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TOEFL® Academic Discussion Practice 193

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For this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and some classmates have responded with their ideas.

Write a response that contributes to the discussion. You will have 10 minutes to write your response. It is important to use your own words in the response.

Typically, an effective essay will contain a minimum of 100 words, but we recommend writing around 150 words.

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Your professor is teaching a class on Psychology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

In your response you should:
  • express and support your opinion
  • make a contribution to the discussion

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.


Prof. Martin

As I mentioned in class, many people experience fears that can limit their opportunities and confidence. Part of growth involves identifying the root of a fear and deciding how to address it in a healthy way. For example, you might choose between confronting a fear gradually or seeking guidance and accountability from others. Which approach do you believe is more effective—gradual exposure or structured support? Why?


Fear shrinks when we face it repeatedly and on our own terms. Therefore, I believe gradual exposure is more effective than relying on structured support. It builds real confidence because progress comes from our own choices and actions. The real question is how to pace the steps—frequency, intensity, and reflection—so that the process stretches us without overwhelming us.


I disagree with Jordan that gradual exposure is the best approach. Structured support is more effective because guidance, feedback, and accountability reduce confusion and prevent setbacks. With a clear plan, we can measure progress and adjust strategies. Also, support systems help maintain motivation during difficult moments. Therefore, I would choose structured support to overcome a fear.

Word Count: 0

Your professor is teaching a class on Psychology. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

In your response you should:
  • express and support your opinion
  • make a contribution to the discussion

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.


Prof. Martin

As I mentioned in class, many people experience fears that can limit their opportunities and confidence. Part of growth involves identifying the root of a fear and deciding how to address it in a healthy way. For example, you might choose between confronting a fear gradually or seeking guidance and accountability from others. Which approach do you believe is more effective—gradual exposure or structured support? Why?


Fear shrinks when we face it repeatedly and on our own terms. Therefore, I believe gradual exposure is more effective than relying on structured support. It builds real confidence because progress comes from our own choices and actions. The real question is how to pace the steps—frequency, intensity, and reflection—so that the process stretches us without overwhelming us.


I disagree with Jordan that gradual exposure is the best approach. Structured support is more effective because guidance, feedback, and accountability reduce confusion and prevent setbacks. With a clear plan, we can measure progress and adjust strategies. Also, support systems help maintain motivation during difficult moments. Therefore, I would choose structured support to overcome a fear.



Word Count: 0



High Band Sample Essay
I agree with the viewpoint that gradual exposure is the more effective way to deal with fear. In my opinion, fear often grows because a person avoids the situation and imagines it as worse than it is. Small contact with the fear can correct this false picture. For example, someone afraid of speaking in public can first read a short text aloud at home, then speak to two friends, and later give a short report in class. Each stage shows the mind that the danger is manageable. This method is also useful because it can become a habit in daily life. Support is helpful, but lasting change comes when the person practices facing the fear directly.

Feedback

The writing could be considered 6/6 because it gives a clear opinion that directly answers the prompt and develops the idea with an original, specific example about public speaking. The response is well organized, moving from the main claim to an explanation, then to a concrete example, and finally to a balanced conclusion. It stays relevant to the discussion without copying the given responses. The language is clear, natural, and appropriate for a strong B1-level TOEFL response, with only simple and controlled sentence structures. Overall, it is focused, specific, coherent, and nearly error free.
High Band Sample Essay
In my opinion, structured support is more effective for overcome a fear. When a person is afraid, it is hard to know what is safe and what is too much. A teacher, coach, or family member can help make small goals and check them. For example, if someone fear speaking in public, he can practice with one trusted person first, then with a small group. This support make the fear less lonely. It also give the person a reason to continue when he want to stop. Some people can do it alone, but many people need a helper because fear can make thinking not clear.

Feedback

The writing could be considered 5/6 because it gives a clear opinion and answers the prompt directly. The essay supports the idea with a simple and relevant example about public speaking, and the ideas are easy to follow. However, there are several grammar and word-choice problems that make the writing less accurate.

