Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Job Security - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

The TOEFL Writing section tests your ability to express complex ideas with clarity and precision. The Integrated Writing task, in particular, challenges you to interpret and combine information. This practice test provides the perfect opportunity to practice and refine these skills. Let’s start building your confidence!

Writing Instructions

• You'll read a passage and listen to a lecture on an academic topic.
• You may take notes while listening to aid comprehension.
• Then you will write a response to a question that asks you about the lecture you heard.
• Answer the question comprehensively using information from the lecture. Avoid expressing personal opinions in the response.
• There is no strict word limit. However, an effective response is considered to be within 150 to 225 words.
• Your response will be assessed based on writing quality, content accuracy, and completeness.

The fast growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has started a debate about its impact on job security. Some people think AI is a big threat to jobs because it can replace human workers in many fields. One main worry is that AI can do tasks better and more precisely than humans, making companies prefer machines over people. For example, in manufacturing, AI-driven robots can work nonstop without getting tired, reducing the need for human workers and cutting costs.

Also, AI's ability to learn and adapt makes it a tough competitor for human workers. Machine learning algorithms can analyze huge amounts of data and get better over time, making them fit for complex tasks that used to be done by skilled professionals. In finance, AI systems are already being used for things like fraud detection and risk assessment, jobs that used to be done by human analysts. This change not only threatens jobs but also raises concerns about the future job prospects of workers who might struggle to compete with ever-improving AI technologies.

Plus, the rise of AI could worsen income inequality. As companies use AI to boost productivity, the demand for low-skilled labor might drop, leading to job losses and wage freezes for workers in these roles. On the other hand, there might be a higher demand for highly skilled workers who can develop and maintain AI systems, creating a gap between those who benefit from the AI boom and those who don't. This growing divide could have serious social and economic impacts, as many workers might find it hard to get meaningful jobs in an AI-dominated market.

Now play the audio.

Question

Summarise the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Curious about what a good TOEFL score looks like? Check it out first, then explore the Integrated Writing sample answers!

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on - Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Job Security

Examine the provided pair of sample answers - one representing a mid-level and the other a high level. By studying these responses closely, you'll discover valuable lessons to enhance and polish your written responses.

High-Level Response

The reading passage argues that AI poses a significant threat to job security by replacing human workers, particularly in manufacturing and finance, and potentially worsening income inequality. However, the lecture counters these points by suggesting that AI will create new job opportunities, enhance human abilities, and that policy actions can mitigate negative impacts.

The reading claims that AI-driven robots in manufacturing can work nonstop, reducing the need for human workers. In contrast, the lecture argues that new technologies historically create more jobs than they destroy, citing the rise of computers and the internet as examples. AI is expected to generate new roles in AI maintenance, programming, and data analysis.

Additionally, the reading highlights AI's ability to perform complex tasks, threatening skilled professionals. The lecture, however, suggests that AI can complement human workers by handling repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their jobs. For instance, in healthcare, AI can analyze medical images, but human doctors are still needed for decision-making.

Lastly, the reading warns that AI could worsen income inequality by reducing demand for low-skilled labor. The lecture counters this by emphasizing the potential for policy actions and education programs to help workers transition to new roles created by AI. Governments and organizations can invest in retraining programs, and policies like universal basic income can help mitigate economic impacts.

Rater's Comment

This response deserves a high score because it effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, clearly illustrating how the lecture challenges the reading. The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific point of contention between the two sources. The response begins with a concise introduction that sets the stage for the discussion, followed by body paragraphs that systematically compare the reading and the lecture on key issues such as job creation, enhancement of human abilities, and income inequality.

The language used is clear and precise, with appropriate transitions that help maintain coherence and flow. The response also demonstrates strong control over grammar and vocabulary, with only minor errors that do not affect the overall meaning.

Overall, the response successfully presents all key information from both the reading and the lecture, making it a comprehensive and coherent summary. The logical flow and clear organization further enhance its quality, justifying a high score.

Mid-Level Response

The reading passage says that AI are a big threat to jobs because it can replace human workers in many fields. It mentions that AI can do tasks better and more precisely than humans, making companies prefer machines over people. Also, AIs ability to learn and adapt makes it a tough competitor for human workers. In finance, AI systems are already being used for things like fraud detection and risk assessment, jobs that used to be done by human analysts. Plus, the rise of AI could worsen income inequality.

The lecture, however, say that AI will not cause widespread job loss. It says that new technologies often create more jobs than they destroy. AI is likely to create new opportunities in areas like AI maintenance, programming, and data analysis. Also, AI can enhance human abilities rather than replace them. Often, AI system are designed to help workers by taking care of repetitive and boring tasks, letting employees focus on more complex and creative parts of their jobs. Lastly, the fear that AI will increase income inequality ignore the potential for policy actions and education programs. Governments and organizations can invest in retraining programs to help workers move into new roles created by AI advancements.

Rater's Comment

This response provides a basic summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, but it lacks depth and detail. While it captures the general arguments, it does not fully explore the nuances of each point.

The organization of the essay is somewhat clear, but there are lapses in coherence. The transition between the reading and the lecture is abrupt, and the response does not effectively compare and contrast the two sources. Additionally, there are noticeable grammatical errors which affect the overall readability.

Despite these issues, the response does demonstrate an understanding of the main points from both the reading and the lecture. It captures the essence of the lecture's argument that AI will create new job opportunities and enhance human abilities, as well as the potential for policy actions to mitigate negative impacts. However, the lack of detail, coherence, and grammatical accuracy prevents it from achieving a higher score.

With these strategies and examples in mind, you're ready to practice and refine your writing abilities!

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