TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #001

This TOEFL Writing Task 2 (Academic Discussion) practice test offers a realistic experience with a genuine prompt featuring a professor’s question and responses from two classmates. Follow the instructions closely to simulate the exam conditions. After writing your response, you can submit it for feedback or choose to order a written assessment or video call session to review your writing in detail.

TOEFL Academic Discussion Task Detailed Instructions

Read the Prompt Carefully: Pay close attention to the professor’s question and understand the topic being discussed. What are the two positions presented on the issue? In some cases, the two sides may disagree on the nature or cause of the problem itself. In other cases, they might agree on the problem but propose different solutions or approaches to address it. This will guide your response and ensure that you stay on topic.
Consider Different Perspectives: Reflect on the responses from the two classmates provided in the prompt. Think about how their viewpoints relate to the professor’s question and how you can add to the discussion.
Express Your Opinion: Clearly state your opinion on the topic. Make sure to support your viewpoint with relevant reasoning, examples, or personal experiences to strengthen your argument.
Make a Unique Contribution: Go beyond summarizing the responses of the classmates. This is the main difference between the TOEFL Integrated Writing Task 1 and the new Academic Discussion task. In the older task, you were expected to remain completely unbiased and objective, simply reporting what you read and heard. In contrast, the new task asks you to participate in the discussion by offering your own opinion. Try to contribute something original to the conversation. You can share a new idea, extend one of the points made, or provide a relevant example. This demonstrates your ability to think critically and engage thoughtfully with the topic.
Organize Your Response: Structure your post with a clear introduction, body paragraph(s), and a conclusion. This will help your ideas flow logically and enhance the readability of your response.
Stay Within the Word Limit: Ensure your response contains at least 100 words. This helps you develop your ideas in enough detail to meet the expectations of the task. While 100 words is the minimum, it is often not sufficient to fully explain your position, provide examples, and respond meaningfully to the other students’ comments. Do not feel limited by the word count. Aim to express your opinion clearly and support it with relevant reasoning or personal experience. Personally, I usually end up writing around 200 words when responding to this task, as that length allows me to build a well-structured and thoughtful response without running out of time.
Submit your writing: Use the form below to privately submit your writing for review, or post it publicly in the comment section at the bottom of the page. Posting publicly encourages an organic “Academic Discussion,” allowing other site visitors to join in, respond to your ideas, and share their own perspectives.
Feedback (optional): Order detailed written analysis or a video session to review your response using the official TOEFL writing criteria and identify specific areas for improvement.

Urban Green Spaces

Academic Discussion

Professor: “Today, we’re discussing the role of urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens. Some people believe that these spaces are essential for improving the quality of life in cities by providing recreational areas and enhancing mental well-being. Others argue that urban development should prioritize housing and infrastructure over green spaces. What are your thoughts on the importance of urban green spaces in city planning?”

Vahid: “Urban green spaces are essential for enhancing the quality of life in cities. Parks and community gardens provide residents with opportunities for recreation and relaxation, which are vital for mental health. Additionally, these areas can promote community engagement by serving as gathering places for social interaction. While urban development is important, neglecting green spaces can lead to a less livable environment and decreased well-being among residents.”

Titan: “I understand that parks and gardens are nice, but I think we need more housing in cities. Many people are struggling to find affordable places to live. Focusing on green spaces might take away from building more apartments and schools. We should prioritize development that meets the needs of the population rather than just adding more parks.”

Your Response

Sample Response #1 (Excellent)

While Titan emphasizes housing needs, I believe Vahid’s perspective on urban green spaces merits greater consideration. Cities are not merely collections of buildings but ecosystems where humans need connection to nature.

My grandfather lived in two different retirement communities – one surrounded by concrete, another adjacent to a community garden. The difference in his mental health was striking. At the garden-adjacent facility, he formed new friendships while tending vegetables and spent less on depression medication than during his previous living situation.

This personal observation aligns with research showing green spaces reduce healthcare costs. Perhaps the housing-versus-parks debate creates a false dichotomy. Smart urban planning can integrate greenery into housing developments through rooftop gardens, vertical forests, and tree-lined streets that serve dual purposes.

The solution lies not in choosing between Titan’s housing focus or Vahid’s green advocacy, but in reimagining how these elements can coexist in tomorrow’s cities.

Sample Response #1 - Examiner Comments

Development (5/5): The response develops ideas with impressive depth through a compelling personal anecdote about the writer’s grandfather. This specific example effectively illustrates the impact of green spaces on mental health and social connections, providing concrete support for the writer’s position.

Organization (5/5): The essay demonstrates sophisticated organization that moves beyond a formulaic structure. It begins with a clear position, provides supporting evidence through a personal story, connects this to broader research, and concludes with a thoughtful synthesis that reframes the debate.

Language Use (5/5): The response employs precise vocabulary and varied sentence structures effectively. Phrases like “cities are not merely collections of buildings but ecosystems” and “false dichotomy” demonstrate advanced language control and conceptual understanding.

Topic Connection (5/5): The writer skillfully engages with both perspectives from the discussion while introducing a fresh angle that transcends the binary choice presented. Rather than simply siding with one student, the response acknowledges the validity of both concerns and proposes an integrated approach.

Overall Comments: This response exemplifies creative critical thinking within the TOEFL format. The personal narrative element is particularly effective, as it grounds abstract concepts in concrete experience while demonstrating the writer’s ability to connect personal observations to broader social issues. The conclusion shows sophisticated reasoning by reframing the debate entirely rather than simply choosing a side.

Sample Response #2 (Competent)

I think parks and green spaces are good for cities, but we really need more housing too. People want places to relax and enjoy nature, but many cities have too many parks already. For example, in my city, there are big parks, but many people still can’t find apartments they can afford. It’s nice to have gardens and trees, but we have to think about the number of homes available. So, we should build more housing and then see if there’s still room for parks.

Sample Response #2 - Examiner Comments

This response presents a basic argument regarding the balance between urban green spaces and housing. However, the writer’s points are somewhat unclear and lack specific examples to support their views. The vocabulary is limited, and the structure is less organized, which impacts clarity. While the writer acknowledges the importance of both aspects, the response does not significantly add to the discussion, primarily reiterating the conflict without depth. Overall, this mid-level response demonstrates a need for greater development and coherence to enhance its effectiveness.

TOEFL Writing Task 2 Academic Discussion Practice Tests [With Sample Responses & Examiner Comments]

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