For example:
- "more effective for overcome a fear" should be "more effective for overcoming a fear"
- "if someone fear speaking" should be "if someone fears speaking"
- "This support make" should be "This support makes"
- "It also give" should be "It also gives"
- "when he want to stop" should be "when he wants to stop"

Stronger sentence control and more varied vocabulary would improve it.
Keywords In The Practice
No Vocabulary Linked To Practice

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Sample Writing Review

Score Summary
4.5 / 6
AI Review
Task Fulfillment
Overall Organization
Relevance & Quality of Supporting Ideas
Grammatical Usage
Vocabulary Usage
Connections & Coherence
Grammar Corrections & Feedback
Correction Legend

Corrections in red
Academic language suggestion in blue

Detailed Feedback

Essay Grammar Corrections & Improvements
I hope you are fine. My name is Philip and I am one of your reader. I really like your poetry magazine very much because the poems are very deep and emotional. Every time when I read the magazine, I feel inspired and peaceful. I also like that you give chance for new writers to share their works. It make me more confidence to send my poems.

Last week, I tried to submit two of my poems by the online submission form on your website. After I upload my files and click submit button, the page suddenly show error and become blank. I did not receive any confirmation email, so I am not sure my poems was received or not.

Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions? I worry that maybe they did not go through.
I hope you are fine. My name is Philip and I am one of your reader. readers. I really like your poetry magazine very much because the poems are very deep and emotional. Every time when I read the magazine, I feel inspired and peaceful. I also like that you give a chance for to new writers to share their works. It make makes me more confidence confident to send my poems.

Last week, I tried to submit two of my poems by through the online submission form on your website. After I upload uploaded my files and click clicked the submit button, the page suddenly show showed an error and become became blank. I did not receive any confirmation email, so I am not sure if my poems was were received or not.

Could you please tell me about the status of my submissions? I worry that maybe they did not go through.



Task Fulfillment


Overall Organization


Relevance & Quality of Supporting Ideas


Grammatical Usage


Vocabulary Usage


Connections & Coherence


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reader.
Solution Explanation
readers. The phrase is "one of your readers." After "one of" the noun must be plural, so "reader" becomes "readers." Correct example: "I am one of your readers."

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when
Solution Explanation
Using both "every time" and "when" is redundant. Remove "when" so the clause reads "Every time I read the magazine..." which is concise and grammatically correct.

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a
Solution Explanation
a The noun "chance" here is countable and needs an article. Add the indefinite article "a" to form "give a chance," as in "I also like that you give a chance for new writers..." (better: "give a chance to new writers...").

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for
Solution Explanation
to The verb phrase collocates with the preposition "to": "give a chance to someone." Replace "for" with "to" to make "give a chance to new writers," which is more natural and grammatically correct.

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make
Solution Explanation
makes Corrected for subject–verb agreement. The subject 'It' is third-person singular, so the verb should be the third-person singular form 'makes.'

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confidence
Solution Explanation
confident Replaced the noun 'confidence' with the adjective 'confident' because the sentence needs an adjective to describe how the speaker feels ("more confident"). 'More' is a comparative modifier that pairs with an adjective, not a noun.

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by
Solution Explanation
through Changed the preposition to the more idiomatic 'through' to indicate the means or channel used (submitting via/through a form). 'Through' better conveys using the online form as the method of submission.

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upload
Solution Explanation
uploaded Changed the verb to past tense to match the past-time narration ('Last week' and the surrounding past-tense verbs). 'Uploaded' keeps the sequence of past events consistent.

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click
Solution Explanation
clicked the Changed to past tense to match the narrative (e.g., 'tried') and added the definite article 'the' before 'submit button' for correct idiomatic phrasing.

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show
Solution Explanation
showed an Changed to past tense for tense agreement and added the indefinite article 'an' before 'error' to form the correct noun phrase 'an error.'

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become
Solution Explanation
became Changed to past tense so the verb agrees with the other past actions in the sentence ('clicked,' 'showed').

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if
Solution Explanation
if Added 'if' to introduce the indirect question/conditional clause ('not sure if my poems were received'), which correctly expresses uncertainty.

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was
Solution Explanation
were Replaced singular verb with plural 'were' to agree with the plural subject 'my poems' (subject–verb agreement).

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Hello —
Solution Explanation
Hello — Adds a brief salutation at the start of the letter to create a polite opening and improve the tone before the first sentence.

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fine.
Solution Explanation
well. "I hope you are well" is the more common, natural-sounding phrasing for a polite inquiry about someone's state; "well" is preferable to "fine" in this context.

