How to Tell Your Teacher You Can’t Open an Assignment File

If you can’t open an assignment file, tell your teacher which assignment and attachment are affected, what happens when you open it and when it is due. Try “I can see the science assignment in SLS, but the file called Results Table says I don’t have access. It is due tomorrow at 8 am. Could you check the link or tell me which copy to use?”

Try the simple checks your school allows, such as opening the task from its original post and confirming you are using the right school account. Report the issue early, especially when a deadline is close. Keep working on the parts you can do and ask your teacher to confirm how to submit and whether the original deadline still applies.

• Identify whether the assignment, the attachment or the upload step is failing.
• Check the original post, class group and approved account.
• Send the exact message or a cropped screenshot through the school’s channel if useful.
• Ask which file or instructions to use and what deadline applies.
• Check that the replacement works and keep a record of any submission.

• Find what will not open
• Try the basic checks
• Use a message you can send
• Handle an approaching deadline
• Read the FAQs

Chapters 1–3

• 1. Identify the exact part that will not open
• 2. Try the simple checks your school allows
• 3. Send a message the teacher can act on

Chapters 4–6

• 4. Show what happened without sharing unnecessary information
• 5. Use the teacher’s reply to confirm the replacement
• 6. Handle a deadline that is close or has passed

Chapters 7–9

• 7. Worked examples from four school assignments
• 8. Make a short checklist for the next time it happens
• 9. Frequently asked questions

Open the original announcement or assignment through your school’s usual platform. Look for the class, assignment title and due date. Then identify where you get stuck. Can you sign in? Can you see the assignment? Can you open the instructions but not one attachment? Can you read the file and complete the work but cannot upload it? These details point to different next steps.

The assignment is missing

Check that you are looking at the correct subject and class group. If the school uses Student Learning Space (SLS), its student guide explains how to reach assignments from the Assignments page or a class group. Check the available views and filters. If you still cannot see the task, tell the teacher the title and where you looked. Ask whether the assignment is available to your class or whether there is an instruction you should follow.

The assignment is visible, but one item fails

Give the exact attachment name and say whether the other parts open. For example, “The task page opens and I can read the questions. The file named Sample Table gives an access error.” This shows that the issue affects a particular item. The teacher can check the file permissions, replace the attachment or tell you where to find the approved copy.

The file opens but does not show what you need

A preview can be blank, too small to read or missing a page you were told to use. Say what you can see and what seems absent. If you can open pages one and two but the assignment asks for page three, name the missing page. Ask whether the file is complete and which version to use. A teacher can identify the intended content even if the system does not show an error message.

The work is done, but the submission will not go through

Tell the teacher whether you can save your work and whether the system shows it as submitted. If you get an error while uploading, say at which step it appeared and give the file type if relevant. Keep your work in the approved place so you can use it once the submission route is confirmed. Ask how the teacher wants you to handle the deadline while the issue is checked.

Check whether the issue affects all files or one file

Try to open another item you already have permission to use. If that item opens and the assignment attachment does not, report the affected attachment by name. If several unrelated items fail, tell the teacher or technical support that the problem appears broader. State what you actually tested. One working link helps narrow the problem, while one failing link alone leaves several possibilities open.

Notice what happens after a download

A preview may show the file while a download fails, or a file may download and then fail to open in the approved viewer. Tell the teacher which stage works. “The PDF downloads, but the viewer stops at page two” gives more information than “The link is broken.” Follow school instructions about where files may be saved. Ask the teacher for an approved alternative if the task depends on content you cannot see.

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Open the assignment from its original school post rather than a link copied into a chat. Check the date, subject and account. If the page asks you to sign in, use the school’s approved sign-in method. An account used for a different school service or a personal account may open some files and have no access to others. If you are unsure which account is expected, ask the teacher or school support.

If the platform says you need permission

Confirm you are signed in with the correct account and opening the current link. If the message remains, tell the teacher or file owner through the usual school channel. They can check whether you are in the intended class or whether the item was shared with the right group. Avoid making copies through an unapproved account or asking someone to change access for everyone.

If the link goes to a missing page

Return to the original post and see whether the teacher has added a corrected link. If the same link still shows an error, report it with the assignment title. A link that points to a missing page may need replacing. Refreshing it several times will not tell the teacher which file you were meant to use, so give the file name or the button you clicked.

If the file opens differently on another approved device

Check whether your school recommends a particular browser or device for the task. If you can try another approved option safely, note whether it works. Tell the teacher if the file works on a school device and fails on the one you have at home. This can help them give you a suitable version or route. Follow the school’s rules for downloads, extensions and software. Ask support before changing managed settings.

If you are in a timed task or an assessment

Follow the instructions the school gave for reporting a technical problem. Tell the supervising teacher as soon as you notice it. Ask what to do about the remaining time and the work already entered. Use the school’s approved steps before reloading, leaving the session or changing devices. Record the time and what happened if the teacher asks.

