TOEFL TPO -1 Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Since the mid-twentieth century, major developed countries have experienced quickly dropping fertility rates. In recent decades, such a problem has spread throughout the world. China, the country with the biggest population, as yet, experienced its first population shrinkage since last century in 2022. Many fear that ever dropping fertility rates could even lead to the disappearances of some countries or ethnic groups. Nations are thus trying all kinds of measures to restore fertility rates, including longer maternity leaves, affordable to free childcare, monetary stimulation like tax refunds, and teaching men to get more involved in child-raising, etc. Which measure, from this list or otherwise, do you think could be effective in encouraging people to have children?
Real user submissions with AI-powered evaluation and feedback
1 user-submitted samples available
Start Free PracticeTask Overview
Professor
Since the mid-twentieth century, major developed countries have experienced quickly dropping fertility rates. In recent decades, such a problem has spread throughout the world. China, the country with the biggest population, as yet, experienced its first population shrinkage since last century in 2022. Many fear that ever dropping fertility rates could even lead to the disappearances of some countries or ethnic groups. Nations are thus trying all kinds of measures to restore fertility rates, including longer maternity leaves, affordable to free childcare, monetary stimulation like tax refunds, and teaching men to get more involved in child-raising, etc. Which measure, from this list or otherwise, do you think could be effective in encouraging people to have children?
Student A
I think longer maternity leaves should be its top option if a country is to stimulate its citizens to have children. It goes without saying that women make the greatest sacrifice throughout the process of raising children. Pregnant women have to endure enormous inconveniences and sicknesses caused by body swelling; the level of pain of labor is unimaginable to men; and when kids are really young, new moms have to breast-feed kids till the age of one to two. Physical discomfort, chaotic schedules, and forced detachment from regular social circles, when combined, impose huge stress on women. When facing such challenges, women would need some structured social support to overcome the fear of having babies. Maternity leave is the most practical social support a society could offer. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that maternity leaves are enough to offset women's sacrifices in childbirth, but what else can a society offer?
Student B
I am afraid there is little to do to reverse decreasing fertility rates. Claire is absolutely right in pointing out the suffering and sacrifice of women in childbirth, but are men exempted from any inconvenience or sacrifice? After becoming a father, a man also has to share the chore of taking care of his baby, soothe his wife's suffering and mental stress, give up a large part of his sleep, and work harder to make ends meet. So, childbirth is exhausting for husband and wife alike. In the modern society, most couples could work hard and live on their savings and pensions in their later years rather than rely on their children, once the biggest motivation to have children. When people lack a strong motivation to have children, none of these measures could really work.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
In my opinion, these measures may not work because the burden to raise a child is too huge. First of all, longer maternity leaves and some relevant encouraging method solely make a imminent help but can not last a long time. Children's care can not shape at a one time. Parents should pay too many sacrifices and contributions. Maternity leaves just make a little help. Secondly, the most pivotal factor to cause fertility down is more and more people do not want to have a baby. To woman, they think have a baby will destroy their figures and make them no longer slime. To man, they think have a baby make them can not focus on work so that they will earn less money and lose the opportunities to promote. Thirdly, most of people can make a balance between children care and work. They think the cost of children care is lose the chances of work. At their 20s and 30s, promotion is absolutely the most important thing. They need to accumulate money because they need money to realize their dream such us but a car or bur a house. Eventually, all these aspect mixed to cause the fertility's down. Stimulation like tax refunds, and teaching men to get more involved in child-raising, all of these can not solve the most core thing more and more young people do not want to have a baby anymore. In essence, these measures can not work will on increasing fertility. If we want to solve it we should prioritize the most important thing- our young people's views.
Evaluation Result
1. 子项得分
-
Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 3.5
-
Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 3.0
-
Language Use and Grammar: 2.5
2. 预估分数
20. 3 任务完成度
这篇文章在任务完成度方面表现一般。虽然你提到了几个措施可能无法解决生育率下降的问题,但对于讨论中提到的措施(如延长产假、免费或低价托儿服务、税收优惠等)并没有进行详细的分析。此外,文章中出现了一些语法错误和用词不当。建议你在写作时更加关注任务要求,确保文章内容与讨论主题紧密相关,并注意语法和用词。
改进示例1: Instead of saying "To woman, they think have a baby will destroy their figures and make them no longer slime.", you could write "For women, they may believe that having a baby will negatively impact their physical appearance, making them less slim."
改进示例2: Instead of saying "At their 20s and 30s, promotion is absolutely the most important thing.", you could write "In their 20s and 30s, career advancement is often the top priority for many individuals."