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Philip
Solution Explanation
Philip, Inserting a comma after the name sets off the clause that follows ("and I am a reader"), improving sentence punctuation and readability.

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one
Solution Explanation
a reader Replacing the vague word "one" with the phrase "a reader" makes the statement clearer and more natural-sounding.

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readers.
Solution Explanation
poetry magazine. Referring directly to the "poetry magazine" focuses the sentence on what you admire and improves coherence with the next sentence about the poems.

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like your poetry magazine very much because
Solution Explanation
enjoy it: "Enjoy it:" is a more concise way to introduce the reason you appreciate the magazine, and the colon signals that an explanation or examples will follow.

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very
Solution Explanation
Removing "very" tightens the prose; the adjectives that follow already convey strong feeling, so the intensifier is unnecessary.

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emotional. Every time I read the magazine, I feel
Solution Explanation
emotional, and reading them leaves me Combining the sentences with a comma and conjunction improves flow, and changing the subject to "reading them" clarifies that you mean the poems rather than the magazine as a whole.

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like
Solution Explanation
appreciate "Appreciate" is a slightly more formal and appreciative verb than "like," which better suits a polite letter thanking the editors for giving new writers an opportunity.

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new writers
Solution Explanation
new writers Inserted the phrase to make explicit who benefits from the magazine’s policy. Naming “new writers” clarifies the subject and makes the sentence more specific and direct.

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new writers to
Solution Explanation
Removed the extra preposition because the original phrasing would create a clumsy double infinitive structure ("a chance to new writers to share"). Deleting "to" avoids redundancy and prepares the phrase for a smoother rewording (e.g., "give new writers a chance to share").

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works. It
Solution Explanation
work; that encouragement Revises two short, choppy sentences into one connected thought. Changing "works" to the uncountable "work" and joining with a semicolon links the ideas more smoothly; adding "that encouragement" clarifies what increases the writer’s confidence and improves cohesion.

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to send
Solution Explanation
about submitting Replaces an awkward collocation. English prefers "confident about submitting" (or "confident in submitting") to "confident to send," so this change yields more natural, idiomatic phrasing.

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week,
Solution Explanation
week Removed the comma after the short introductory time phrase. In contemporary formal writing, commas after brief adverbial phrases like "Last week" are often unnecessary; omitting it tightens the sentence without losing clarity.

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of my
Solution Explanation
Deleted the possessive phrase to make the sentence more concise. "Two poems" is clear in context and avoids unnecessary repetition of possession when earlier context already indicates they are the writer’s.

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through
Solution Explanation
using Replaces a less precise preposition with a clearer verb. "Using the online submission form" more directly describes the method than "through the online submission form," improving clarity.

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my
Solution Explanation
the Changed "my" to the definite article "the" to refer back to the previously mentioned files (the two poems). "The files" is more precise and reduces repetitive use of the possessive.

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the submit button,
Solution Explanation
“Submit,” Uses the actual button label in quotation marks to be specific about the UI element clicked. Quoting the label ("Submit") makes the instruction clearer for readers and the comma placement after the closing quote is the correct way to continue the sentence.

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suddenly
Solution Explanation
Removed because it’s unnecessary and slightly informal; the sentence is clearer and more concise without this filler word.

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became
Solution Explanation
went "Went blank" is the more idiomatic phrasing for a page or screen than "became blank," so this change improves naturalness and fluency.

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any
Solution Explanation
a "A confirmation email" is more natural and concise here than "any confirmation email," which can sound slightly informal or vague.

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not sure if
Solution Explanation
unsure whether "Unsure whether" is more formal and precise for written correspondence than the colloquial "not sure if," and it fits the polite tone of the message.

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received or not.
Solution Explanation
received. Dropping "or not" avoids redundancy and tightens the sentence; "unsure whether my poems were received" already expresses the uncertainty.

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tell me about
Solution Explanation
check "Check the status" is more direct and actionable than "tell me about the status," and it better matches the likely request to the magazine staff to verify submissions.

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I worry that maybe
Solution Explanation
I’m worried "I’m worried" is more concise and natural in this context; it reduces wordiness while keeping the same meaning and a polite tone.

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did
Solution Explanation
may Replacing the definite past "did" with the modal "may" conveys uncertainty more accurately—you're not sure whether the submissions succeeded.

