TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Do you agree or disagree that teachers deserve salaries on par with these professions?Please explain your viewpoint
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Professor
Doctor Achebe: As teachers play an invaluable role in shaping young minds and preparing students for the future, there is an ongoing discussion regarding their compensation. Some argue that teachers should be paid salaries comparable to other high-earning professionals like doctors, lawyers and business executives. Do you agree or disagree that teachers deserve salaries on par with these professions? Please explain your viewpoint.
Student A
Claire Teachers should receive salaries on par with other high-earning professionals. They work long hours preparing lessons, grading assignments, and supporting students. Without good teachers, we wouldn't have doctors, lawyers, and executives. If we want to attract the best talent to this invaluable profession, we must compensate teachers accordingly. My favorite teachers inspired me and contributed greatly to my success.
Student B
Andrew I don't think teachers deserve the same high salaries as doctors or lawyers. Teachers get so much time off, with summer vacations and other long breaks. My aunt is a teacher and she's always posting on Facebook about trips she takes or sleeping in during vacations. With all that time off, teachers shouldn't earn salaries on par with year-round demanding professions.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
As far as I am concerned, I tend to be in favor of the arguments that teachers do not deseve higher salaries. To start with, as Andrew mentioned, tearchers have much time off. They do not have much workload, and it is easy for them to handle teaching work, which is almost the same experiences they have gone through. My teacher usually go shopping after class, and travel to other countries during summer and winter vacations. Admittedly, teachers can influence the students. However this is the basic work request. Compared with doctors and other professionals, the theacher have shorter training before working, and their work content is easier.
Evaluation Result
1. Sub Scores
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Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 3.5
-
Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 2.5
-
Language Use and Grammar: 3.0
2. Estimated Scores
Estimated Score: 20
3. Task completeness
The essay addresses the task, but it could be improved in several ways. The writer's viewpoint is not well-elaborated, and the supporting arguments are weak. To strengthen the essay, the writer should provide more concrete examples and relevant details to support their viewpoint.
Example 1: Instead of saying "teachers have much time off," provide specific data on the average number of hours teachers work per week compared to other professionals.
Example 2: Rather than stating that "their work content is easier," explain why teaching might be considered less demanding or complex than other professions, such as medicine or law.
4. Essay structure and organization
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, it lacks clear transitions between ideas and paragraphs. To improve the organization, the writer should use transition words or phrases to connect their thoughts more effectively.
Example 1: Add a transition phrase at the beginning of the second paragraph: "To start with, as Andrew mentioned, teachers have much time off."
Example 2: Use a contrasting transition word in the third paragraph to show a different perspective: "On the other hand, it is true that teachers can influence students."
5. Grammar
As far as I am concerned, I tend to be in favor of the arguments that teachers do not desevedeserve(misspelling) higher salaries.
To start with, as Andrew mentioned, tearchersteachers(misspelling) have much time off. They do not have much workload, and it is easy for them to handle teaching work, which is almost the same experiences they have gone through. My teacher usually gogoes(The dog always bark(s) at me) shopping after class, and travel to other countries during summer and winter vacations.
Admittedly, teachers can influence the students. HoweverHowever,(Commas after conjunctive/linking adverbs in front of a new sentence.) this is the basic work request. Compared with doctors and other professionals, the theacherteacher(misspelling) have shorter training before working, and their work content is easier.
Display title: 6 Revised Essay
In my opinion, I disagree with the notion that teachers should receive salaries equivalent to those of high-earning professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
Firstly, as Andrew pointed out, teachers typically enjoy more time off than professionals in other fields. They often have lighter workloads and can easily manage their teaching responsibilities, which are primarily based on their own educational experiences. For instance, my teacher frequently goes shopping after class and travels abroad during summer and winter vacations.
While it is true that teachers can significantly impact their students' lives, this is a fundamental aspect of their job. In comparison to doctors and other professionals who undergo extensive training before entering the workforce, teachers generally have shorter training periods and less demanding work content. (129 words)
As far as In my opinion, I am concerned, I tend to be in favor of disagree with the arguments notion that teachers do not deseve should receive higher salaries. salaries (revised for clarity and to better convey the writer's stance).