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改进空间。首先,文章缺乏明确的引言部分,可以在开头简要介绍讨论的主题和你的观点。其次,文章的段落划分不够明确,建议将不同观点和论据分开成独立的段落。最后,注意在段落之间使用过渡词或短语,使文章更加连贯。
改进示例1: You could start your essay with an introduction like this: "The declining fertility rates in many countries have led to various measures being proposed to encourage people to have children. However, I believe that these measures may not be effective due to the significant burden of raising a child."
改进示例2: Instead of combining multiple points in one paragraph, separate them into individual paragraphs and use transition words or phrases: "Firstly, longer maternity leaves... Secondly, the main reason for declining fertility rates is that more and more people do not want to have children. For women..."
5. 语法批改
In my opinion, these measures may not work because the burden to raise a child is too huge. First of allFirst(first of all (first)), longer maternity leaves and some relevant encouraging method solely make aan(Use of 'a' vs. 'an') imminent help but can not last a long time. Children's care can not shape at a one time. Parents should pay too many sacrifices and contributions. Maternity leaves just make a little help. Secondly, the most pivotal factor to cause fertility down is more and more people do not want to have a baby. To woman, they think haveto have(This rule identifies whether the preposition 'to' is missing in a sentence.) a baby will destroy their figures and make them no longer slime. To man, they think haveto have(This rule identifies whether the preposition 'to' is missing in a sentence.) a baby make them can not focus on work so that they will earn less money and lose the opportunities to promote. Thirdly, most of peoplemost of the people(Articles: 'most/some of' + plural noun) can make a balance between children care and work. They think the cost of children care is loseto lose(This rule identifies whether the preposition 'to' is missing in a sentence.) the chances of work. At their 20s and 30s, promotion is absolutely the most important thing. They need to accumulate money because they need money to realize their dream such us but a car or bur a house. Eventually, all these aspectthis aspect('this' vs. 'these') mixed to cause the (Two consecutive spaces)fertility's down. Stimulation like tax refunds, and teaching men to get more involved in child-raising, all of these can not solve the most core thing more and more young people do not want to have a baby anymore. In essence, these measures can not work will on increasing fertility. If we want to solve itit,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) we should (Two consecutive spaces)prioritize the most important thing- ourthing-our(wrongly split words with hyphen) young people's views.
Section Title: Addressing Declining Fertility Rates
In my opinion, the proposed measures may not be effective in encouraging people to have children, as the burden of raising a child is overwhelming. Firstly, while longer maternity leaves and other incentives provide immediate support, they do not offer long-term solutions. Childcare requires continuous effort and sacrifice from parents, and maternity leaves only provide limited assistance. Secondly, the primary reason for declining fertility rates is that many individuals are reluctant to have children. Women may worry about the impact on their physical appearance, while men might fear that having a child would hinder their career progression and earning potential.
Thirdly, striking a balance between childcare and work is challenging for most people. They may perceive the cost of raising children as sacrificing career opportunities during their prime working years when promotions are crucial. Accumulating wealth during this period is essential for achieving personal goals such as purchasing a car or a house. Ultimately, these factors contribute to decreasing fertility rates.
Measures like tax refunds and encouraging men to be more involved in child-rearing do not address the core issue: an increasing number of young people are choosing not to have children. In essence, these measures may not effectively increase fertility rates. To tackle this problem, we should prioritize understanding and addressing young people's perspectives on having children. (224 words)
Addressing Declining Fertility Rates
In my opinion, these the proposed measures may not work because be effective in encouraging people to have children, as the burden to raise of raising a child is too huge. First of all, overwhelming (revised for clarity). Firstly, while longer maternity leaves and some relevant encouraging method solely make a imminent help but can not last a long time. Children's care can not shape at a one time. Parents should pay too other incentives (revised for accuracy) provide immediate support, they do not offer long-term solutions. Childcare requires continuous effort and sacrifice from parents, and maternity leaves only provide limited assistance (revised for coherence). Secondly, the primary reason for declining fertility rates is that many sacrifices and contributions. Maternity leaves just make a little help. Secondly, the most pivotal factor to cause fertility down is more and more people do not want individuals are reluctant to have a baby. To woman, they think have a baby will destroy children. Women may worry about the impact on their figures and make them no longer slime. To man, they think have a baby make them can not focus on work so physical appearance (revised for clarity), while men might fear that they will earn less money and lose the opportunities to promote. having a child would hinder their career progression and earning potential (revised for coherence).
