TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #037

TOEFL Integrated Writing Instructions

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

Freemium Apps and Microtransactions

TOEFL.PAGE - TOEFL New Academic Writing Task - Practice Test 037 - Freemium Apps and Microtransactions

Academic Discussion

Professor: “In our next class, we’ll examine how digital business models affect user behavior. One model that has sparked debate is the “freemium” modelβ€”apps or games that are free to download but encourage users to make in-app purchases through microtransactions. While some argue this model gives users more flexibility and choice, others believe it can be manipulative, especially when it targets younger users or relies on addictive design. What is your opinion? Are freemium apps and microtransactions a fair business strategy, or are they predatory?”

Vahid: “I think the freemium model can be very predatory, especially in mobile games. Some apps are designed to frustrate users just enough that they feel pressured to pay to keep progressing. This is especially concerning when the games are aimed at kids who don’t fully understand that they’re spending real money. It’s one thing to offer extra features, but manipulating users into constant purchases feels unethical to me. There should be stricter regulations.”

Angel: “I disagree. Freemium apps give people the option to use a product for free, which is better than having to pay upfront for something they might not like. If people enjoy the app and want to pay for extras, that’s their choice. No one is being forced. Plus, developers need to make money somehow, especially if they’re offering most of the content at no cost. As long as the pricing is transparent, I don’t see a problem with it.”

Your Response

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

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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #001: Urban Green Spaces
TOEFL New Writing Task (Academic Discussion) Practice Test - Perceptions of Aggression in Dog Breeds
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #002: Perceptions of Aggression in Dog Breeds
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #003: Paper Straws and Their Effectiveness
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #004: Social Media & Interpersonal Communication
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #004: Social Media & Interpersonal Communication
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #005: Job Displacement or New Opportunities?
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #005: Job Displacement or New Opportunities
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #006: Health vs. Taste in Beverage Choices
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #006: Health vs. Taste in Beverage Choices
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #007: Cultural Ownership
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #007: Cultural Ownership
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #008: Big Brother
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #008: Big Brother
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #009: The Role of Government in Health Coverage
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #009: The Role of Government in Health Coverage
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #010: The Impact of Fast Fashion on Society
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #010: The Impact of Fast Fashion on Society
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #011: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Education
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #011: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Education
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #012: The Intersection of Creativity and Commerce
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #012: The Intersection of Creativity and Commerce
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #013: Rethinking the Workplace
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #013: Rethinking the Workplace
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #014: Ethical Landscape of Genetic Engineering
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #014: Ethical Landscape of Genetic Engineering
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #015: Cultural Exchange
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #015: Cultural Exchange
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #016: E-Sports as a School Extracurricular
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #016: E-Sports as a School Extracurricular
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #017: Digital Detox Retreats
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #017: Digital Detox Retreats
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #018: Human Augmentation Devices
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #018: Human Augmentation Devices
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #019: Space Debris and Space Sustainability
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #019: Space Debris and Space Sustainability
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #020: Universal DNA Databases
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #020: Universal DNA Databases
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #021
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #021: Specialized vs. Diverse Education
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #022
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #022: Public Transportation vs. Private Vehicles
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #023
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #023: Online vs. In-Person Shopping
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #024
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #024: Individual vs. Group Assignments
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #025
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #025: Remote Work vs. Office Work
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #026
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #026: Mandatory Community Service
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #027
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #027: Traditional vs. Digital Reading
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #028
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #028: Standardized Testing vs. Alternative Assessment
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #029
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #029: Year-Round vs. Traditional School Calendar
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) Practice Test #030
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #030: Homework vs. No Homework
TOEFL New Academic Writing Task - Practice Test 031 - Group Chat Apps and Communication
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #031: Group Chat Apps and Communication
TOEFL New Academic Writing Task - Practice Test 032 - AI and Its Role in Modern Life
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #032: AI and Its Role in Modern Life
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #033: What People Value Most in Their Jobs Besides Salary
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #034: Effects of Organized Sports on Childhood Development
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #035: Homework’s Role and Value in Student Learning
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #036: Idolizing Celebrities
TOEFL.PAGE - TOEFL New Academic Writing Task - Practice Test 037 - Freemium Apps and Microtransactions
TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #037: Freemium Apps and Microtransactions
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #038: GMOs in Food
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #039: Meaning and Value of Postmodern Art
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TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing (Task 2) – Practice Test #040: Children’s Access to Phones and Tablets
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Complete List of TOEFL Writing Task 2 Practice Tests
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