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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: our professor is teaching a class on science and technology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

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Task Overview

Professor

In the past, progresses in science and technology were generally slow. However, in recent decades, the pace of technological progress has dramatically accelerated, with new discoveries and inventions almost every day. Some argue that the rapid advancement of science and technology is beneficial for society as a whole and should be encouraged. Others believe that this progress is happening too quickly and may lead to serious issues. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

Andrew

Most people don't have a say in the implementation of these new inventions, and that fact worries me. Just think about the widespread unemployment caused by the automation of many jobs: in this era of rapid technological change, it has become commonplace. People who lose their jobs may not believe that this progress is beneficial.

Mia

The faster the discoveries, the better. For example, due to advancements in medicine, our lives are much better than those of our great-grandparents. Back then, life expectancy was significantly shorter due to a lack of medication, whereas today, drugs are affordable and accessible. Anyone with a severe illness hopes for rapid scientific progress.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

Although Andrew holds the idea that rapid developments can cause negative effects because it might lead to unemployment, I personally believe that they are beneficial for human beings. Firstly, because rapid development in society can provide more means of transportation, it will benefit people's financial situation. Nowadays, even though there are various ways for people to travel, they are too expensive for the general public; such as an airplane ticket can reach 5000 RMB. However, with rapid changes in technology, more affordable transportations can be invented, so people will not need to worry about spending too much money on traffic. Secondly, since rapid changes in society can also bring more new daily-use objects, people can relax more. Most people are currently facing a huge amount of pressure because school tasks and job works, and most of them cannot find an efficient way to release their pressure. However, with more new discoveries, for example, AI Robots can be produced to accompany people while they feel negative, and they can talk or even take care of people while people are feeling awful, just like friends. In conclusion, I firmly hold the idea that new inventions and technologies will benefit the entire society, because it can reduce people's financial problems and help them to be more energetic.

Evaluation Result

1. Sub Scores

  • Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.5

  • Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.0

  • Language Use and Grammar: 4.0

2. Estimated Scores

Estimated Score: 27

3. Task completeness

The essay does a good job of addressing the task requirements by expressing a clear opinion and providing relevant examples to support the viewpoint. However, it could be improved by engaging more with the ideas presented in the conversation, such as addressing Andrew's concerns about unemployment or expanding on Mia's point about advancements in medicine. Additionally, try to use more varied sentence structures and vocabulary to enhance your writing.

Example 1: Instead of just mentioning AI robots as a way to relax, you could discuss how technology has also created new job opportunities in fields like renewable energy or software development, which could help alleviate Andrew's concerns about unemployment.

Example 2: You could further elaborate on Mia's point by discussing how rapid advancements in medical technology have led to the development of life-saving treatments for previously incurable diseases, improving overall quality of life for many people.

4. Essay structure and organization

The essay has a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, it could be improved by using clearer transitions between ideas and paragraphs. Additionally, each paragraph should focus on one specific point with supporting details.

Example 1: To improve transitions between ideas, you can use phrases like "On the other hand," "Furthermore," or "In addition" at the beginning of your paragraphs.

Example 2: In your first body paragraph about transportation, you can provide more specific examples or data points to support your argument that rapid technological progress will make transportation more affordable for everyone. For instance, you can mention how electric cars are becoming increasingly cost-effective due to advances in battery technology.

5. Grammar

Although Andrew holds the idea that rapid developments can cause negative effects because it might lead to unemployment, I personally believe that they are beneficial for human beings.

Firstly, because rapid development in society can provide more means of transportation, it will benefit people's financial situation. Nowadays, even though there are various ways for people to travel, they are too expensive for the general publicpublic(general public (public)); such as an airplane ticket can reach 5000 RMB. However, with rapid changes in technology, more affordable transportations can be invented, so people will not need to worry about spending too much money on traffic.

Secondly, since rapid changes in society can also bring more new daily-use objects, people can relax more. Most people are currently facing a huge amount of pressure because school tasks and job works, and most of them cannot find an efficient way to release their pressure. However, with more new discoveries, for example, AI Robots can be produced to accompany people while they feel negative, and they can talk or even take care of people while people are feeling awful, just like friends.

In conclusion, I firmly hold the idea that new inventions and technologies will benefit the entire society, because it can reduce people's financial problems and help them to be more energetic.

Title: 6 Revised Essay

While Andrew contends that rapid technological advancements may have detrimental consequences, such as unemployment, I firmly believe that these developments are ultimately beneficial for humanity.

Firstly, the accelerated progress in technology can lead to more accessible and affordable means of transportation, which will positively impact people's financial situations. Currently, various modes of travel exist; however, they are often too expensive for the average person. For instance, airplane tickets can cost upwards of 5000 RMB. As technology continues to advance rapidly, we can expect the invention of more cost-effective transportation options, alleviating the financial burden associated with travel.

Secondly, rapid advancements in technology can also introduce new daily-use objects that enhance our quality of life and promote relaxation. In today's fast-paced world, many individuals face significant pressure from academic and professional responsibilities. Finding efficient ways to alleviate this stress is crucial for maintaining mental well-being. Technological innovations such as AI robots have the potential to provide companionship and support during difficult times, functioning much like a friend who can engage in conversation or offer care when needed.