Stop troubleshooting when time matters more

A short check can rule out an old link or a wrong account. If a deadline is close, tell the teacher while you are still able to give them time to respond. If the teacher gives you a replacement route, follow it. Technical support can help with the platform and the teacher can confirm which work and timing apply to your class.

Check whether you are opening the current copy

If you bookmarked an assignment or saved a link before the teacher updated it, go back to the latest announcement. The old file and the current file may have the same title. Look for the date, section and version the teacher gave. If both copies are visible and you cannot tell which is current, ask before doing work from one of them.

If the issue happens only on one connection

Tell support which approved device and connection you were using if that information matters. Do not try to bypass restrictions in a timed or school-managed task. Ask whether there is a supported way to continue or whether you should wait for instructions. If you are doing ordinary homework, you can ask whether the school provides a way to access it from campus or can supply an approved version. Give the teacher the deadline so they can address the classroom part.

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Give the assignment title, the affected item, the error or result you see, the deadline and your request. Keep your account credentials private. A message can be short if it tells the teacher what to check.

A file asks for access

“Dear Ms Tan, I can open the SLS assignment ‘Ecosystems Practice’ but the attachment ‘Results Table’ says I need permission. I opened it from the assignment using my school account. It is due Friday at 8 am. Could you check the sharing settings or tell me which approved copy to use? Thank you.”

If you have more than one account, say you checked the approved one. The teacher does not need your password or any code. If the school asks for an account identifier through its official support route, provide only what that process requires.

A link does not open

“Dear Mr Lim, the link under Question 4 of ‘History Sources’ opens a page that says the file was moved or removed. The questions and other sources open. Could you tell me whether there is an updated source for Question 4? I’ll complete the other parts while I wait.”

Name the part you can do so the teacher can see what remains blocked. If the source affects later questions too, say which ones. That helps the teacher decide whether to send a corrected link or change the instructions.

The file opens without a page or diagram

“The worksheet opens, but the diagram referred to in Questions 2 and 3 is blank on my copy. Could you check whether it is in a separate attachment or whether I should use a different file?” If several files have similar names, include the exact name and date shown. You can ask whether the preview differs from the downloaded version if the school permits downloads.

An upload fails after you complete the work

“I’ve finished the worksheet and saved the PDF. When I choose Submit, the page shows an upload error and does not say the file was received. It is due at 5 pm today. Could you tell me how to submit through the approved route?” Keep the original work and any receipt or error message. Check the task instructions before using another channel.

If the work is due soon

Put the deadline in the first sentence. “The maths practice is due at 4 pm today. I can open the assignment but its question file will not load.” State the action you need. The teacher can decide whether to fix the link, confirm an interim task or direct you to school support.

Reply clearly if the teacher asks a follow-up question

Suppose the teacher asks whether you can open the main assignment. Answer that first, then add the distinction. “Yes, the main assignment opens. The attachment named Map A is the part that fails.” If the teacher asks what you are using, say the approved device or account type. Give the actual message if it helps. Keep the earlier context in the same thread so the teacher can see which task you mean.

When the report comes from a group

Agree who will send the first message. Include the part that is blocked and whether more than one person has seen the same error. Do not collect other students’ sign-in details. If one person can open the attachment, ask the teacher whether access is supposed to differ and which route the group should use. Keep the shared work moving on a part everyone can access while the teacher checks.

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You can usually report an error by quoting the line the system displays and stating where it appeared. If a screenshot will help and your school allows it, send the relevant part through the appropriate channel. Keep other students’ names, unrelated tabs and account information out of the image where possible. Ask for an approved way to show it if the details are sensitive.

Include the details the teacher can use

• The task title and subject or class.
• The attachment, question or submission step involved.
• The exact error or what appeared instead.
• Whether other parts of the assignment work.
• The deadline and what you need to do next.

You can add the date and time you tried, especially if the problem comes and goes. If support needs a browser or device description, give it through the school’s recommended route. A useful report shows what failed without exposing your account or the contents of unrelated work.

Use the right channel for the right question

Ask the teacher about the intended file, question or deadline. If you cannot sign in or several unrelated pages fail, follow the school’s technical support route as well. The SLS help pages distinguish school-based support for account issues from other technical help. Check the current instructions rather than relying on a contact copied from an old notice. Let the teacher know if the access problem is stopping you from starting or submitting.

Tell classmates only what they need

If this is group work, tell your group which part is blocked and what you are doing next. “I can’t open the source list. I’ve asked the teacher which file to use. I’ll work on the outline until we hear back.” Avoid forwarding restricted files or screenshots into the group chat. If several students have the same problem, the teacher may post a correction for everyone.

