TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: How should your university spend its limited funding? On professor salary or on facilities and equipment’s?
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Professor
How should your university spend its limited funding? On professor salary or on facilities and equipment’s?
Student A
on professor's salary
Student B
on facilities
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
How to allocate the limited financial resources to reap the maximum yields, the university is often torn between purchasing advanced facilities for education and increasing the salary of well-educated professors. Some people deem that promoting the incomes of prominent professors might prove to be wise choice and I fully advocate this statement. Firstly, by ascending the incomes of the professor, university might be more likely to appeal numerous well-educated talents and brains to serve for the university, which plays a crucial role in school’s long-term sustainable development, assisting cultivate more outstanding students for the society. So, university might be highly reputed because of the large number of distinguished students it has fostered. However, the facilities cannot help the university to foster the future “Einstein”. For example, Harvard university is a case in that point. The reason why Harvard university can achieve its great success and become the world-class top-notch university is that there are myriad well-educated and well-paid professors to serve in that school. Relevant data has shown that the average academic performance and other aspects of comprehensive performances of students graduated from Harvard are generally much higher than the other comparable academic institutions. Furthermore, numerous saliant celebrities, politicians and successful businessmen has graduated from Harvard university. Secondly. Well-educated and well-paid professors will maximize the yields of the university by publishing their academic research results, appealing more financial resources sponsorship and promoting the reputation of the university. However, the facilities cannot fulfill this huge accomplishment brought by the professors. For example, Tsinghua university in China is a case in that point. As one of the saliant professor in Tsinghua university, the famous translator Xu Yuanchong, a receiver of various global translation award, has gained myriad literature research projects funded by government of China, bringing much more financial resources to the university. Consequently, by increasing the salary of well-educated professors, university will overall enhance its financial gains and long-term sustainable development. Admittedly, advanced facilities are also playing crucial role in promoting advanced education and assisting the university to achieve great academic success. However, compared with the importance and significance of well-paid professor, their significance can be neglected. And in order to stick the balance between increasing the salary of professors and purchasing the advanced equipment’s, university is supposed to emphasize more on increasing the income of salary, appealing more well-educated professors.
Evaluation Result
1. Sub Scores
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0 Language Use and Grammar: 3.5
2. Estimated Scores
Estimated Score: 25
3. Task Completeness
The essay does a good job of addressing the specific requirements of the task, arguing in favor of increasing professor salaries over investing in facilities and equipment. However, there is room for improvement in terms of providing more specific examples to support the argument, as well as refining language use and grammar.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Provide more concrete examples or statistics to support your argument.
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Revise grammar and sentence structure to improve clarity.
Examples:
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Instead of just mentioning that Harvard University has well-educated and well-paid professors, provide specific data on their salaries compared to other universities.
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When discussing Tsinghua University, provide more details about how increasing professor salaries has directly impacted the university's financial gains and long-term sustainable development.
4. Essay Structure and Organization
The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific point with supporting details. However, there is room for improvement in terms of transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Use clearer transitions between ideas within paragraphs.
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Improve coherence by connecting ideas more effectively throughout the essay.
Examples:
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Instead of starting a paragraph with "Secondly," try using phrases like "Another reason why increasing professor salaries is beneficial" to create smoother transitions.
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To improve coherence, you could connect the examples from Harvard University and Tsinghua University by discussing how both institutions demonstrate the benefits of investing in well-educated professors over facilities and equipment.
5. Grammar
How to allocate the limited financial resources to reap the maximum yields, the university is often torn between purchasing advanced facilities for education and increasing the salary of well-educated professors. Some people deem that promoting the incomes of prominent professors might prove to be wisea wise(This rule identifies whether the article 'a' is missing in a sentence.) choicechoice,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) and I fully advocate this statement.
Firstly, by ascending the incomes of the professor, university might be more likely to appeal numerous well-educated talents and brains to serve for the university, which plays a crucial role in school’s long-term sustainable development, assisting cultivate more outstanding students for the society. So, universitythe university(This rule identifies whether the article 'the' is missing in a sentence.) might be highly reputed because of the large number of distinguished students it has fostered. However, the facilities cannot help the university to foster the future “Einstein”. For example, Harvard universityHarvard University(Checks upper/lower case spelling of some proper nouns) is a case in that point. The reason why Harvard universityHarvard University(Checks upper/lower case spelling of some proper nouns) can achieve its great success and become the world-class top-notch university is that there are myriad well-educated and well-paid professors to serve in that school. Relevant data has shown that the average academic performance and other aspects of comprehensive performances of students graduated from Harvard are generally much higher than the other comparable academic institutions. Furthermore, numerous saliantsalient(misspelling) celebrities, politicians and successful businessmen has graduated from Harvard universityHarvard University(Checks upper/lower case spelling of some proper nouns).
