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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Instructions Your professor is teaching a class on economics. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

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1 user-submitted samples available

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Task Overview

Dr. Achebe

In class this week, we are looking at how markets work, particularly in regard to energy costs. Petroleum, also known simply as oil, is one of the most important international commodities. When the global market price of oil goes up, fuels such as gasoline (petrol) also become more expensive. Many people think governments should step in to protect consumers from increases in fuel prices. What is your view? Do you think governments should actively keep fuel prices low for consumers?

Kelly

I think it's a good government policy. Most people have to drive or use public transportation, like a bus, to get to work. When the price of gasoline goes up, it costs them more to get to work. People don't have a choice about whether to go to work or not, so they should be protected from price increases.

Andrew

I think the government keeping gas prices low is a bad policy. The biggest problem we face now is global climate change. The more expensive gasoline is, the less people will drive, and thus they will contribute fewer greenhouse gases to the air. Lowering the cost of gas just makes the problem worse.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

I think government should not keep prices in a low price. First, The using of gasoline will produce lots of green house gases. If the price of the gasoline is high, people will drive electronic car or public, which will reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

Evaluation Result

1. 子项得分

  • Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 2.5

  • Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 2.0

  • Language Use and Grammar: 3.0

2. 预估分数

17. 3 任务完成度

这篇文章在任务完成度方面有待提高。首先,文章的字数不足100字,没有达到要求。其次,文章中的观点和论据较为简单,需要更多的细节和例子来支持。建议同学在写作时尽量多展开一些观点,并给出具体的例子来支持。

改进示例1: Instead of "If the price of the gasoline is high, people will drive electronic car or public, which will reduce the production of greenhouse gases.", you can write "If the price of gasoline is high, people might be more inclined to use electric cars or public transportation, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

改进示例2: You can add another supporting point, such as "Additionally, artificially keeping fuel prices low might discourage investment in alternative energy sources, hindering the development of cleaner technologies."

4. 文章结构与组织

从文章结构和组织方面来看,这篇文章还有很大的提升空间。首先,文章缺乏明确的引言、主体和结论部分。其次,在段落之间缺乏明确的过渡。建议同学在写作时注意使用恰当的过渡词汇,并将观点和论据进行合理安排。

改进示例1: You can start your essay with an introduction, such as "In response to the professor's question, I believe that governments should not actively keep fuel prices low for consumers due to environmental concerns."

改进示例2: For a better transition between ideas, you can write "On one hand, high gasoline prices encourage people to use more environmentally friendly transportation options. On the other hand, keeping fuel prices low might have negative consequences on the development of alternative energy sources."

5. 语法批改

I think government should not keep prices in a low price. First, The using of gasoline will produce lots of green house gases. If the price of the gasoline is high, people will drive electronic car or public, which will reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

Title: 6 文章修订

In my opinion, governments should not actively intervene to maintain low fuel prices. Primarily, the consumption of gasoline contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. By keeping fuel prices high, individuals may be encouraged to opt for alternative transportation methods, such as electric vehicles or public transit systems. This shift in behavior could ultimately lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas production and promote a more sustainable future. (70 words)

I think government In my opinion, governments should not keep actively intervene (revised for clarity and formality) to maintain low fuel prices in a low price. First, The using (rephrased for clarity). Primarily, the consumption of gasoline will produce lots of green house gases. If contributes significantly (added "significantly" for emphasis) to greenhouse gas emissions. By keeping fuel prices high, individuals may be encouraged (changed "will" to "may be" for a more cautious tone) to opt for alternative transportation methods (rephrased for clarity), such as electric vehicles or public transit systems. This shift in behavior could ultimately lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas production and promote a more sustainable future (added "and promote a more sustainable future" to emphasize the price of the gasoline is high, people will drive electronic car or public, which will reduce the production of greenhouse gases.positive outcome).

8 思维导图


- Introduction
    - Governments and fuel prices
    - Personal opinion: against intervention

- Argument 1: Environmental impact
    - Greenhouse gas emissions
    - High fuel prices encourage alternative transportation

- Argument 2: Sustainable future
    - Electric vehicles and public transit systems
    - Reduction in greenhouse gas production

- Conclusion
    - Importance of promoting sustainability over low fuel prices

9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
intervene/ˌɪntərˈviːn/verbto become involved in a situation to improve it干预Governments should not actively intervene to maintain low fuel prices.
consumption/kənˈsʌm(p)ʃ(ə)n/nounthe act of using resources or energy消费The consumption of gasoline contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
greenhouse gas/ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡas/noungases that trap heat in the atmosphere温室气体By keeping fuel prices high, we can reduce greenhouse gas production.
emissions/ɪˈmɪʃ(ə)nz/nounsubstances released into the air │排放物 │The consumption of gasoline contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
alternative/ɔːlˈtəːnətɪv/adjectiveavailable as another possibility or choice │替代的 │Individuals may be encouraged to opt for alternative transportation methods.
transportation/ˌtrænspɔːrˈteɪʃ(ə)n/nounthe act of moving people or goods from one place to another│交通运输 │High fuel prices encourage the use of more sustainable transportation methods.
electric vehicles/ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈviːək(ə)lz/nounvehicles powered by electricity │电动汽车 │People may choose electric vehicles instead of gasoline-powered cars.
public transit/ˈpʌblɪk ˈtrænzɪt/nouna system of buses, trains, etc. for public use │公共交通 │More people might use public transit systems if fuel prices are high.
sustainable/səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/adjectiveable to be maintained at a certain level │可持续的 │This shift in behavior could promote a more sustainable future.
reduction/rɪˈdʌkʃ(ə)n/nounthe act of making something smaller or less │减少 │A reduction in greenhouse gas production is essential for our planet's health.

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

1

Read the prompt carefully and identify all parts of the question before writing.

2

Reference the reading passage and the other students' opinions in your response.

3

Use specific examples to support your main point — avoid generic statements.

4

Aim for 120-150 words. Longer responses are not always better; clarity and focus matter more.

5

Practice timed responses (10 minutes) to build fluency under exam conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TOEFL Academic Discussion task?
The TOEFL Academic Discussion task requires you to contribute to an online classroom discussion. You'll read a professor's question and other students' responses, then write your own post expressing and supporting your opinion in about 10 minutes.
How is the Academic Discussion task scored?
The task is scored on a scale of 0-5 based on relevance to the discussion, quality of language use (grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure), and how well you develop and support your ideas with specific examples and reasoning.
What are the user samples on this page?
These are real responses submitted by TOEFL test-takers who practiced this question on LingoLeap. Each sample has been evaluated by our AI scoring engine, which provides a score and detailed feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.
How accurate is the AI evaluation?
LingoLeap's AI evaluation engine is trained on official ETS scoring rubrics and calibrated against human rater scores. While no automated system is perfect, it provides reliable feedback for practice purposes and helps identify specific areas for improvement.
How can I practice this Academic Discussion task?
You can practice by signing up for a free LingoLeap account. Write your own response to this exact question, submit it, and receive instant AI evaluation with detailed feedback on your writing.
How long should my Academic Discussion response be?
Aim for 120-150 words. The task gives you 10 minutes to write your response. Focus on clarity, supporting your opinion with specific examples, and referencing the discussion context rather than writing a longer response.

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