise examples while preserving the teacher’s independence.
RevisionDojo’s university application guides can help coordinate course research, predicted grades, written materials, and deadlines. Study Notes and the Questionbank can also support your academic preparation during the application period.
Sources and referenced URLs
- Common App recommendation process
- Common App recommender writing guide
- Common App FERPA guidance
- UCAS reference guidance
- RevisionDojo IB university application guide
- RevisionDojo UCAS reference guide
- RevisionDojo UCAS process guide
- RevisionDojo predicted grades guide
- RevisionDojo recommendation request guide