Secondly. Well-educated and well-paid professors will maximize the yields of the university by publishing their academic research results, appealing more financial resources sponsorship and promoting the reputation of the university. However, the facilities cannot fulfill this huge accomplishment brought by the professors. For example, Tsinghua universityTsinghua University(Checks upper/lower case spelling of some proper nouns) in China is a case in that point. As one of the saliantsalient(misspelling) professor in Tsinghua universityTsinghua University(Checks upper/lower case spelling of some proper nouns), the famous translator XuEU(misspelling) YuanchongYuanzhang(misspelling), a receiver of various global translation award, has gained myriad literature research projects funded by government of China, bringing much more financial resources to the university. Consequently, by increasing the salary of well-educated professors, universitythe university(This rule identifies whether the article 'the' is missing in a sentence.) will overall enhance its financial gains and long-term sustainable development.
Admittedly, advanced facilities are also playing cruciala crucial(This rule identifies whether the article 'a' is missing in a sentence.) role in promoting advanced education and assisting the university to achieve great academic success. However, compared with the importance and significance of well-paid professor, their significance can be neglected. And in order to stick the balance between increasing the salary of professors and purchasing the advanced equipment’s, university is supposed to emphasize more on increasing the income of salary, appealing more well-educated professors.
Display title: 6 Revised Essay
Allocating limited financial resources to maximize benefits is a challenge universities often face, as they must decide between investing in advanced facilities for education or increasing the salaries of well-educated professors. I firmly believe that prioritizing the income of prominent professors is the wiser choice.
Firstly, raising the salaries of professors makes a university more likely to attract numerous well-educated talents who can contribute significantly to the institution's long-term sustainable development. This, in turn, helps cultivate outstanding students for society and enhances the university's reputation due to the distinguished graduates it produces. Facilities alone cannot foster future "Einsteins." For instance, Harvard University's success as a world-class institution can be attributed to its myriad well-educated and well-paid professors. Data shows that students graduating from Harvard generally have higher academic performance and comprehensive achievements than those from other comparable institutions. Moreover, numerous notable celebrities, politicians, and successful businesspeople have graduated from Harvard University.
Secondly, well-educated and well-paid professors maximize a university's benefits by publishing their academic research results, attracting more financial sponsorships, and enhancing the institution's reputation. Facilities alone cannot achieve these accomplishments. For example, Tsinghua University in China has benefited greatly from its renowned professor Xu Yuanchong—a famous translator and recipient of various global translation awards—who has secured numerous literature research projects funded by the Chinese government. This has brought significant financial resources to the university. Consequently, increasing the salaries of well-educated professors will ultimately enhance a university's financial gains and long-term sustainable development.
Admittedly, advanced facilities also play a crucial role in promoting advanced education and helping universities achieve great academic success. However, when compared with the importance and significance of well-paid professors, their impact can be considered secondary. To strike an appropriate balance between increasing professor salaries and purchasing advanced equipment, universities should place greater emphasis on raising income levels to attract more well-educated professionals.
In conclusion, prioritizing the salaries of well-educated professors is essential for a university's long-term success and reputation. By doing so, universities can attract top talent, produce distinguished graduates, and secure additional financial resources through research projects and sponsorships. While advanced facilities are important, their significance pales in comparison to the benefits of well-compensated professors. (365 words)
How to allocate the Allocating limited financial resources to reap the maximum yields, the university maximize benefits is a challenge universities often torn face, as they must decide between purchasing investing in advanced facilities for education and or increasing the salary salaries of well-educated professors. Some people deem I firmly believe that promoting the incomes prioritizing the income of prominent professors might prove to be wise is the wiser choice and I fully advocate this statement. (prioritizing the income of prominent professors provides a clearer and more concise expression of the idea).
Firstly, by ascending the incomes of the professor, raising the salaries of professors makes a university might be more likely to appeal attract numerous well-educated talents and brains to serve for the university, which plays a crucial role in school’s who can contribute significantly to the institution's long-term sustainable development, assisting development (rephrased for clarity and conciseness). This, in turn, helps cultivate more outstanding students for the society. So, university might society and enhances the university's reputation due to the distinguished graduates it produces. Facilities alone cannot foster future "Einsteins." For instance, Harvard University's success as a world-class institution can be highly reputed because of the large number of distinguished attributed to its myriad well-educated and well-paid professors (clarified sentence structure). Data shows that students it has fostered. However, the facilities cannot help the university to foster the future “Einstein”. For example, graduating from Harvard university is a case in that point. The reason why Harvard university can achieve its great success and become the world-class top-notch university is that there are myriad well-educated and well-paid professors to serve in that school. Relevant data has shown that the average generally have higher academic performance and comprehensive achievements than those from other aspects of comprehensive performances of students comparable institutions. Moreover, numerous notable celebrities, politicians, and successful businesspeople have graduated from Harvard are generally much higher than the other comparable academic institutions. Furthermore, numerous saliant celebrities, politicians and successful businessmen has graduated from Harvard university. University.
