Should Public Transportation Be Free in Major Cities - TOEFL Writing for Academic Discussion

The TOEFL Academic Discussion task evaluates your ability to analyze lectures and participate in scholarly conversations. You’ll need to express well-structured ideas and support them effectively. This practice test is designed to help you excel in this challenging section of the exam. Let's begin your practice with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample test on "Should Public Transportation Be Free in Major Cities".

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.

Instructions: Your professor is teaching a class on environmental science. Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response, you should -

1. express and support your personal opinion,
2. make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor: Today we're going to discuss the idea of making public transportation free in major cities. This is a topic that has been gaining attention in recent years. Some argue that free public transportation can reduce traffic congestion and pollution, while others believe it could lead to increased taxes and overcrowded transit systems. What do you think? Should public transportation be free in major cities?

Emily: I think public transportation should be free in major cities. By removing fares, we can encourage more people to use public transportation instead of driving. This would reduce traffic jams and lower pollution levels. Also, free public transportation would make it easy to use for low-income individuals, helping to support social equality. Cities like Tallinn in Estonia have already done this and seen good results.

Oliver: Although I understand Emilys points, I believe making public transportation free could lead to big problems. The cost of keeping up and growing transportation systems is high. Funding this through increased taxes could place a load on taxpayers. Also, free services might lead to overcrowding and decreased quality of service. Rather, we should focus on improving the efficiency and cost of public transportation without making it entirely free.

Wait! Let's learn more about the TOEFL Exam Pattern and Syllabus before checking out the sample answers to the Academic Discussion Writing task!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on - Should Public Transportation Be Free in Major Cities

We’ve included two sample responses for the Writing Academic Discussion Task—one illustrating a high-level response and the other a mid-level response. Reviewing these examples will help you understand the scoring criteria for each level and enhance your writing skills as a result.

High-level Response

While the idea of free public transportation is appealing for its potential to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, I believe it could lead to significant challenges. Oliver raises a valid point about the high costs associated with maintaining and expanding transportation systems. Funding these costs through increased taxes could place a heavy burden on taxpayers, potentially leading to public resistance and financial strain on city budgets.

Moreover, free public transportation could result in overcrowded transit systems, diminishing the quality of service. Overcrowding can lead to delays, increased wear and tear on infrastructure, and a less pleasant experience for commuters. Instead of making public transportation entirely free, cities should focus on improving the efficiency and affordability of their transit systems. Implementing measures such as subsidized fares for low-income individuals, investing in modern infrastructure, and enhancing service reliability can make public transportation more attractive without the drawbacks of a completely free system. This balanced approach can achieve the goals of reducing traffic congestion and pollution while maintaining a high-quality transit service.

Rater’s Comment

This response merits a high score due to its clear and well-developed argument. The writer effectively addresses the prompt by presenting a balanced view on the idea of free public transportation. The response is well-organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the argument. The first paragraph discusses the financial challenges and potential public resistance to increased taxes, while the second paragraph highlights the issues of overcrowding and service quality. The writer also proposes a balanced approach to improving public transportation without making it entirely free. The language is formal and appropriate for an academic discussion, and the response is free from major grammatical errors. Overall, the writer provides a compelling and coherent argument that contributes meaningfully to the discussion.

Mid-level Response

I think making public transportation free in major cities could cause more problems than it solves. While it might reduce traffic and pollution, the cost of maintaining and expanding the transit system would be very high. Oliver mentioned that increased taxes could be a burden on taxpayers, which is a big concern.

Also, free public transportation could lead to overcrowding and lower quality of service. Instead of making it free, we should focus on making public transportation more efficient and affordable. For example, offering subsidized fares for low-income individuals and improving service reliability can help achieve the same goals without the drawbacks of a completely free system.

Rater’s Comment

This response is adequate but lacks the depth and development needed for a higher score. The writer presents a clear opinion that making public transportation free could cause more problems than it solves and provides some support for this view, such as the high costs and potential tax burden. However, the argument is not fully developed, and the response lacks detailed reasoning and examples. The second paragraph attempts to address the issue of overcrowding and proposes alternative solutions but does not add much new information or insight to the discussion. Additionally, there are minor grammatical errors, such as "which is a big concern," which could be more clearly stated. Overall, the response addresses the prompt and contributes to the discussion, but it lacks the depth and coherence of a higher-scoring response.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on - Should Public Transportation Be Free in Major Cities

It's time to examine the tips our experts have developed and put them to work as we practice with TOEFL Writing mock tests. Check the following strategies for taking an academic discussion task.

• Carefully read the professor's questions and responses from other students. Identify key arguments presented on both sides of the debate.

• Note the advantages and the disadvantages. This will help you address the prompt fully.

• Decide whether you agree more with the benefits or the drawbacks. Make sure your stance is clear from the beginning and supported throughout your response.

• A well-rounded response addresses the opposing viewpoint. While supporting your own position, briefly explain why the drawbacks or opposing side may still be valid but less significant.

Feeling confident after exploring the sample response and writing strategies? Put your knowledge into practice! All the best!

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