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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Your professor is teaching a class on marketing.Write a post responding to the professor’squestion,

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4 user-submitted samples available

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Task Overview

Professor

Let's continue talking about consumer behavior.We have been discussing different ways people go about choosing what products to buy, and there are many potential sources of information and advice for consumers. In your opinion, which is the better strategy for making purchasing decisions,relying on advice from friends and family, or depending on information from online sources?Why?

Student Claire

Asking friends and family members for product recommendations might seem like an easier option, but it might take too much time to get all the information you need,An internet search would be much more efficient. There are many consumer magazines available online that compile lots of data to compare the advantages and disadvantages of one product versus another.

Student Paul

The last time I bought a computer, I just watched a few videos online to make a decision, and now I regret that. My friends could have advised me better because they know my preferences and the kind of features that I am interested in Consumers should get advice from the people around them to find the most suitable products.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

In my opinion, I concur with Paul's argument that consumers should get advice from people around them when making purchasing decisions. Nowadays, with the rapid development of technology, people are becoming more and more dependent on the Internet and increasingly accustomed to blindly believing those online information. However, considering that many ads contain false advertisement and promotion, I'm inclined to ask for my parents' and friends' purchasing suggestions as they will truly think of me from the bottom of their heart. Take my own experience as an example, last year I intended to buy a new mobile phone. After dedicating hours to perusing online information, I was interested in the vivo company's new product. Fortunately, my friend Lily prevented me from buying that phone because it is OLED screen and could be dramatically detrimental to my eyes. Lily recommended another mobile phone which uses LCD screen and could protect my eyes. With Lily's advice, I finally bought a satisfying phone. In conclusion, I firmly argue that people around us are more reliable and can help us do better purchasing choices.

Evaluation Result

1. 子项得分

  • Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 5

  • Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 4.5

  • Language Use and Grammar: 4

2. 预估分数

  • 27

3. 任务完成度

总体来说,这篇文章很好地完成了任务要求。你清楚地表达了自己的观点,并通过自己的经历来支持观点。然而,为了进一步提高文章质量,可以考虑在论述中加入更多具体细节和例子,以便更充分地阐述观点。

示例1(英文): Instead of just mentioning that many ads contain false advertisement, you could provide a specific example of a misleading ad you encountered online, and how it led to a poor purchasing decision.

示例2(英文): To further support your argument, you could mention another instance where advice from friends or family helped you make a better purchasing decision, demonstrating the consistency of their reliability.

4. 文章结构与组织

文章的结构和组织方面表现良好,包括引言、正文和结论。每段都集中讨论了一个具体的观点,并提供了支持细节。然而,在段落之间加入更明确的过渡语句可以使文章更连贯。

建议1(简体中文): 在段落之间使用过渡性词语或短语,如“此外”、“然而”等,以帮助读者更好地理解文章的逻辑关系。

示例1(英文): Instead of starting the second paragraph with "Take my own experience as an example," you could use a transition phrase like "For instance" to smoothly connect the ideas.

示例2(英文): In the conclusion, you could add a transition word like "Therefore" before stating your final argument, making it clear that this is the conclusion of your essay.

5. 语法批改

In my opinion, I concur with Paul's argument that consumers should get advice from people around them when making purchasing decisions. Nowadays, with the rapid development of technology, people are becoming more and more dependent on the Internet and increasingly accustomed to blindly believing those online informationthis online information('this' vs. 'these'). However, considering that many ads contain false advertisement and promotion, I'm inclined to ask for my parents' and friends' purchasing suggestions as they will truly think of me from the bottom of their heart. Take my own experience as an example, last year I intended to buy a new mobile phone. After dedicating hours to perusing online information, I was interested in the vivoVito(misspelling) company's new product. Fortunately, my friend Lily prevented me from buying that phone because it is OLEDan OLED(This rule identifies whether the article 'an' is missing in a sentence.) screen and could be dramatically detrimental to my eyes. Lily recommended another mobile phone which uses LCD screen and could protect my eyes. With Lily's advice, I finally bought a satisfying phone. In conclusion, I firmly argue that people around us are more reliable and can help us do better purchasing choices.

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

In response to the professor's question, I believe that seeking advice from friends and family is a more effective strategy for making informed purchasing decisions. While the internet provides a wealth of information, it is essential to recognize that online sources may contain misleading advertisements and promotions. In contrast, input from those who know us well ensures a more personalized and reliable perspective on potential purchases.

For instance, when I was in search of a new mobile phone last year, I spent hours researching various options online and became interested in a particular model from Vivo. However, my friend Lily cautioned me against purchasing this phone due to its OLED screen, which could have been detrimental to my eyesight. Instead, she recommended an alternative with an LCD screen that would be gentler on my eyes. Ultimately, her advice led me to make a more suitable choice.

