AI - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Sample Answers

The TOEFL iBT^® Writing Section assesses your ability to write academically, which calls for you to successfully integrate the knowledge into your work and organize your ideas coherently. The two Writing Sections, such as Academic Discussion and Integrated Writing, make up the Writing Section.

You will hear a lecture on a certain subject from a professor in the Academic Discussion activity. After that, you'll take part in a conversation where you'll have to voice your opinion and provide solid justification for it

The best method to get ready for this part of the test is to practice on tests specifically made for the Academic Discussion format. Let's start your study with our "AI"-themed TOEFL Academic Discussion practice exam.

Writing Instructions

• You will read a discussion related to an academic topic in class where your classmates have written their opinions on the said topic.
• You have 10 minutes to prepare and write your personal opinion on the academic topic. 
• Try to answer the question based on the discussion. You can also take ideas from the opinions posted by your classmates.
• There is no maximum word limit. However, an effective response should be a minimum of 100 words.
• Your response will be judged on the quality and clarity of your writing with well-supported reasons.

Professor Sam: There is a new piece of information about artificial intelligence (AI) in the news on a daily basis.  It is notable that  companies are also pouring a ton of money into the development of new AI-related technologies.  I want you to consider the question prior to our next class: Does artificial intelligence (AI) provide a threat to society that will eventually fail, or does it present an opportunity to improve people's lives?

Megan: AI is hazardous and a huge threat to society. Nonetheless, there are numerous tasks which could be mechanized as AI technology develops, increasing unemployment in the process. It's very likely that such technological developments will result in a disparity in wealth. Moreover, any AI systems which may be created could be with bias. There could also be another possibility that such a system will be applied and could harm or discriminate against any particular groups of individuals. I am of the opinion that everyone should take caution so that AI could be used in a morally responsible manner. Having said that, we must not become agitated as nothing can be guaranteed at this time about the future.

David: I do not agree with Megan's perspective. I believe that AI has the potential to tackle many global issues and challenges, such early illness detection and climate change mitigation. Besides, it is more than capable of analysing enormous amounts of data and also finding patterns which humans can miss and support better decisions. Having said that, I also concur with Megan that appropriate usage of AI is necessary to benefit society as a whole.

Before delving into sample responses, let us examine the parameters of a strong TOEFL score!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on AI

Below are the two responses for the Academic Discussion Writing question where one of them showcases a mid-level proficiency while the other exhibits a high level of skills. Through examining the distinctions, you will acquire valuable insights into the components that lead to attaining an exceptional score in the Writing section.

Score 3 Response

I believe that artificial intilligence will ultimately lead to a great deal of issues.  For example, if we consider how it will impact schooling, a large number of college students use artificial intelligence to plagiarize on their work. It is impossible for teachers to tell whether an essay was composed by an AI bot, many students are not writing their assignments entirely. Students are utilising AI for essay writing and arithmetic homework, computer science class assignments and even writing computer code. Even while I'm quite positive that nobody in THIS room is dishonest, trend should be addressed. (97 words)

Rater’s Comment

The response presents the positive aspects of AI but it lacks specific elaboration for depth and coherence. There is a sudden jump between the benefits of AI and its supportive example. There are grammatical errors as well as spelling errors that disrupt the flow of the response. Along with that, the response could be comprehensive and the sentences could be more concise for more impact. Additionally, the analysis is somewhat limited, and due to this, the argument is not well-developed. The length of the response should ideally be more than 100 words. Thus, this is a mid-level answer due to the cohesiveness, elaboration as well as comprehensiveness with specific, and grammatical errors.

Score 5 Response

I believe that AI is largely beneficial and will eventually make our lives better. Like David, I have a great deal of faith that AI will enable us to address a number of pressing issues that are currently plaguing society.  It has already been proven that AI is capable of tackling problems, like climate change and disease detection at early stage. For instance, AI systems are used to examine medical data which can analyse trends and can aid in the early detection of illnesses, such as in the case of cancer and enhance patient outcomes. However, it is also true that using AI could be difficult, especially when the results could be with bias. This is predominantly because of the prompt which initiates the answer and this could suggest that the provided information could not be completely taken into consideration without any further reference.Thus, new technologies could be unsettling at first to adapt; however, we shouldn't allow our anxieties stop us from addressing its importance.  (166 words)

Rater’s Comment

The response is a high-level answer since it addresses both the benefits of AI, such as detecting diseases as well as the drawback like the information with bias. The organisation of ideas are coherent and clearly elaborated with specific provided for both the reasons. The argument has provided a varied sentence structure with a few vocabulary words to keep the content coherent. Moreover, the examples provided are well-organised, making this a high-level answer.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task On AI

You may feel anxious about the TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Task which might feel challenging. But don't be afraid! You can successfully complete this task and use a few key tactics to demonstrate your academic writing abilities

• Understanding the core topic and the context for the particular question requires a thorough analysis of the question. It is important to take into account the instructions given, such as addressing all sides of an issue, in the response.
• Breaking down the question into its component components makes it easier to identify the main arguments. It's vital to organize the answer and successfully handle each component at the same time.
• Generate ideas and also valid references as examples before attempting to write in order to approach the response from a variety of viewpoints.
• Creating an outline helps ensure that the ideas are organized and the response is coherent.
• Providing examples or data to back up claims and perspectives shows that you have understood the topic. 
• Use formal language and academic terminologies while focusing on grammar as well as punctuation and avoid any slang or casual languages.

Finally, it's time for you to shine! Attempt the practice question and share your response in the comments! 

Our TOEFL experts are more than willing to provide valuable feedback which would help you achieve your target score!  Let's improve your writing skills together!

Additional Reads:

• Teamwork - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Questions with Answer Key
• Domesticated Mammals - Speaking Practice Test with Answer Key
• Peepshow Cinema - Reading Practice Test with Answer Key
• Domesticated Mammals - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Integrated Practice Questions with Answer Key