What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

Grading Students: TOEFL Writing Academic Discussion Test

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Writing Practice Tests

Grading Students - TOEFL iBT® Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Answers

Sanskriti Gupta

5 min read

Updated On May 30, 2024

The TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Task holds significant importance within the TOEFL Writing Section. It measures how well a candidate can identify information from a lecture and articulate their own comprehension and viewpoints on the subject in a well-organized written form.

This particular task evaluates your skill in presenting and backing up your thoughts effectively in writing, particularly within an academic framework. With regular practice using TOEFL practice materials, you can develop the techniques required to succeed in this task. Let's begin the Practice test on the topic- ‘Grading Students’ and improve your preparation for the TOEFL 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.

Academic Discussion:

Professor: Today, our class discussion will revolve around the topic of evaluating students' performance. I encourage you to contemplate the usefulness of grades before our session. While grades offer a means to gauge students' advancements, there's a counterargument suggesting they overly prioritize performance and may not fully reflect a student's comprehensive academic skills. If compelled to decide, where do you stand on the question of whether students should receive grades? What's the rationale behind your choice?

Kris (Female Student): I believe it's best not to assign grades to students. Grades tend to foster unnecessary competition and may make students feel their sole worth lies in academic achievement. This emphasis on grades often leads to disheartenment among students. Rather than relying on grades, teachers should offer individualized feedback aimed at guiding students on areas of improvement and the steps they can take to enhance their learning. This personalized approach, in my view, cultivates greater academic accomplishments.

Marcus (Male Student): I hold the view that grades serve as the primary method for students to gauge their performance and as a key motivator for increased effort. Devoid of grades, there would be a lack of benchmarks to assess progress and pinpoint areas requiring enhancement. Furthermore, grades play a role in readying students for the professional realm, where individuals are evaluated based on their performance. In the adult sphere, continual high performance is crucial for career advancement, and grading in childhood lays the groundwork for this reality.

Response time: 10 Minutes

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on ‘Grading Students’

Below, you'll find two sample responses exemplifying different proficiency levels: high and mid-level. By scrutinizing the disparities between them, you'll glean valuable insights into the elements pivotal to achieving a commendable score on the TOEFL exam.

Mid-Level Response

Uh, like, I, uh, respect Kris's perspective, but I firmly advocate for, you know, the regular assessment of children through grade. Even at a young age, children, they, uh, have this desire for academic improvement, and grades, they serve as a, uh, constructive tool, you know, in facilitating this process. It's, um, it's essential to recognize that students, they, uh, they comprehend the, uh, significance of honing strong academic abilities to realize their aspirations. Grades, they serves as indicators of their, um, current proficiency levels and offer guidance on modifying their study approaches accordingly.

Rater’s Comment

This response demonstrates some understanding of the importance of grades in assessing academic progress. However, there are numerous grammatical errors, hesitations, and filler words throughout the answer, which hinder clarity and coherence. Additionally, the points made lack elaboration and depth, resulting in a superficial discussion of the topic. To improve, the student should focus on refining grammar and vocabulary usage, while also developing their ideas with more specific examples and explanations.

High-Level Response

The topic of grading students is contentious, and I contend that it's unnecessary. I echo Kris's view that grades foster excessive competition and often fail to accurately represent a student's progress. Furthermore, I believe that grading systems can inadvertently encourage a focus on test-taking strategies over genuine learning experiences, hindering full engagement with course material. This can result in students lacking essential knowledge vital for their academic advancement. While Marcus rightfully highlights grades' utility in identifying areas of weakness, it's worth noting that teachers can diagnose these weaknesses through other means, such as analyzing students' work samples without assigning grades. For instance, by reviewing a student's essay, educators can identify deficiencies like grammar errors and provide personalized feedback verbally. This approach prioritizes comprehensive student development over-reliance on traditional grading systems.

Rater’s Comment

This response exhibits a thorough understanding of the complexities surrounding the topic of grading students. The writer effectively articulates a nuanced argument against traditional grading systems, aligning with Kris's perspective on the detrimental effects of fostering competitiveness and the limitations of grades in accurately measuring progress. The incorporation of alternative methods for assessing student performance, such as analyzing work samples and providing personalized feedback, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of pedagogical approaches that prioritize holistic student development. The response is well-structured and presents a compelling case for reevaluating the reliance on traditional grading systems in educational settings.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on ‘Grading Students’

Our TOEFL specialists have developed a structured approach that you can incorporate into your practice routines to enhance your writing capabilities. This approach revolves around utilizing authentic TOEFL writing samples as the cornerstone. By following these strategies, you can effectively tackle the TOEFL Writing Academic Discussion Task focusing on the topic of 'Grading students'.

Clearly understand the question, which is asking for your personal opinion on the usefulness of grading students' performance based on the class discussion.
Identify the main arguments presented by your classmates. Kris argues against grading, highlighting its negative impacts, while Marcus supports grading, emphasizing its role as a motivator and preparation for the professional world. Decide on your stance based on the discussion. Do you agree more with Kris or Marcus, or do you have a different perspective?
Support your stance with clear reasons and examples. If you agree with Kris, explain why grades can be detrimental and provide examples of how personalized feedback can be more beneficial. If you agree with Marcus, explain the importance of grades as motivators and provide examples of how they prepare students for future success.
Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and briefly address it to show that you've considered multiple perspectives. Organize your response with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Ensure coherence and logical flow between your ideas.
Use formal and academic language appropriate for an academic discussion. Avoid slang or colloquial expressions. Clear and error-free writing enhances clarity and readability.

By following these strategies, you can effectively prepare and write your personal opinion on the academic topic within the given timeframe. To continue your TOEFL Practice, check out some more test papers.