TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Let's continue talking about consumer behavior.We have been discussing different ways people goabout choosing what products to buy, and thereare many potential sources of information and advice for consumers. In your opinion, which is the better strategy for making purchasing decisions. relying on advice from friends and family, or depending on information from online sources? Why?
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Professor
Let's continue talking about consumer behavior.We have been discussing different ways people goabout choosing what products to buy, and thereare many potential sources of information and advice for consumers. In your opinion, which is the better strategy for making purchasing decisions. relying on advice from friends and family, or depending on information from online sources? Why?
Student A
Asking friends and family members for product recommendations might seem like an easier option, but itmight take too much time to get all the information you needAn internet search would be much more efficient. There aremany consumer magazines available online that compile lotsof data to compare the advantages and disadvantages of oneproduct versus another.
Student B
The last time I bought a computer, I just watched a few videosonline to make a decision, and now I regret that. My friendscould have advised me better because they know mypreferences and the kind of features that I am interested in.Consumers should get advice from the people around them tofind the most suitable products.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
I concur with Claire’s perspective that it is more suitable to make purchasing decisions through internet. Firstly, the shopping apps and social medias recommending products provide consumer with a relatively large platform discussing the quality of products. Consumers with interest can check all of the comments from previous buyers to make decisions. Take taboo, the largest Chinese shopping app as an example, people will be able to post the photos of themselves wearing the products like clothes ,shoes, hats for others to make accurate reference. In addition, the filters in the shopping apps can save a lot of time for people to buy things, helping people to make good decisions with greater efficiency.
Evaluation Result
1.子项得分
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.0 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 3.5 Language Use and Grammar: 4.0
2.预估分数
25. 3.任务完成度
这篇文章在回答问题方面做得不错,但还有一些需要改进的地方。首先,你需要更详细地说明为什么通过互联网购物更合适。例如,你可以提到在线评论和评分系统如何帮助消费者了解产品的优缺点。此外,尝试引入更多具体的例子来支持你的观点。
Example 1: Instead of "Take taboo, the largest Chinese shopping app as an example," you could write "For instance, on Taobao, the largest Chinese shopping app, people can read reviews from previous buyers who share their experiences with the product, helping potential buyers make informed decisions."
Example 2: Instead of "In addition, the filters in the shopping apps can save a lot of time for people to buy things," you could write "Moreover, online shopping platforms offer advanced filtering options that allow users to narrow down their search based on specific criteria such as price range, brand, or customer ratings."
4.文章结构与组织
文章的结构和组织方面需要改进。虽然你有一个简短的引言和结论,但正文部分缺乏清晰的段落划分。为了提高文章的组织性,请确保每个段落都集中讨论一个特定观点,并使用恰当的过渡词汇连接各个段落。
Example 1: Instead of starting your essay with "I concur with Claire’s perspective," you could write "In the debate between relying on advice from friends and family or depending on information from online sources for making purchasing decisions, I believe that online sources are more suitable due to their efficiency and access to a wider range of opinions."
Example 2: You could add a transition sentence like "While personal recommendations from friends and family can be valuable, online sources offer several advantages that make them a better choice for making informed purchasing decisions." This would help connect your introduction to the body of your essay.
- 语法批改
I concur with Claire’s perspective that it is more suitable to make purchasing decisions through internet. Firstly, the shopping apps and social medias recommending products provide consumer with a relatively large platform discussing the quality of products. Consumers with interest can check all of theall the(all of the (all the)) comments from previous buyers to make decisions. Take taboo, the largest Chinese shopping app as an example, people will be able to post the photos of themselves wearing the products like clothes ,, (Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses)shoes, hats for others to make accurate reference. In addition, the filters in the shopping apps can save a lot of time for people to buy things, helping people to make good decisions with greater efficiency.