Keep one record of your attempt

Keep the date, assignment name and any response you receive. If your work is already complete, preserve the copy you intend to submit. If the platform has an official receipt or activity record, check it after you finish. This is enough to explain the sequence if the teacher needs it later.

Record a short timeline when the problem comes and goes

If the link worked earlier and later stopped, include both times if you remember them. “I opened the instructions at 3.15 and the attachment worked. At 5.05 the same attachment said access denied.” The teacher or support team can use that information to check a possible update. If you only know that it worked yesterday, say that. An approximate time you can support is more useful than a guess presented as exact.

Check an image before attaching it

Look for any account details, classmates’ names or unrelated messages. Crop to the relevant error if school rules allow that. If the important detail cannot be captured without showing private information, quote the error in words and offer to show it privately if asked. Give the file name in the message as well. A narrow screenshot can support the report, while the text identifies what the teacher should check.

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A reply might contain a corrected link, a reissued assignment, a different file or instructions to wait. Read the whole message. Open the resource through the approved account and check that you can see the item you need. Then confirm that the instructions, version and deadline are clear.

Compare the replacement with the task

Check the title, page count or relevant question. If the teacher sends an updated worksheet, ask whether it replaces the whole original or only the missing attachment. Your answers may need to match the current numbering. Do the checks before you submit. If you started from an earlier copy, keep it until you know which parts carry across.

If the corrected link still fails

Reply in the same thread if possible. “Thank you for updating the link. I opened the new file from your message at 4.10 and still see ‘request access’. The instructions page opens. Is there a different route I should use?” This gives the teacher the new attempt and avoids confusion between the old and new links. If the school wants you to contact support, follow that step and tell the teacher what remains blocked.

Check the deadline explicitly

A corrected attachment may come with the original deadline or with a new one. Ask if the message leaves it unclear. “I can open the replacement now. Is the assignment still due at 5 pm, or is there a different time for this task?” Record the answer. If it applies to your group, tell them where the teacher confirmed it.

Confirm that the problem is closed

Once you can open the file, tell the teacher if a reply is useful. “The replacement opens and I can see the table. Thank you.” If a support request is open too, follow the school’s procedure for closing it. Then complete the assignment and check the submission status separately.

If the replacement changes what you have already answered

Read the new instructions and mark the questions that differ. You may be able to keep the parts that use the same source. If the new file changes a graph, value or prompt, ask whether to revise those answers before submitting. “I used the first set of readings for Questions 2 and 3. The updated table has different values. Should we redo those questions?” gives the teacher a specific place to respond.

If the replacement works and an old link remains visible

Use the version the teacher confirmed. If a classmate asks where to find it, direct them to the approved post rather than forwarding the file. If you notice another group is using the earlier version, tell them which announcement to check. The teacher can clarify any difference in instructions. Save the version you actually used until the assignment is finished.

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Tell the teacher when you found the problem and which work is blocked. Use the school’s approved channel and follow any instructions for urgent assessment or submission issues. Keep a record of what you tried and what you completed. Ask the teacher what to do about the affected part.

Work on the sections you can access

If only one source is missing, read the available instructions and complete the independent questions. Keep a note of the questions that depend on the missing file. If a group has to divide work, tell them which pieces can start. Wait for approval before choosing a substitute source for an assessed task. The teacher can tell you whether the content would still meet the requirement.

Ask whether to submit an interim version

“Questions 1–3 are complete and Question 4 needs the missing source. Should I submit the completed part by the original deadline and add Question 4 later, or wait for the replacement?” Some platforms allow resubmission and others follow a different process. Ask which applies before sending multiple copies. Give the teacher enough information to choose.

If the deadline has already passed

Explain the sequence plainly. “I tried to open the file at 6.15 yesterday, reported the access error through the school channel, and could open it this morning. Could you tell me how to submit the completed work now?” Include the earlier message or timestamp if useful. Follow the procedure the teacher gives you. You can ask how a recorded late submission will be handled if that matters.

If you cannot reach the teacher

Use any published route for technical or assignment issues. If the school has a stated process for failed uploads, follow it. Keep your work available and check for a response through the usual channel. If you are in a supervised setting, speak to the responsible adult. The technical issue and the class decision may need different people to resolve them.

Keep the completed work intact

Save your working file in the approved location and keep the version you intended to submit. If your school asks you to export it to a particular format, check the exported copy before uploading. Once you can submit, look for the confirmation the platform provides. Tell the teacher if the status still appears incomplete.

Give an honest account of what was ready before the deadline

If the work was complete but the upload failed, say that and explain what the system showed. If only part of the work was complete because a source was unavailable, say which part. The teacher may handle those cases differently. Keep the version you had at the time and save later changes as the school instructs. A clear record helps the teacher decide what to accept and which version to check.

