All Samples

TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Sample: Your professor is teaching a class on child development. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.

Real user submissions with AI-powered evaluation and feedback

2 user-submitted samples available

Start Free Practice

Task Overview

Doctor Diaz

We’ve been discussing ways that parents can help prepare their teenage children for adulthood. One line of thinking is that parents should encourage their teenagers to take part-time jobs to help them learn to be responsible, even if it is not an economic necessity for the teenagers to work. What are your thoughts on the issue? Should parents urge teenage children to get a job? Why or why not?

Claire

Teenagers should work part-time. When I was 16, I washed dishes at a restaurant, and I’m glad I did. I learned a lot about time management. I had to use my free time wisely to make sure I could complete homework despite spending time working at a job. This is a valuable life skill.

Andrew

I would have to disagree. A teenager is still just a kid, and in my opinion, a kid needs to focus on going to school and learning. A job would be an unnecessary distraction. If it’s all about learning responsibility, I think there are a lot of other ways to do that without the commitment required by a job.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

User Sample

In this discussion, Andrew holds the opinion that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his view is my perspective that the children could learn more things through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help them to make a clear career path. They will know what job they favourite and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in; on the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed that taking some part-time jobs is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they want

Evaluation Result

1.子项得分

Relevance and Contribution to Discussion: 4.0 Clarity and Elaboration of Viewpoint: 3.5 Language Use and Grammar: 3.5

2.预估分数

23. 3.任务完成度

此篇文章基本完成了任务要求,但仍有改进的空间。首先,尽管你表达了自己的观点并提供了一些支持,但可以通过具体的例子和详细的解释来更好地支持你的观点。其次,在语言使用和语法方面,文章中存在一些错误和不清晰的表达,需要进行修改和完善。

改进建议示例1(英文): Instead of saying "a younger person could locate their profession," you could say, "part-time jobs can help teenagers explore different professions and find their interests."

改进建议示例2(英文): Instead of saying "they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in," you could say, "having a part-time job can help them understand the skills required for their chosen field, which can lead to better academic performance."

4.文章结构与组织

文章结构方面,虽然有简短的介绍、主体和结论部分,但整体组织仍需改进。每段应集中讨论一个具体观点,并提供相应的支持细节。此外,在段落之间加入明确的过渡词或短语可以使文章更连贯。

改进建议示例1(英文): Add a transition phrase at the beginning of your conclusion, such as "In conclusion" or "To sum up."

改进建议示例2(英文): Instead of jumping directly from one point to another, use transitional phrases like "Moreover," "Additionally," or "On the other hand" to connect your ideas and make your essay more coherent.

  1. 语法批改

In this discussion, Andrew holds the opinion that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his viewview,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) is my perspective that the children could learn more things through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help them to make a clear career path. They will know what job they favouritefavorite(misspelling) and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better academic performance in the field they decide to be involved in; on the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed that taking some part-time jobs is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they want

6.文章修订

In the discussion, Andrew argues that parents should not force their children to get a job. However, I believe that teenagers can gain valuable experiences and skills through part-time employment. Firstly, part-time jobs allow young individuals to explore various professions and discover their interests, which helps them establish a clear career path. By understanding the requirements of their chosen field, they can enhance their academic performance accordingly.

Moreover, part-time jobs teach essential life skills such as time management and responsibility. Balancing work and school commitments forces teenagers to prioritize tasks and allocate time efficiently. Additionally, working in a professional environment exposes them to real-world challenges and fosters personal growth.

On the other hand, it is crucial for parents to ensure that their children's part-time jobs do not interfere with their education or well-being. A healthy balance between work and study is necessary for optimal development.

Overall, encouraging teenagers to take up part-time jobs can provide numerous benefits in terms of personal growth and career planning. However, it is essential for parents to monitor their children's progress and maintain a balance between work and education. (185 words)

7.文章批改

In this the discussion, Andrew holds the opinion argues (revised for clarity) that parents should not force their children to get a job. Contrary to his view is my perspective However, I believe that the children could learn more things teenagers can gain valuable experiences and skills through taking a part-time job. Initially, teenagers could benefit from taking part-time jobs. To be more specific, a younger person could locate their profession and help part-time employment (revised for coherence). Firstly, part-time jobs allow young individuals to explore various professions and discover their interests (revised for clarity), which helps them to make establish a clear career path. They will know what job By understanding the requirements of their chosen field, they favourite and know what knowledge they should have to participate in this job. Thus, they will have better can enhance their academic performance accordingly (revised for clarity).

Moreover, part-time jobs teach essential life skills such as time management and responsibility (revised for coherence). Balancing work and school commitments forces teenagers to prioritize tasks and allocate time efficiently (revised for clarity). Additionally, working in the field they decide to be involved in; on a professional environment exposes them to real-world challenges and fosters personal growth (revised for coherence).

On the other hand, children will never know what field they like. In conclusion, it is undisputed crucial for parents to ensure that taking some part-time jobs their children's part-time jobs do not interfere with their education or well-being (revised for clarity). A healthy balance between work and study is the only way to let them have a better plan to get the life that they wantnecessary for optimal development (revised for coherence).

Overall, encouraging teenagers to take up part-time jobs can provide numerous benefits in terms of personal growth and career planning (revised for clarity). However, it is essential for parents to monitor their children's progress and maintain a balance between work and education (revised for coherence).

8.思维导图

  • Introduction

    • Andrew's argument
    • Personal belief
  • Benefits of part-time jobs

    • Exploring professions and interests
      • Clear career path
      • Enhanced academic performance
    • Essential life skills
      • Time management and responsibility
      • Balancing work and school commitments
    • Exposure to real-world challenges
      • Personal growth
  • Parental involvement and balance

    • Ensuring no interference with education or well-being
    • Monitoring progress and maintaining balance

9.关键词

WordPhonetic SymbolPart of SpeechEnglish DefinitionSimplified Chinese TranslationSample Sentence
part-time/ˈpɑːrtˌtaɪm/adjectiverelating to work done for only part of the day or week兼职的She found a part-time job at a local store.
profession/prəˈfɛʃən/nouna type of job that requires special education, training, or skill职业Nursing is a respected profession.
responsibility/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/nounthe state or fact of having a duty to deal with something责任With great power comes great responsibility.
commitment/kəˈmɪtmənt/nounthe act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself_承诺,责任_He has many family and work commitments.
prioritize/praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/verbto arrange or do something in order of importance优先处理It's important to prioritize your tasks to be more efficient.
allocate/ˈæləˌkeɪt/verb_to set apart for a particular purpose; assign or allot_分配,分派_The company decided to allocate more resources to the project.
interference/ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/_noun_the act of hindering, obstructing, or impeding_干扰,妨碍_Parents should avoid excessive interference in their children's lives.
well-being/ˈwɛl ˈbi ɪŋ/_noun_a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity_福祉,健康幸福_Exercise is important for maintaining physical and mental well-being.
monitor/ˈmɒnətər/verbto watch closely for purposes of control, surveillance, etc.; keep track of监控,监测The teacher will monitor the students' progress throughout the semester.
balance/ˈbæləns/nouna state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc._平衡_It's important to find a balance between work and personal life.

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