All Samples

TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: nstructions: Your professor is teaching a class on business. Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response you should: express and support your personal opinion make a contribution to the discussion An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Real user submissions with AI-powered evaluation and feedback

1 user-submitted samples available

Start Free Practice

Task Overview

Professor

we are looking this week at different ways business market their products and services, especially nontraditional methods. One thing that marketers pay close attention to is online reviews of their products. A business might include customer reviews on their website or carefully monitor the reviews on third-party websites. I would like you to discuss your own experiences with online reviews. Do you find them useful when deciding wether or not to buy a product or service? why or why not?

Student A

i think online review are a great source of information because they are written by ordinary customers who are like me.

Student B

to me , online reviews have some real problems. people are more likely to post reviews after having bad experience.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

For me, reading online reviews can help me save lots of money and time. Take my purchasing cosmetic products for example, every time when i am be attracted by the new products' advertisements, i would find the online reviews from people who have already used it, by doing so it can help me determine whether to buy this products. To be more specific, on the website, the people not only share the package of the products, the using method , ingredients in the products and the different functions of the products, but also transmit their real feeling after using this cosmetic products. Because they do not have the responsibility to promote the products, their reviews can be more reliable. In conclusion, i believe that online review can provide conveniences for prblic.

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 effectively addresses the professor's question by expressing a personal opinion on the usefulness of online reviews and providing a specific example from the writer's experience. However, there is room for improvement in elaborating on the viewpoint and refining language use.

Suggestions for improvement:

  • Provide more detailed explanations or examples to support your opinion.

  • Revise grammar, punctuation, and capitalization errors.

Examples:

  1. Instead of "i believe that online review can provide conveniences for prblic.", consider writing "I believe that online reviews offer significant convenience for consumers by providing reliable information from real users."

  2. Correct capitalization errors such as "i think" to "I think" and "i am be attracted" to "I am attracted."

4. Essay structure and organization

The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, it could benefit from better organization within paragraphs and clearer transitions between ideas.

Suggestions for improvement:

  • Improve paragraph organization by focusing on one main idea per paragraph.

  • Use transition words or phrases to connect ideas more smoothly.

Examples:

  1. In the body paragraph, separate the discussion of cosmetic products into its own paragraph with a clear topic sentence like "Online reviews have been particularly helpful when I purchase cosmetic products."

  2. Add transition words or phrases such as "For instance," or "Moreover," to connect ideas within paragraphs, e.g., "Moreover, these reviewers share their real feelings after using the cosmetic products."

5. Grammar

For me, reading online reviews can help me save lots of money and time. Take my purchasing cosmetic products for example, every time when iI(i vs. I) am beam being(Agreement: 'been' or 'was' + past tense) attracted by the new products' advertisements, iI(i vs. I) would find the online reviews from people who have already used it, by doing so it can help me determine whether to buy thisthese('this' vs. 'these') products. To be more specific, on the website, the people not only share the package of the products, the using method ,,(Use of whitespace before comma and before/after parentheses) ingredients in the products and the different functions of the products, but also transmit their real feeling after using this cosmetic products. Because they do not have the responsibility to promote the products, their reviews can be more reliable. In conclusion, iI(i vs. I) believe that online review can provide conveniences for prblicpublic(misspelling).

Display title: 6 Revised Essay

In my opinion, online reviews significantly contribute to making informed decisions when purchasing products or services, as they offer valuable insights from real users. For instance, when considering cosmetic products, I often consult online reviews to determine their effectiveness and suitability. These reviews not only provide details about the packaging, usage instructions, ingredients, and functions of the products but also convey genuine user experiences. Since reviewers are not obligated to promote the products, their opinions tend to be more trustworthy. Therefore, I believe that online reviews play a crucial role in facilitating well-informed choices for consumers. (101 words)

In my opinion (For me, reading a more natural tone), online reviews can help me save lots significantly contribute to making informed decisions when purchasing products or services, as they offer valuable insights from real users (Provide reasons and explanations for each revised word or phrase inline in the natural tone of money and time. Take my purchasing English). For instance (For better transition), when considering cosmetic products for example, every time when i am be attracted by the new products' advertisements, i would find the products, I often consult online reviews from people who have already used it, by doing so it can help me to determine whether to buy this products. To be more specific, on the website, the people their effectiveness and suitability (For clarity and precision). These reviews not only share provide details about the package of the products, the using method , ingredients in the products packaging, usage instructions, ingredients, and the different functions of the products, products but also transmit their real feeling after using this cosmetic products. Because they do convey genuine user experiences (For clarity and precision). Since reviewers are not have the responsibility obligated to promote the products, their reviews can opinions tend to be more reliable. In conclusion, i trustworthy (For clarity and precision). Therefore (For better transition), I believe that online review can provide conveniences reviews play a crucial role in facilitating well-informed choices for prblic.consumers (To make the conclusion stronger).

8 Mind Map


- Online Reviews
    - Informed Decisions
        - Valuable Insights
            - Real Users
    - Cosmetic Products Example
        - Effectiveness and Suitability
            - Packaging, Usage, Ingredients, Functions
    - Genuine User Experiences
        - Trustworthy Opinions
    - Crucial Role in Consumer Choices

9 Key Words

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionEnglish TranslationSample Sentence
InformedɪnˈfɔrmdAdjectiveHaving or showing knowledge of a particular subject or situationInformedReading online reviews helped me make an informed decision about which product to purchase.
SignificantlysɪgˈnɪfɪkəntliAdverbIn a way that is sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; to a notably large extentSignificantlyOnline reviews significantly contribute to making better purchasing decisions.
ConsultkənˈsʌltVerbSeek information or advice from (someone with expertise in a particular area)ConsultI always consult online reviews before buying cosmetic products.
Effectiveness_ ɪˈfektɪvnəs_ Noun_ The degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result; success_ Effectiveness_ Online reviews help determine the effectiveness of products based on real user experiences.
Suitability_ suːtəˈbɪlɪti_ Noun_ The quality of being right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation_ Suitability_ I use online reviews to assess the suitability of cosmetic products for my skin type.
Obligated_ ˈɒblɪɡeɪtɪd_ Adjective_ Required to do something because of a law, rule, or personal duty_ Obligated_ Since reviewers are not obligated to promote products, their opinions are more trustworthy.
TrustworthyˈtrʌstwərðiAdjectiveAble to be relied on as honest or truthfulTrustworthyOnline reviews provide trustworthy information from real users.
FacilitatingfəˈsɪlɪteɪtɪŋVerbMake (an action or process) easy or easierFacilitatingOnline reviews play a crucial role in facilitating well-informed choices for consumers.
ConsumerkənˈsjuːmərNounA person who purchases goods and services for personal useConsumerThe availability of online reviews has made it easier for consumers to make informed decisions.

6 Revised Essay

In my opinion, online reviews significantly contribute to making informed decisions when purchasing products or services, as they offer valuable insights from real users. For instance, when considering cosmetic products, I often consult online reviews to determine their effectiveness and suitability. These reviews not only provide details about the packaging, usage instructions, ingredients, and functions of the products but also convey genuine user experiences. Since reviewers are not obligated to promote the products, their opinions tend to be more trustworthy. Therefore, I believe that online reviews play a crucial role in facilitating well-informed choices for consumers.

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.

Rooting for Your Goal Score Today!

With LingoLeap, an expert in English exams

Get to Your Dream Score Faster

Try for free now