In essence, the opinions of those close to us are invaluable in guiding our purchasing decisions as they possess an understanding of our preferences and needs that online sources cannot replicate. (182 words)

In my opinion, response to the professor's question (clarifies the context of the essay), I concur with Paul's argument that consumers should get believe that seeking advice from people around them when friends and family is a more effective strategy for making informed purchasing decisions. Nowadays, While the internet provides a wealth of information, it is essential to recognize that online sources may contain misleading advertisements and promotions (explains the potential issue with the rapid development of technology, people are becoming relying solely on online information). In contrast, input from those who know us well ensures a more and more dependent personalized and reliable perspective on the Internet and increasingly accustomed to blindly believing those online information. However, considering that many ads contain false advertisement and promotion, I'm inclined to ask for my parents' and friends' purchasing suggestions as they will truly think of me from the bottom of their heart. Take my own experience as an example, last year potential purchases (emphasizes the value of personal connections).

For instance, when I intended to buy was in search of a new mobile phone. After dedicating phone last year, I spent hours to perusing online information, I was researching various options online and became interested in the vivo company's new product. Fortunately, a particular model from Vivo. However, my friend Lily prevented cautioned me from buying that against purchasing this phone because it is due to its OLED screen and screen, which could be dramatically have been detrimental to my eyes. Lily eyesight (provides specific example). Instead, she recommended another mobile phone which uses an alternative with an LCD screen and could protect that would be gentler on my eyes. With Lily's advice, I finally bought a satisfying phone. eyes (suggests a better option). Ultimately, her advice led me to make a more suitable choice (demonstrates the positive outcome).

In conclusion, I firmly argue that people around essence, the opinions of those close to us are more reliable and can help us do better invaluable in guiding our purchasing choices.decisions as they possess an understanding of our preferences and needs that online sources cannot replicate (summarizes the main argument and highlights its importance).

Title: 8 思维导图


1. Introduction
   - Effective strategy
   - Friends and family vs. internet

2. Internet limitations
   - Misleading advertisements
   - Promotions

3. Personalized advice
   - Reliable perspective
   - Understanding preferences and needs

4. Example: Mobile phone purchase
   - Online research: Vivo model with OLED screen
   - Friend's advice: Alternative with LCD screen for better eyesight protection

5. Conclusion 
   - Invaluable opinions of close ones 

Title: 9 关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
Informed/ɪnˈfɔrmd/AdjectiveBased on the best information available知情的I made an informed decision after consulting my friends and family about the mobile phone purchase.
Misleading/mɪsˈliːdɪŋ/AdjectiveGiving the wrong idea or impression误导的The misleading advertisement online made me believe that the OLED screen was a good choice.
Personalized/ˈpɜrsənəlaɪzd/AdjectiveMade or done especially for a particular person个性化的My friend Lily provided personalized advice based on her knowledge of my needs and preferences.
Detrimental/detrimental/AdjectiveCausing harm or damage有害的The OLED screen could have been detrimental to my eyesight.
Invaluable/ɪnˈvæljʊəbl/AdjectiveExtremely useful or important无价的The opinions of my friends and family proved to be invaluable in making the right purchase.
Perspective/pərˈspektɪv/NounA particular way of considering something观点My friend's perspective on the mobile phone options helped me make a better decision.
Caution/ˈkɔʃən/VerbTo warn or advise someone about something提醒Lily cautioned me against purchasing the Vivo phone with an OLED screen.
Alternative/ɔlˈtɜrnətɪv/NounAnother possibility or choice可替代的She recommended an alternative phone with an LCD screen that would be gentler on my eyes.
Replicate/ˈreplɪkeɪt/VerbTo copy or reproduce something复制Online sources cannot replicate the understanding of our preferences and needs that close ones have.
Preferences/prɪˈfɛrəns/NounA greater liking for one thing over others偏好My friends and family know my preferences, which helps them provide better advice for purchases.

Section Title: 6 Article Revision

In response to the professor's question, I believe that seeking advice from friends and family is a more effective strategy for making informed purchasing decisions. While the internet provides a wealth of information, it is essential to recognize that online sources may contain misleading advertisements and promotions. In contrast, input from those who know us well ensures a more personalized and reliable perspective on potential purchases.

For instance, when I was in search of a new mobile phone last year, I spent hours researching various options online and became interested in a particular model from Vivo. However, my friend Lily cautioned me against purchasing this phone due to its OLED screen, which could have been detrimental to my eyesight. Instead, she recommended an alternative with an LCD screen that would be gentler on my eyes. Ultimately, her advice led me to make a more suitable choice.

In essence, the opinions of those close to us are invaluable in guiding our purchasing decisions as they possess an understanding of our preferences and needs that online sources cannot replicate.

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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