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go
Solution Explanation
have gone Using the present perfect "have gone" after the modal "may" ("may have gone through") correctly expresses a possible completed action in the past, which is the intended meaning.

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Thank you.
Solution Explanation
Thank you. Adding a brief, polite closing such as "Thank you." provides a courteous and professional end to the message and leaves a positive impression.
Criteria Score Reports

Task Fulfillment   5/5

fully addresses the task/question and is fully developed

Task fulfillment is about how well you respond to the question you are given. TOEFL raters are looking for a response that answers the question directly, with relevant ideas that are fully developed. Fulfilling the task means answering all parts of the question completely.

How to Improve

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Overall Organization   4/5

is fairly well-organized, though there may be minor lack of unity in paragraphsincludes an introduction and conclusion

Overall organization is about how you organize the ideas in your essay. This includes showing that you understand how to use basic essay structure and how to organize different kinds of paragraphs around main ideas.

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Relevance & Quality of Supporting Ideas   4/5

includes mostly ideas that are relevant to the task/question includes several good ideas that support the writer’s position

Relevance and quality of support is about your essay content or ideas. Your content should be related directly to the topic, and you should have several main ideas that support your opinion or position. These ideas should be persuasive or compelling.

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Grammatical Usage   2/5

contains several noticeable problems with form and usage that interfere with meaning includes some variety of grammatical forms but still contains unnecessary repetition relies primarily on simple sentence forms (simple and

Grammatical usage is about how you use English grammar, sentence structure, and the basic conventions of writing. Raters want to see that you can use what you know correctly, and that you can use a wide variety of structures to express your ideas.

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Vocabulary Usage   3/5

contains some errors in word form that may cause confusion uses a limited range of words and phrases that is mostly appropriate makes generally accurate word choice with only some effort by the reader

Vocabulary usage is about how you use English words. Raters are looking for writing that uses different words correctly and accurately, and that uses a wide range of words that help readers understand. On integrated writing, raters are also looking for the ability to incorporate new words from the lecture or reading into your writing.

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Connections & Coherence   4/5

generally connects ideas well, though a few connections may be unclear includes expressions of transition, introduction, and conclusion feels somewhat unified overall

Connections and coherence are about how you put your ideas together and link different sentences to each other. Raters want to see writing that flows naturally from idea to idea without confusing the reader.

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Question:
As I mentioned in class, many people experience fears that can limit their opportunities and confidence. Part of growth involves identifying the root of a fear and deciding how to address it in a healthy way. For example, you might choose between confronting a fear gradually or seeking guidance and accountability from others. Which approach do you believe is more effective—gradual exposure or structured support? Why?

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Sample Grammar Corrections
Several doubt about the accuracy of the memoir writting by the Chevalier de Seingalt are raised in the reading but the professor clarify the seeming contradictions in the Chevalier's accounts to defend the memoir.

The professor explain that the Chevalier rich in assets, but poor in the cash, while he lived in Switzerland and had to occasionally borrow funds while waiting for its assets to selling. Accordingly, to the professor, being low on cash fund is not same as being financially poors. However, in reading someone who borrowing large of amounts of money could not be wealth, therefore the Chevalier must have lied his wealthy life in Switzerland.

The skepticism regards the reliability of the recorded conversations with Voltaire is challenging by the professor as well. She explains that, due to habit of recording each conversation with Voltaire immediately afterward, the Chevalier was able to recall those discussions in detail even after several years had passing.

Finally, the professor refute the idea briber was how the Chevalier got out of prison. She point out that because even the other prisoners who had better resources were unable to successfully bribe their way out of prison it was very unlikely that bribery was how he escaped. Also, she notes the existences of government papers recording repair work done to the Chevalier's prison cell ceiling as strong evidence that his escaping from the prison was accurately recorded.
Several doubt doubts about the accuracy of the memoir writting written by the Chevalier de Seingalt are raised in the reading reading, but the professor clarify clarifies the seeming contradictions in the Chevalier's accounts to defend the memoir.