To start with, Firstly, as Andrew mentioned, tearchers pointed out, teachers typically enjoy more time off than professionals in other fields (clarified the reference to "Andrew" and improved sentence structure). They often have much time off. They do not have much workload, lighter workloads and it is easy can easily manage their teaching responsibilities, which are primarily based on their own educational experiences (rephrased for them to handle teaching work, which is almost the same experiences they have gone through. My better flow). For instance, my teacher usually go frequently goes shopping after class, class and travel to other countries travels abroad during summer and winter vacations. vacations (corrected grammar).
Admittedly, While it is true that teachers can influence the students. However significantly impact their students' lives, this is the basic work request. Compared with a fundamental aspect of their job (rephrased for clarity). In comparison to doctors and other professionals, professionals who undergo extensive training before entering the theacher workforce, teachers generally have shorter training before working, periods and their less demanding work content is easier.(improved sentence structure and clarity).
Display title: 8 Mind Map
1. Introduction
- Disagree with high salaries for teachers
2. Teachers' time off
- Lighter workloads
- Manageable teaching responsibilities
3. Teaching based on personal experience
- Example: teacher shopping and traveling
4. Impact on students' lives
- Fundamental aspect of job
5. Comparison to other professionals
- Doctors and lawyers' extensive training
- Shorter training periods for teachers
6. Less demanding work content for teachers
7. Conclusion
- Teachers' salaries should not be equivalent to high-earning professionals
Display title: 9 Key Words
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | English Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | /ˈnoʊʃən/ | Noun | A belief or idea about something | Notion | I disagree with the notion that teachers should receive high salaries. |
| Equivalent | /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ | Adjective | Equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc | Equivalent | Teachers should not receive salaries equivalent to those of doctors and lawyers. |
| Workload | /ˈwɜrkˌloʊd/ | Noun | The amount of work assigned to a particular worker | Workload | Teachers typically enjoy lighter workloads than other professionals. |
| Responsibility | /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti/ | Noun | Something that it is your job or duty to deal with | Responsibility | Teaching responsibilities are primarily based on personal experience. |
| Fundamental | /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntl/ | Adjective | Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance | Fundamental | Impacting students' lives is a fundamental aspect of a teacher's job. |
| Workforce | /ˈwɜrkˌfɔrs/ | Noun | The people engaged in or available for work in a country, company, or area | Workforce | Doctors undergo extensive training before entering the workforce. |
| Extensive | /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ | Adjective | Large in amount or scale; far-reaching | Extensive | Lawyers have extensive training compared to teachers. |
| Training | /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/ | Noun | The action of teaching a person a particular skill or type of behavior | Training | Teachers generally have shorter training periods than other professionals. |
| Demanding | /dɪˈmændɪŋ/ | Adjective | Requiring much skill or effort; exacting | Demanding | Teaching has less demanding work content compared to other professions. |
Display title: 6 Revised Essay
In my opinion, I disagree with the notion (/ˈnoʊʃən/) that teachers should receive salaries equivalent (/ɪˈkwɪvələnt/) to those of high-earning professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
Firstly, as Andrew pointed out, teachers typically enjoy more time off than professionals in other fields. They often have lighter workloads (/ˈwɜrkˌloʊd/) and can easily manage their teaching responsibilities (/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti/), which are primarily based on their own educational experiences. For instance, my teacher frequently goes shopping after class and travels abroad during summer and winter vacations.
While it is true that teachers can significantly impact their students' lives, this is a fundamental (/ˌfʌndəˈmɛntl/) aspect of their job. In comparison to doctors and other professionals who undergo extensive (/ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/) training (/ˈtreɪnɪŋ/) before entering the workforce (/ˈwɜrkˌfɔrs/), teachers generally have shorter training periods and less demanding (/dɪˈmændɪŋ/) work content.
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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