Ultimately, I am convinced that ongoing technological progress will bring about widespread benefits for society as a whole. By addressing financial concerns and promoting mental well-being through innovative solutions, we can ensure a brighter future for all. (217 words)

Although Title: 7 Essay Grading

While Andrew holds the idea contends that rapid developments can cause negative effects because it might lead to unemployment, technological advancements may have detrimental consequences, such as unemployment (reason: rephrased for clarity and conciseness), I personally firmly believe that these developments are ultimately beneficial for humanity (reason: rephrased to maintain a natural tone).

Firstly, the accelerated progress in technology can lead to more accessible and affordable means of transportation (reason: rephrased for clarity), which will positively impact people's financial situations. Currently, various modes of travel exist; however, they are beneficial for human beings. ¶ Firstly, because rapid development in society can provide more means of transportation, it will benefit people's financial situation. Nowadays, even though there are various ways for people to travel, they are often too expensive for the general public; average person. For instance, airplane tickets can cost upwards of 5000 RMB (reason: revised to provide a clearer example). As technology continues to advance rapidly, we can expect the invention of more cost-effective transportation options (reason: rephrased for clarity), alleviating the financial burden associated with travel.

Secondly, rapid advancements in technology can also introduce new daily-use objects that enhance our quality of life and promote relaxation (reason: rephrased for clarity). In today's fast-paced world, many individuals face significant pressure from academic and professional responsibilities. Finding efficient ways to alleviate this stress is crucial for maintaining mental well-being (reason: revised to provide a clearer explanation). Technological innovations such as an airplane ticket can reach 5000 RMB. However, with rapid changes AI robots have the potential to provide companionship and support during difficult times (reason: rephrased for clarity), functioning much like a friend who can engage in technology, more affordable transportations can be invented, so people conversation or offer care when needed.

Ultimately, I am convinced that ongoing technological progress will not need to worry bring about spending too much money on traffic. ¶ Secondly, since rapid changes in widespread benefits for society can also bring more new daily-use objects, people can relax more. Most people are currently facing a huge amount of pressure because school tasks and job works, and most of them cannot find an efficient way to release their pressure. However, with more new discoveries, for example, AI Robots can be produced to accompany people while they feel negative, and they can talk or even take care of people while people are feeling awful, just like friends. ¶ In conclusion, I firmly hold the idea that new inventions and technologies will benefit the entire society, because it can reduce people's as a whole (reason: rephrased to maintain a natural tone). By addressing financial problems and help them to be more energetic.concerns and promoting mental well-being through innovative solutions, we can ensure a brighter future for all (reason: revised to provide a stronger conclusion).

8 Mind Map

  1. Introduction

    • Technological advancements
    • Debate on consequences
    • Stance: beneficial for humanity
  2. Accessible and affordable transportation

    • Current expensive options
    • Airplane tickets example
    • Future cost-effective inventions
  3. Daily-use objects for quality of life

    • Stress from academic and professional responsibilities
    • Importance of mental well-being
    • AI robots as companions and support
  4. Conclusion

    • Widespread benefits for society
    • Addressing financial concerns and mental well-being
    • Brighter future for all

9 Key Words

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionEnglish TranslationSample Sentence
Detrimental/ˌdetrɪˈmentl/AdjectiveCausing harm or damageHarmful, damagingRapid technological advancements may have detrimental consequences, such as unemployment.
Alleviate/əˈliːvieɪt/VerbTo make something less severe or intense; to ease or relieveReduce, lessen, easeAs technology continues to advance rapidly, we can expect the invention of more cost-effective transportation options, alleviating the financial burden associated with travel.
Accessible/əkˈsesəbl/AdjectiveEasy to approach or use; obtainable/əkˈsesəbl//əkˈsesəbl/
Financial situations/fɪˈnænʃl sɪtʃuˈeɪʃnz//fɪˈnænʃl sɪtʃuˈeɪʃnz//fɪˈnænʃl sɪtʃuˈeɪʃnz//fɪˈnænʃl sɪtʃuˈeɪʃnz//fɪˈnænʃl sɪtʃuˈeɪʃnz/
Innovations/ˌinəˈveɪʃənz/NounNew ideas, methods, or devices that bring about improvements or changesInventions, breakthroughsTechnological innovations such as AI robots have the potential to provide companionship and support during difficult times.
Companionship/kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/NounThe state of being with someone else for company, friendship, or supportFriendship, companyAI robots have the potential to provide companionship and support during difficult times.
Mental well-being/ˈmentl welbi:ing//ˈmentl welbi:ing//ˈmentl welbi:ing//ˈmentl welbi:ing//ˈmentl welbi:ing/
Widespread benefits/waɪdspred benifits//waɪdspred benifits//waɪdspred benifits//waɪdspred benifits//waɪdspred benifits/
Brighter future/braitər fyuturz /Noun phraseA more promising and successful time ahead; an improved outlook on life and circumstances.Promising prospects, better times aheadBy addressing financial concerns and promoting mental well-being through innovative solutions, we can ensure a brighter future for all.

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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