The professor explain explains that the Chevalier was rich in assets, but poor in the cash, while he lived in Switzerland and had to occasionally borrow funds while waiting for its his assets to selling. Accordingly, sell. According to the professor, being low on cash fund funds is not the same as being financially poors. poor. However, in reading the reading, someone who borrowing borrows large of amounts of money could not be wealth, wealthy, therefore the Chevalier must have lied about his wealthy life in Switzerland.

The skepticism regards regarding the reliability of the recorded conversations with Voltaire is challenging challenged by the professor as well. She explains that, due to the habit of recording each conversation with Voltaire immediately afterward, the Chevalier was able to recall those discussions in detail even after several years had passing. passed.

Finally, the professor refute refutes the idea briber that bribery was how the Chevalier got out of prison. She point points out that because even the other prisoners who had better resources were unable to successfully bribe their way out of prison prison, it was very unlikely that bribery was how he escaped. Also, she notes the existences existence of government papers recording repair work done to the Chevalier's prison cell ceiling as strong evidence that his escaping escape from the prison was accurately recorded.



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doubt
Solution Explanation
doubts The plural form 'doubts' is needed here because there are multiple uncertainties being discussed.

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writting
Solution Explanation
written The correct past participle of 'write' is 'written'.

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reading
Solution Explanation
reading, A comma is needed after 'reading' to separate the two independent clauses.

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clarify
Solution Explanation
clarifies The third person singular form 'clarifies' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

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explain
Solution Explanation
explains The third person singular form 'explains' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

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was
Solution Explanation
was The verb 'was' is needed to form the past continuous tense.

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the
Solution Explanation
The article 'the' is not needed before 'assets'.

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its
Solution Explanation
his The possessive pronoun 'his' is needed to refer back to 'the Chevalier'.

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selling. Accordingly,
Solution Explanation
sell. According The verb 'sell' is needed here, and 'According' should start a new sentence.

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fund
Solution Explanation
funds The plural form 'funds' is needed here because it refers to money in general.

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the
Solution Explanation
the The article 'the' is needed before 'Chevalier'.

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poors.
Solution Explanation
poor. The correct adjective form is 'poor'.

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reading
Solution Explanation
the reading, The article 'the' is needed before 'reading', and a comma is needed to separate the two independent clauses.

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borrowing
Solution Explanation
borrows The present simple tense 'borrows' is needed to describe a general situation.

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of
Solution Explanation
The preposition 'of' is not needed here.

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wealth,
Solution Explanation
wealthy, The adjective 'wealthy' is needed to describe 'the Chevalier'.

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about
Solution Explanation
about The preposition 'about' is needed to introduce the topic of the sentence.

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regards
Solution Explanation
regarding The preposition 'regarding' is needed to introduce the topic of the sentence.

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challenging
Solution Explanation
challenged The past participle 'challenged' is needed to form the passive voice.

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the
Solution Explanation
the The article 'the' is needed before 'Chevalier'.

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passing.
Solution Explanation
passed. The past participle 'passed' is needed to form the past perfect tense.

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refute
Solution Explanation
refutes The third person singular form 'refutes' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'professor'.

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briber
Solution Explanation
that bribery The noun 'bribery' is needed to refer to the act of giving bribes.

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point
Solution Explanation
points The third person singular form 'points' is needed to agree with the singular subject 'she'.

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prison
Solution Explanation
prison, A comma is needed after 'prison' to separate the two independent clauses.

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existences
Solution Explanation
existence The singular form 'existence' is needed because it refers to one specific thing.

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escaping
Solution Explanation
escape The noun 'escape' is needed to refer to the act of escaping.
writing LessonsCompleted: 0 / 77
TOEFL Academic Discussion Response Template

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.

Step What to Write How Long
1 State your position 1–2 sentences. Clearly express your opinion, solution, or explanation. You can agree with a student, disagree, or offer a new perspective.
2 Support your position 3–5 sentences. This is the most important part. Provide a reason, example, or explanation that supports your position. Use specific details — not vague statements. The quality of this section has the biggest impact on your score.
3 Wrap up 1–2 sentences. Restate your main point or connect your idea back to the discussion. This step is optional if you are running out of time, but it helps your response feel complete.
Response Template

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

Template:
Step 1 — Position: I agree/disagree with [student name]'s point that ______. While he/she makes a valid argument about ______, I believe that ______ is also an important factor to consider.

Step 2 — Support: For example, ______. This shows that ______. In addition, ______. As a result, ______.

