TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: One proposal is to improve and expand public transportation. The other is to provide financial support to companies that make electric cars and to consumers who buy them. Which proposal do you think is better? Why?
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Professor
Doctor Diaz This week, we've discussed how carbon dioxide released by gasoline-powered (petrol-powered) cars pollutes the air and contributes to climate change. Let’s focus now on two proposals that governments can consider as they try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars. One proposal is to improve and expand public transportation. The other is to provide financial support to companies that make electric cars and to consumers who buy them. Which proposal do you think is better? Why?
Student A
I think improving public transportation would be more beneficial overall than giving tax breaks or rebates to particular companies and consumers. If taking a train or a bus is significantly easier, cheaper, and faster than driving a car, more people will want to use public transportation. With fewer cars on the road, there will be less air pollution.
Student B
I believe that providing financial support to electric-car manufacturers and consumers is the better innovative long-term strategy. Many people live in rural areas, and they need their own vehicles to get around. These people would not benefit from, say, more train lines being built in a far-off city
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
Financially supporting using electric cars is better than developing the existing public transportation, as it is more effective both now and future. As to public transportation, no matter how big and various it becomes, it still has to follow fixed schedules and maps, by which it cannot satisfy all travel preferences, such as moving faster for emergencies and choose a new route to accomplish multiple tasks in one outing. With this, driving petrol-powered cars is still attractive. Meanwhile, nowadays many public buses are still petrol-powered, so they also creates carbon dioxide. Financially supporting using electric cars, on the contrary, could make this expenditure more worthwhile. Firstly, replacing petrol-powered cars with electric cars that have all required functions will directly and indelibly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from this aspect. Secondly, providing financial support to electric energy companies is also beneficial for the development of electric powered public transportation. As a result, the issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation will gradually become history.
Evaluation Result
1. Sub Scores
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Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5
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Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0
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Language Use and Grammar: 4.0
2. Estimated Scores
Estimated Score: 27
3. Task completeness
The essay effectively addresses the task by discussing the benefits of financially supporting electric cars over improving public transportation. However, it could benefit from more specific examples or details to support the argument. Additionally, the essay could also address potential counterarguments or drawbacks of the chosen proposal.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Provide specific examples of how financial support for electric cars can lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
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Address potential counterarguments or drawbacks of financially supporting electric cars.
Examples in English:
- "For instance, government subsidies for electric vehicles could encourage more consumers to purchase them, leading to a significant decrease in carbon dioxide emissions."
- "However, one potential drawback of this approach is that it may not be as effective in densely populated urban areas where public transportation is more prevalent."
4. Essay structure and organization
The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The paragraphs focus on specific points with supporting details. However, transitions between ideas and paragraphs could be improved for better coherence.
Suggestions for improvement:
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Use clear transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
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Ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects to the overall argument.
Examples in English:
- "Firstly, replacing petrol-powered cars with electric cars that have all required functions will directly and indelibly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from this aspect."
- "Moreover, providing financial support to electric energy companies is also beneficial for the development of electric powered public transportation."
5. 语法批改
Financially supporting using electric cars is better than developing the existing public transportation, as it is more effective both now and future. As tofor public transportation, no matter how big and variousvaried it becomes, it still has to follow fixed schedules and maps, by which it cannot satisfy all travel preferences, such as moving faster for emergencies and choosechoosing a new route to accomplish multiple tasks in one outing. With this,this in mind, driving petrol-poweredgas-powered cars is still attractive. Meanwhile, nowadays many public buses are still petrol-powered,gas-powered, so they also createscreate carbon dioxide. Financially supporting usingthe use of electric cars, on the contrary, could make this expenditure more worthwhile. Firstly, replacing petrol-poweredgas-powered cars with electric cars that have all required functions will directly and indelibly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from this aspect. Secondly, providing financial support to electric energy companies is also beneficial for the development of electric poweredelectric-powered public transportation. As a result, the issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation will gradually become history.
