TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #015

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.

Cultural Exchange

Academic Discussion

Professor: “In our discussions about globalization, we’ve considered the effects of cultural exchange on societies. Some believe that traveling and sharing cultures fosters understanding and appreciation, while others argue it leads to superficial interactions and cultural appropriation. What is your opinion on cultural exchange?”

Vahid: “I think cultural exchange is often just an excuse for tourism. People travel to take selfies and engage in the same activities they do at home, rather than genuinely experiencing other cultures. While there may be some understanding gained, I believe it often lacks depth.”

Angel: “Cultural exchange can be a valuable opportunity for learning and understanding. When done thoughtfully, it allows individuals to appreciate diverse perspectives and experiences, enriching their own lives and promoting global unity.”

Your Response

Sample Response #1 (Excellent)

While I understand Vahid’s skepticism, I believe cultural exchange can be profoundly meaningful when approached intentionally. Angel makes a strong point that exposure to different customs and perspectives can foster mutual understanding. Of course, not all travel leads to deep engagement, but that does not invalidate the potential. Even brief interactions, such as participating in a local festival or staying with a host family, can spark curiosity and respect for other cultures. In the context of globalization, these experiences are essential for building empathy across borders.

Sample Response #1 - Examiner Comments

This is a well-developed and insightful response that directly answers the professor’s question while engaging thoughtfully with both student posts. The writer acknowledges counterpoints (Vahid’s view) and builds upon Angel’s position, offering specific and relevant examples. The argument is logically organized, with clear progression and coherence. Vocabulary is varied and precise, and grammar is consistently accurate. This response fully meets the expectations for a top score on the Academic Discussion task.

Sample Response #2 (Competent)

I agree with Angel that cultural exchange can be a way to learn about other people, but I think it depends on the person. Some tourists are just taking pictures, like Vahid says, but others try to learn the language or eat local food. However, I think just visiting is not enough. People should also talk with locals and understand their history to have real exchange. So, it can be good, but only if people make an effort.

Sample Response #2 - Examiner Comments

This response presents a balanced and relevant viewpoint, showing an attempt to engage with both Vahid and Angel’s ideas. The writer communicates their opinion clearly, and there is some development of ideas. However, the response lacks specific examples or deeper reasoning, and some phrasing is overly simple. Organization is basic but effective, and grammar control is mostly adequate. To improve, the response could benefit from more sophisticated sentence structure and fuller elaboration of the argument.

Sample Response #3 (Low-Level Response)

I think cultural exchange is good because people can see new places and meet new people. When you travel, you learn about other countries and try new food. This helps people understand the world more. For example, when I went to another country, I saw many different things, and it was interesting. I agree with Angel because she says cultural exchange is valuable. Traveling is fun and makes people happy. I do not think it is bad. So, cultural exchange is helpful and everyone should try it. It is better when people know more about other cultures and enjoy traveling.

Sample Response #3 - Examiner Comments

This response meets the basic word requirement and expresses a generally positive view of cultural exchange. However, it lacks depth, specific reasoning, and development. The writer mentions travel and food but does not explain how these experiences lead to deeper understanding. There is no meaningful engagement with Vahid’s contrasting opinion, and the connection to Angel’s comment is superficial. Language use is very basic and repetitive, with limited vocabulary and overly simple sentence structures. The response does not demonstrate the level of critical thinking or academic tone expected for this task.

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

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