Secondly. Well-educated Secondly, well-educated and well-paid professors will maximize the yields of the university a university's benefits by publishing their academic research results, appealing attracting more financial resources sponsorship and promoting the sponsorships, and enhancing the institution's reputation of the university. However, the facilities (rephrased for clarity). Facilities alone cannot fulfill this huge accomplishment brought by the professors. achieve these accomplishments. For example, Tsinghua university University in China is a case in that point. As one of the saliant has benefited greatly from its renowned professor in Tsinghua university, the Xu Yuanchong—a famous translator Xu Yuanchong, a receiver and recipient of various global translation award, awards—who has gained myriad secured numerous literature research projects funded by the Chinese government of China, bringing much more (improved sentence structure). This has brought significant financial resources to the university. Consequently, by increasing the salary of well-educated professors, university salaries of well-educated professors will overall ultimately enhance its a university's financial gains and long-term sustainable development.
Admittedly, advanced facilities are also playing play a crucial role in promoting advanced education and assisting the university to helping universities achieve great academic success. However, when compared with the importance and significance of well-paid professor, professors, their significance impact can be neglected. And in order to stick the considered secondary (clarified the comparison). To strike an appropriate balance between increasing the salary of professors professor salaries and purchasing the advanced equipment’s, university equipment, universities should place greater emphasis on raising income levels to attract more well-educated professionals (rephrased for clarity).
In conclusion, prioritizing the salaries of well-educated professors is supposed to emphasize more on increasing the income of salary, appealing more well-educated professors.essential for a university's long-term success and reputation (clarified sentence structure). By doing so, universities can attract top talent, produce distinguished graduates, and secure additional financial resources through research projects and sponsorships. While advanced facilities are important, their significance pales in comparison to the benefits of well-compensated professors (improved sentence structure for clarity).
8 Mind Map
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Introduction
- Allocating financial resources
- Prioritizing professor salaries
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Attracting well-educated talents
- Long-term sustainable development
- Cultivating outstanding students
- Enhancing university reputation
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Example: Harvard University
- Well-educated and well-paid professors
- High academic performance of graduates
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Maximizing benefits through research and sponsorships
- Publishing academic research results
- Attracting financial sponsorships
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Example: Tsinghua University and Professor Xu Yuanchong
- Securing literature research projects funded by the Chinese government
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Advanced facilities vs. well-paid professors
- Striking an appropriate balance
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Conclusion
- Prioritizing professor salaries for long-term success and reputation
9 Key Words
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | English Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allocate | /ˈæləˌkeɪt/ | Verb | To distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose | Allocate | Universities must allocate limited financial resources to maximize benefits. |
| Prioritize | /praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/ | Verb | To arrange or deal with in order of importance or priority | Prioritize | I believe that prioritizing the income of prominent professors is the wiser choice. |
| Sustainable development | /səˈsteɪnəbəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt/ | Noun phrase | Economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources | Sustainable development | /Raising professor salaries contributes to a university's long-term sustainable development./ |
| Reputation | /ˌrɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/ | Noun | The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something | Reputation | /A university's reputation is enhanced by its distinguished graduates./ |
| Academic performance | /əˈkædəmɪk pərˈfɔrməns/ | Noun phrase | The extent to which a student, teacher, or institution has achieved their educational goals | Academic performance | /Students graduating from Harvard generally have higher academic performance./ |
| Sponsorship | /ˈspɒnsərʃɪp/ | Noun | The position of being a sponsor, especially in providing financial support for a project or activity | Sponsorship | /Well-educated professors can attract more financial sponsorships for the university./ |
| Accomplishment | /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ | Noun | Something that has been achieved successfully, especially through skill or hard work | Accomplishment | /Facilities alone cannot achieve the accomplishments of well-educated professors./ |
| Admittedly | /ədˈmɪtɪdli/ | Adverb | Used to express recognition that something is true or valid, often reluctantly | Admittedly | /Admittedly, advanced facilities also play a crucial role in promoting advanced education./ |
| Compensate | /ˈkɒmpənseɪt/ | Verb | To give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred; to recompense | Compensate | /The benefits of well-compensated professors outweigh the importance of advanced facilities./ |
How Academic Discussion Is Scored
The TOEFL Academic Discussion task is evaluated based on the official ETS scoring rubric. AI evaluation analyzes each response across multiple dimensions.
Relevance & Contribution
Does the response address the question and contribute meaningfully to the discussion?
Language Use
Grammar accuracy, vocabulary range, and sentence structure quality.
Development & Support
Are ideas well-developed with specific examples and clear reasoning?
Common Patterns Across Responses
Based on analysis of user submissions for this task, here are common patterns observed in student responses.
Many students provide clear opinions but lack specific supporting examples.
Strong responses directly reference the reading passage and other speakers' viewpoints.
Higher-scoring responses use varied sentence structures and academic vocabulary.
Time management is a key factor — responses that feel rushed tend to score lower on development.
Learning Tips
Read the prompt carefully and identify all parts of the question before writing.
Reference the reading passage and the other students' opinions in your response.
Use specific examples to support your main point — avoid generic statements.
Aim for 120-150 words. Longer responses are not always better; clarity and focus matter more.
Practice timed responses (10 minutes) to build fluency under exam conditions.
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