Display title: 6 Revised Essay
Supporting the adoption of electric cars is a more effective approach than expanding public transportation in addressing carbon dioxide emissions, both in the present and future. While public transportation systems can be extensive and diverse, they are constrained by fixed schedules and routes, limiting their ability to cater to individual preferences such as faster travel during emergencies or customized routes for multitasking. Consequently, gasoline-powered cars remain an attractive option for many. Moreover, numerous public buses still rely on petrol, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
In contrast, financial support for electric cars presents a more promising solution. First and foremost, replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric alternatives that possess all necessary functions would directly and permanently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation. Furthermore, providing financial incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers could also promote the development of electric-powered public transportation systems. Consequently, the issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation would gradually become obsolete. (157 words)
Financially supporting using Supporting the adoption of electric cars (clarified the subject) is better than developing the existing public transportation, as it is a more effective approach than expanding public transportation (rephrased for clarity) in addressing carbon dioxide emissions, both now in the present and future. As to public transportation, no matter how big and various it becomes, it still has to follow While public transportation systems can be extensive and diverse, they are constrained by fixed schedules and maps, by which it cannot satisfy all travel preferences, routes (rephrased for clarity), limiting their ability to cater to individual preferences such as moving faster for travel during emergencies and choose or customized routes for multitasking (added examples for clarity). Consequently, gasoline-powered cars remain an attractive option for many. Moreover, numerous public buses still rely on petrol, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
In contrast, financial support for electric cars presents a new route to accomplish multiple tasks in one outing. With this, driving petrol-powered cars is still attractive. Meanwhile, nowadays many public buses are still petrol-powered, so they also creates carbon dioxide. Financially supporting using electric cars, on the contrary, could make this expenditure more worthwhile. Firstly, promising solution (rephrased for emphasis). First and foremost, replacing petrol-powered cars gasoline-powered vehicles with electric cars alternatives that have possess all required necessary functions will would directly and indelibly permanently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from this aspect. Secondly, transportation (rephrased for clarity). Furthermore, providing financial support to electric energy companies is incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers could also beneficial for promote the development of electric powered public transportation. As a result, electric-powered public transportation systems (added beneficiaries of financial incentives). Consequently, the issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation will would gradually become history.obsolete (rephrased for a stronger conclusion).
8 Mind Map
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Introduction
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- Electric cars vs public transportation
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Public transportation limitations
- Fixed schedules and routes
- Individual preferences not met
- Gasoline-powered cars still attractive
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Public transportation emissions
- Many buses still use petrol
- Contributes to carbon dioxide emissions
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Electric cars as a solution
- Replace gasoline-powered vehicles
- Directly reduce carbon dioxide emissions
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Financial support for electric cars
- Incentives for manufacturers
- Promote development of electric public transportation systems
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Obsolete carbon dioxide emissions issue
- Gradual reduction in transportation-related emissions
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Conclusion
- Electric cars more effective than public transportation expansion
9 Key Words
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | English Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | əˈdɒpʃən | Noun | The act of taking up or starting to use something | 採用 | Supporting the adoption of electric cars is a more effective approach in addressing carbon dioxide emissions. |
| Constrained | kənˈstreɪnd | Adjective | Forced, compelled, or obliged | 受限 | Public transportation systems are constrained by fixed schedules and routes. |
| Incentives | /ɪnˈsɛntɪvz/ | Noun | /Something that encourages a person to do something | /激励 | /Providing financial incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers could promote development of electric-powered public transportation systems. |
| Obsolete | ˌɒbsəˈliːt | Adjective | No longer produced or used; out of date | 淘汰 | The issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation would gradually become obsolete. |
| Permanently | ˈpɜːmənəntli | Adverb | Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely | 永久地 | Replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric alternatives would permanently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation. |
| Preferences | /ˈprɛfərənsɪz/ | /Noun | /A greater liking for one alternative over another or others | /偏好 | /Public transportation is limited in its ability to cater to individual preferences. |
| Promising | /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/ | /Adjective | /Showing signs of future success | /有前途的 | /Financial support for electric cars presents a more promising solution. |
| Transportation | ˌtrænspɔrˈteɪʃən | Noun | The action of transporting someone or something from one location to another | 交通運輸 | Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation can be reduced by adopting electric cars. |
| Extensive | /ɪkˈstensiv/ | /Adjective | /Covering or affecting a large area | /广泛的 | /While public transportation systems can be extensive and diverse, they are constrained by fixed schedules and routes. |
6 Revised Essay
Supporting the adoption of electric cars is a more effective approach than expanding public transportation in addressing carbon dioxide emissions, both in the present and future. While public transportation systems can be extensive and diverse, they are constrained by fixed schedules and routes, limiting their ability to cater to individual preferences such as faster travel during emergencies or customized routes for multitasking. Consequently, gasoline-powered cars remain an attractive option for many. Moreover, numerous public buses still rely on petrol, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
In contrast, financial support for electric cars presents a more promising solution. First and foremost, replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric alternatives that possess all necessary functions would directly and permanently reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation. Furthermore, providing financial incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers could also promote the development of electric-powered public transportation systems. Consequently, the issue of carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation would gradually become obsolete.
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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