If an alternative submission receives a partial acknowledgement

“Got your message” may confirm the teacher saw the report. It may leave the submitted file unresolved. Ask whether the final file was received through the approved route and whether another step is required. Give the file name and the time you sent it. Wait for the teacher’s instructions before sending extra copies to several places. Once they confirm receipt, keep the acknowledgement with the submitted version.

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The wrong account was open

Mei opens a worksheet from the original school post and sees a permission error. She notices that the file opened under her personal account. She uses her school’s sign-in route and opens the link again. The file now loads. She checks the title and deadline before starting. She can report the original issue accurately if the teacher asks.

A class can see the task but one link is broken

Arun can open all the questions except the link to a map. He tells the teacher the question number, the title of the map and what appears on the page. The teacher posts an approved replacement. Arun checks that the map shows the areas named in the task and finishes the affected answer. He tells his group where to find the updated post.

A file opens blank on one device

Lena can see the worksheet title and the first page, but the second page’s graph is blank on the approved device she is using. She reports which page is affected and checks the school’s recommended viewing method. Her teacher confirms which version to use and sends the graph through the school platform. Lena completes the rest of the sheet from that copy.

The upload fails just before the deadline

Daniel finishes an assignment and saves the required file. The platform fails at the submission step. He tells his teacher before the deadline that he has a completed file and the submission does not show as received. He follows the school’s approved alternative when the teacher replies. He checks that the teacher received the final version.

A student cannot enter the platform

Siti cannot sign in and therefore cannot tell which attachments are missing. She uses the school’s account support route and sends her teacher a separate message about the task deadline. Support helps restore access. Her teacher confirms which instructions apply to the class. Siti can complete the work because both problems received an answer from the right person.

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When something fails, note what you can see, which action failed, when the task is due and who can answer the question. Open the original post. Check the approved account. Then tell the teacher or support team the details they need. After the reply, verify the file and submission as separate steps.

A note you can fill in quickly

• Assignment and due time.
• Item or step affected.
• Error or visible result.
• Check already tried.
• Question for the teacher.
• Confirmed next step and deadline.

Use the note to write your message in your own words. A parent can help find the school’s contact instructions or check whether transport or device access affects the plan. The student can usually describe the exact screen they saw. If the school needs a parent’s help for account recovery, use the procedure it gives you.

Prepare the things that can be checked in advance

If an assignment has several files, open them while there is still time to ask for a replacement. Save the current instructions where you can find them. Check the submission format before the last step. These checks can prevent a missing file from becoming a last-minute problem. If you notice the issue close to the deadline anyway, report it promptly with the details you have.

Confirm which version was submitted

When you send the work, look for the file name or submission status. If the teacher gave a special route, follow it and keep the acknowledgement. If you sent an earlier version while testing, tell the teacher which file is final and ask how they want it handled. Keep the original work until the submission has been received.

Separate the file you are reading from the file you will submit

The teacher’s worksheet might be a read-only file. Your response may need to be entered in the platform or saved under a different name. Check which one is causing the problem before changing a file. If you cannot edit the teacher’s original, ask how students should create or submit their own responses. The teacher may direct you to a designated answer template.

Make a plan for a recurring access issue

If the same type of file repeatedly fails on the approved device you use, give the school two examples and ask where to get help. Identify the file type, device and which viewer you tried within school rules. The teacher can consider whether to provide a different format for future assignments while technical support looks at the underlying issue. Ask which route to use on the next assignment so you can start without repeating every step.

Check whether the platform has saved a draft

A draft may keep the work visible to you while leaving the submission unfinished. Read the status and follow the school’s instructions to finish the task. Ask your teacher if you cannot tell whether they received the file.

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Should I tell my teacher if only one page is missing?

Yes, if that page is needed for the work. State which page or figure you cannot see and which question depends on it. Ask which approved version to use.

Can a friend send me their copy?

Ask the teacher which copy is approved, especially for assessed work or restricted material. A friend may have a different version. A current class post or confirmed replacement gives you the right instructions.

Do I need a screenshot?

The exact error and the step at which it appeared may be enough. If a screenshot helps and the school permits it, show the relevant area and avoid sharing unrelated personal information.

Does a broken link change the deadline?

Ask the teacher. The current deadline stays in view until the school confirms another arrangement. Work on what you can and report the block as early as possible.

What if the teacher can open it and I still cannot?

Tell them what you see under the approved account and ask whether they can check student access. Follow the school’s technical support route if they direct you there.

What can I say today?

“I can see ___ but I can’t open ___. The screen says ___. I’ve checked ___. The task is due at ___. Could you tell me which copy to use and how I should submit?”

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• Student Learning Space guide to accessing assignments
• Student Learning Space password and technical support
• How to Ask Your Teacher for a Marking Rubric
• How to Ask Your Teacher to Let You Present First
• How to Ask for More Time to Decide About a School Opportunity
• How to Ask a Teacher for a Practice Interview