Step 3 — Wrap up: For this reason, I believe that ______.

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.

Useful Phrases for Your Response
Starting your response I think [student name] raises an excellent point, and I'd like to build on it by…
Both students make interesting arguments, but I'd like to offer a different perspective.
I strongly agree/disagree with [student name] because…
This is a thought-provoking question. In my view…
Introducing your main idea One important aspect that hasn't been mentioned is…
From my experience, I have found that…
A key reason I hold this view is…
To illustrate this point…
Providing examples For instance, in my country/school/workplace…
A clear example of this is…
Consider the case of…
In my high school/university, for example…
Connecting ideas Furthermore, …
This is significant because…
As a result, …
In other words, …
Concluding your response For these reasons, I believe that…
Therefore, …
In short, …
That is why I think…
Annotated Sample Response
Professor's question: This week, I'd like us to discuss government spending priorities. Some people believe that governments should invest more in environmental protections, while others think education should receive more funding. Which do you think should be a higher priority, and why?

Kelly: I think environmental protections should be the top priority. Climate change is already causing floods and droughts that cost governments billions of dollars. If we invest in the environment now, we can prevent much bigger costs in the future.

Andrew: I believe education is more important. Well-educated people are better equipped to solve environmental problems and develop new technologies. By investing in education, we are actually investing in solutions to all kinds of challenges, including environmental ones.

Sample response:

[Step 1 — Position] I agree with Andrew that education should be a higher priority, but I would like to add another reason that he did not mention. [Step 2 — Support] Universities do not just teach students — they also conduct important research. Much of the progress we have made in treating diseases, developing clean energy, and creating sustainable farming techniques has come from university research programs. When governments invest more in education, they are funding this research at the same time. This means education spending has a broader impact than environmental spending alone, because it produces solutions across many different fields. [Step 3 — Wrap up] For this reason, I believe that prioritizing education is the most effective way for governments to address environmental challenges and improve society as a whole.

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.
Master the TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion Task

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:

Type What You Do Frequency
Opinion You agree or disagree with a statement and explain why. ~50%
Choosing an Approach You pick between two options and explain why one is better. ~40%
Proposing a Solution You suggest a way to solve a problem. Rare
Problems and Solutions You identify a problem and propose a solution. Rare
Description and Explanation You explain why something is important or beneficial. Rare

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

Tip 1: Read the discussion carefully before writing

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.

Tip 2: Add something new — do not copy a student's ideas

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.

Wrong approach Right approach
"I agree with Kelly. Climate change causes floods and droughts that cost billions. We should invest in the environment to prevent bigger costs later."

This just restates Kelly's argument in different words. It adds nothing new.
"I agree with Kelly that environmental protections should be a priority. Currently, governments spend enormous amounts repairing damage from storms and wildfires. Investing in prevention now — such as reforestation and cleaner energy — could save that money in the long run."

This agrees with Kelly but adds new details and a new angle.
Tip 3: Reference the other posts in your response

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:

Agreeing and building on it I agree with [name]'s point about…, and I would like to add…
[Name]'s perspective resonates with me because…
Building on what [name] said, I think…
I would like to add to [name]'s point about…
Disagreeing respectfully While I understand where [name] is coming from, I tend to see it differently…
I appreciate [name]'s viewpoint, but I hold a slightly different perspective…
I see [name]'s point, but from my perspective, it seems that…
I see the merit in [name]'s argument; however, I would argue that…
Adding a new perspective In addition to what has been discussed…
Another aspect worth considering is…
Neither student has mentioned…, which I think is important.
I'd like to offer a different angle on this topic.
Tip 4: Use correct grammar and varied vocabulary

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."
Lesson: Countable nouns and Uncountable nouns
Lesson: Subject verb agreement rules
Lesson: Use the right article
Lesson: Relative pronouns and relative clauses

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

Tip 5: Manage your time and length wisely

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

0:00–2:00 Read & Plan. Read the professor's question and both student posts. Decide your position and think of one specific example you can use.
2:00–8:00 Write. Follow the 3-step structure: state your position (1–2 sentences), support it with a reason and example (3–5 sentences), and wrap up (1–2 sentences).
8:00–10:00 Review. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure you referenced the discussion and added your own ideas. Confirm your response is at least 100 words.

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.

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