TOEFLAcademische discussieOefenen193

Your response should have three parts. This structure works for all five question types. About 90% of questions are either Opinion (~50%) or Choosing an Approach (~40%). The other types (Proposing a Solution, Problems and Solutions, Description and Explanation) are rare.

Here is a fill-in-the-blank template you can practice with. Adapt it to fit different topics.

Note: This template is a starting point. You should adjust it based on the specific discussion topic. Do not memorize this template word for word. Instead, practice using different openings, transitions, and examples so your response sounds natural.

What to notice:

• Step 1 is short and clear — just one sentence that states the position and references Andrew.
• Step 2 introduces a new idea (university research) with specific examples (diseases, clean energy, sustainable farming). This is the bulk of the response.
• Step 3 ties the argument back to the professor's question about government spending priorities.
• The response is ~130 words — concise but thorough.

In this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and two classmates have responded with their ideas. Your job is to write a response that contributes to the discussion.

You will have 10 minutes to write your response. A good response is around 120–130 words.

Based on official ETS questions, there are five types of question prompts. However, two types account for about 90% of all questions:

The same response structure works for all five types. Let's look at tips to help you score high.

Before you begin writing, take about 2 minutes to read the professor's question and both student responses carefully. Pay attention to:

• The professor's question – What topic is being discussed? What specific question is the professor asking? Which question type is it?
• Student A's opinion – What position does this student take? What reasons do they give?
• Student B's opinion – Does this student agree or disagree with Student A? What different perspective do they offer?

Understanding all three posts helps you write a response that connects to what has already been said, which is important for a high score. Decide: Do you agree with a student, disagree, or have a different idea? Think of one specific example you can use.

Your response should clearly state your opinion on the topic. You can agree with one of the students, partially agree with both, or offer a completely different perspective. The key is to add something new to the discussion.

It is fine to agree with a student's viewpoint, but you must provide your own reasons and examples to support it. Do not repeat the same supporting points the student already gave.

A strong response connects to the discussion. Briefly mention the professor's question or a student's idea before sharing your own thoughts. Your tone should be semi-formal: clear, respectful, and grammatically correct, but not stiff or overly academic.

Here are some useful phrases for referencing others:

Even though the Academic Discussion response is shorter than a full essay, grammar and vocabulary still matter. You should:

• Use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, and complex sentences)
• Avoid repeating the same words – use synonyms where possible
• Check your subject-verb agreement and verb tenses
• Use academic vocabulary when appropriate (e.g., "significant" instead of "big," "contribute" instead of "help")
• Be specific. Replace vague statements like "Some students try hard but don't get good grades" with concrete details like "In my high school math class, a classmate studied for hours every day but still scored lower than students who found the subject easy."

If you are a premium member, you will have up to 50 free essay grammar corrections.

You have 10 minutes for this task. Here is a suggested time breakdown:

Target length: 120–130 words. Writing too little (under 100 words) means not enough content to evaluate. Writing too much (over 160 words) risks running out of time and introducing grammar errors. Stay focused: make one main point and support it well.

Tip: If you are running out of time at the 8-minute mark, skip the wrap-up sentence and use the remaining time to fix grammar errors instead. A shorter response with good grammar scores better than a longer one full of mistakes.