6.文章修订
In the debate between relying on advice from friends and family or depending on information from online sources for making purchasing decisions, I believe that online sources are more suitable due to their efficiency and access to a wider range of opinions. While personal recommendations from friends and family can be valuable, online sources offer several advantages that make them a better choice for making informed purchasing decisions. For instance, on Taobao, the largest Chinese shopping app, people can read reviews from previous buyers who share their experiences with the product, helping potential buyers make informed decisions. Moreover, online shopping platforms offer advanced filtering options that allow users to narrow down their search based on specific criteria such as price range, brand, or customer ratings. This not only saves time but also ensures that consumers find products tailored to their needs and preferences. (144 words)
7.文章批改
In the debate between relying on advice from friends and family or depending on information from online sources for making purchasing decisions, I concur with Claire’s perspective that it is believe that online sources are more suitable to due to their efficiency and access to a wider range of opinions. (This opening sentence clearly states the writer's position and introduces the main points that will be discussed in the essay.)
While personal recommendations from friends and family can be valuable, online sources offer several advantages that make them a better choice for making informed purchasing decisions through internet. Firstly, the shopping apps and social medias recommending products provide consumer with a relatively large platform discussing the quality of products. Consumers with interest can check all of the comments from previous buyers to make decisions. Take taboo, (This transition sentence acknowledges the value of personal recommendations but emphasizes the advantages of online sources.)
For instance, on Taobao, the largest Chinese shopping app app, people can read reviews from previous buyers who share their experiences with the product, helping potential buyers make informed decisions. (This sentence provides a specific example to support the writer's argument and explains how online reviews can help consumers make better choices.)
Moreover, online shopping platforms offer advanced filtering options that allow users to narrow down their search based on specific criteria such as an example, people will be able to post the photos of themselves wearing the price range, brand, or customer ratings. (This sentence introduces another advantage of online sources and explains how filtering options can save time and help consumers find products like clothes ,shoes, hats for others to make accurate reference. In addition, the filters in the shopping apps can save a lot of time for people to buy things, helping people to make good decisions with greater efficiency.tailored to their needs and preferences.)
8.思维导图
-
Introduction
- Debate: friends and family vs. online sources
- Position: online sources are more suitable
-
Advantages of online sources
- Efficiency
- Access to a wider range of opinions
-
Example: Taobao
- Reading reviews from previous buyers
- Sharing experiences with the product
-
Filtering options on online platforms
- Narrowing down search based on criteria (price, brand, ratings)
- Saving time and finding tailored products
9.关键词
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | Simplified Chinese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| debate | /dɪˈbeɪt/ | noun | a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something | 辩论 | The debate between online shopping and traditional shopping continues to be a hot topic. |
| efficiency | /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/ | noun | the ability to do something well without wasting time or resources | 效率 | Online shopping platforms provide greater efficiency in finding the desired products. |
| criteria | /kraɪˈtɪəriə/ | noun | standards by which something is judged or decided | 标准 | The criteria for selecting a suitable product include price, quality, and customer reviews. |
| tailored | /ˈteɪlərd/ | adjective | /specially made for a particular person, organization, or purpose | /量身定制的 | /The website offers tailored recommendations based on users' preferences and browsing history. |
| preferences | /prɪˈfɛrəns/ | noun | /a greater liking for one alternative over another or others | /偏好 | /When shopping online, consumers can easily find products that match their preferences. |
| filtering | /ˈfɪltərɪŋ/ | verb | /to remove something unwanted from a liquid, gas, etc., by passing it through a filter | /过滤 | /Advanced filtering options help users narrow down their search results to find the best product. |
| purchasing | /ˈpɜrʧəsɪŋ/ | verb | /to buy something | /购买 | /Online sources have become a popular method for purchasing products in recent years. |
| recommendations | /ˌrɛkəmənˈdeɪʃənz/ | noun | suggestions or advice about what someone should do or choose | 推荐 | Consumers often rely on recommendations from friends and family when making purchasing decisions. |
| informed | /ɪnˈfɔrmd/ | adjective | having or showing knowledge of a particular subject or situation | 知情的 | Reading reviews from previous buyers helps potential customers make informed decisions. |
| opinions | /əˈpɪnjənz/ | noun | beliefs or judgments that are not necessarily based on fact or knowledge | _观点 | _Online sources provide access to a wider range of opinions, helping consumers make better choices. |
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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