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WRITING · ACADEMIC DISCUSSION

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Academic Discussion.

A professor opens the question, two classmates take opposite sides, and you get 10 minutes to add something new. See what a band-6 reply does, move by move, then get ETS-aligned scores on every dimension of yours.

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ANATOMY OF THE PROMPT

What every discussion drops in front of you.

One professor, two opposing classmates, and the real test editor.

Professor Hayes
Professor HayesDiscussion Board · Sociology 101

A growing city has a limited transport budget: invest in public transit, or widen the roads for the families who rely on cars. Which should it prioritize, and why?

The professor opens the floor

A discussion question with real stakes — framed exactly like the ETS 2026 screen.

KevinKevinPublic transit

Transit is the smarter long-term bet. After my city opened a light-rail line, my 50-minute commute dropped to 20, and the road beside it stopped jamming at rush hour.

MariaMariaExpand roads

Most families still depend on their cars. Where I grew up, the nearest bus stop was a 25-minute walk, so transit was never a real option for getting to school or work.

Two classmates, opposite sides

You read both positions first — and you can't sit on the fence.

Your responseDraft
07:4862 / 120 wordsSubmit

While Maria makes a fair point that many families still rely on their cars, I side with Kevin: cities should prioritize public transit. When a road is widened, the new space fills with traffic within a few years, a trap planners call induced demand. A single rail line, by contrast, keeps moving the same crowd long after a highway would clog again.

Write under real-exam conditions

10 minutes, 120+ words — the very same editor as test day.

WHAT YOU GET BACK

Every reply comes back fully marked up.

A score, a structure map, line-level notes, and a plan — all ETS-aligned.

A score you can trust

Every reply is graded 1–6 on the four ETS dimensions — task achievement, coherence, lexical resource, and grammar.

5.5/6
Advanced WriterSAMPLE

A relevant, well-developed argument that engages both classmates and holds a clear stance across all four dimensions.

Task Achievement
5.5/6
Coherence
6.0/6
Lexical Resource
5.0/6
Grammar
5.5/6

A plan for next time

Concrete next steps, tailored to your reply — so the next one starts ahead.

Next Steps
  • Open by naming a classmate, then take your side
  • Back every claim with one concrete example
  • End with a line that ties the thread together
  • Aim for 120+ words within the 10-minute limit

Notes on your exact words

5–10 line-level comments mark what to change and why, right on the sentences you wrote.

We've already heard that many university students are using artificial intelligence to cheat on their assignments.

TONE · TOO INFORMAL

Prefer a formal register — "misuse AI to complete their assignments."

Mapped to the band-6 spine

Every model answer comes mapped — position → rebuttal → evidence → wrap — so you see the logic, not just the words.

POSITION

Side with Kevin — prioritize transit

REBUTTAL

Wider roads just refill — the trap

EVIDENCE

Highway widened, 2019

EVIDENCE

Traffic back in 18 months

WRAP-UP

Transit is the long-term bet

Frequently asked questions

Is Academic Discussion on the 2026 TOEFL?

Yes. It is one of the two 2026 writing tasks: you read a professor's question and two students' posts, then add your own argument to the discussion, under time. It is less about length and more about contributing a real, well-supported point.

How is my post scored, and what's a good score?

On a 1–6 scale in half-point steps across four equally-weighted dimensions: task achievement, coherence, lexical resource, and grammar. There is no single pass mark, but competitive programs generally look for the upper half of the scale.

Do I have to respond to the other students by name?

Yes — engaging the two student posts (agreeing, pushing back, or extending them) is part of task achievement, not optional politeness. A high-scoring reply takes a clear position, responds to Sarah or Mark directly, and adds a new point they did not raise.

Does vocabulary actually matter in TOEFL writing?

Yes, and more than in speaking. Lexical resource is one of the four equally-weighted scored dimensions, so precise, academic word choice is genuinely graded — unlike TOEFL speaking, where reaching for fancy vocabulary earns no extra credit. TOEFLAIR flags where your wording is vague, repetitive, or too casual for the register.

Can I try it free?

Yes. Your first response is free with no account or credit card; sign up when you want to save progress and keep practicing.

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