Thirdly, most of people can make striking a balance between children care and work. childcare and work is challenging for most people. They think may perceive the cost of raising children care is lose the chances of work. At as sacrificing career opportunities during their 20s and 30s, promotion is absolutely the most important thing. They need to accumulate money because they need money to realize their dream prime working years when promotions are crucial (revised for clarity). Accumulating wealth during this period is essential for achieving personal goals such us but as purchasing a car or bur a house. Eventually, all a house (revised for coherence). Ultimately, these aspect mixed to cause the fertility's down. Stimulation factors contribute to decreasing fertility rates.
Measures like tax refunds, and teaching refunds and encouraging men to get be more involved in child-raising, all child-rearing do not address the core issue: an increasing number of these can not solve the most core thing more and more young people do not want are choosing not to have a baby anymore. children (revised for clarity). In essence, these measures can not work will on increasing fertility. If may not effectively increase fertility rates. To tackle this problem, we want to solve it we should should prioritize the most important thing- our understanding and addressing young people's views.perspectives on having children (revised for coherence).
8 思维导图
1. Addressing Declining Fertility Rates
1.1 Ineffectiveness of proposed measures
1.1.1 Limited support from maternity leaves
1.1.2 Reluctance to have children
1.1.2.1 Impact on physical appearance
1.1.2.2 Hindrance to career progression and earning potential
1.2 Challenges in balancing childcare and work
1.2.1 Sacrificing career opportunities during prime working years
1.2.2 Accumulating wealth for personal goals (e.g., car, house)
1.3 Measures not addressing core issue: young people choosing not to have children
1.4 Prioritize understanding and addressing young people's perspectives on having children
9 关键词
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English definition | Simplified Chinese translation | Sample sentences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fertility rates | /fəˈtɪlɪti reɪts/ | noun | The number of live births per thousand women | 生育率 | Declining fertility rates are a concern for many countries around the world |
| overwhelming | /ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ/ | adjective | Very great in amount or degree | 压倒性的 | The burden of raising a child can be overwhelming for many individuals |
| incentives | /ɪnˈsɛntɪvz/ | noun | Something that encourages a person to do something | 激励 | Longer maternity leaves and other incentives provide immediate support, but not long-term solutions |
| reluctant | /rɪˈlʌktənt/ | adjective | Unwilling and hesitant | 不情愿的 | Many individuals are reluctant to have children due to various concerns |
| hindrance | /ˈhɪndrəns/ | noun | A thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction | 阻碍 | Men might fear that having a child would be a hindrance to their career progression and earning potential |
| prime | /praɪm/ | adjective | Of the best possible quality; excellent | 最好的 | Sacrificing career opportunities during their prime working years is a concern for many people |
| accumulating | /əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪŋ/ | verb | Gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of | 积累 | Accumulating wealth during this period is essential for achieving personal goals such as purchasing a car or a house |
| tax refunds | /tæks rɪˈfʌndz/ | noun | A repayment of excess taxes paid by an individual or business | 税收退款 | Measures like tax refunds do not address the core issue of young people choosing not to have children |
| child-rearing | /ˈʧaɪld ˌrɛr ɪŋ/ | noun | The process of bringing up and caring for a child | _抚养孩子 | Encouraging men to be more involved in child-rearing may not effectively increase fertility rates |
| perspectives | /pərˈspɛktɪvz/ | noun | A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something | 观点 | To tackle this problem, we should prioritize understanding and addressing young people's perspectives on having children |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TOEFL Academic Discussion task?
How is the Academic Discussion task scored?
What are the user samples on this page?
How accurate is the AI evaluation?
How can I practice this Academic Discussion task?
How long should my Academic Discussion response be?
Related TOEFL Academic Discussion Tasks
All TOEFL Writing Samples
Browse all user-submitted TOEFL writing samples with AI evaluation
TOEFL Academic Discussion Guide
Learn strategies and tips for the Academic Discussion writing task
TOEFL Writing Guide
Complete guide to all TOEFL writing task types and scoring
TOEFL Speaking Guide
Master all TOEFL speaking tasks with expert strategies
TOEFL Reading Guide
Strategies for TOEFL reading comprehension tasks
TOEFL Listening Guide
Tips and practice for TOEFL listening comprehension
Related TOEFL Academic Discussion Tasks
Consumer Behavior
426 user-submitted samples available
Write A Post Responding To The Professors Question
1646 user-submitted samples available
Economics
325 user-submitted samples available
Academic Discussion
1031 user-submitted samples available
Environmental Science
501 user-submitted samples available
Sociology
1683 user-submitted samples available
Rooting for Your Goal Score Today!
With LingoLeap, an expert in English exams
Get to Your Dream Score Faster