Targeted Advertising - TOEFL iBT® Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Responses

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- ‘Targeted Advertising’ 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.
  
  

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on ‘Targeted Advertising’ 

Rater’s Comment

This response presents a well-structured argument with clear reasoning and examples to support the writer's viewpoint. The writer effectively evaluates different perspectives on targeted advertising, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the topic. The acknowledgment of Matthew's viewpoint and the counterpoint raised by Phoebe adds depth to the discussion and shows critical thinking skills. The response maintains a formal tone and uses appropriate vocabulary throughout. Additionally, grammar and sentence structure are strong, with minimal errors that do not impede understanding. Overall, this is a high-scoring response due to its comprehensive analysis, logical structure, and proficient language use.

Rater’s Comment

The response demonstrates a good understanding of the topic and presents a clear argument against targeted advertising. However, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text that impact its overall clarity and effectiveness. The verb agreement in "pose" should be "poses" to match the singular subject "advertising." "Justifying" should be "justifying" to maintain parallelism in the sentence structure. Additionally, "financial burdensome purchases" should be corrected to "financially burdensome purchases" for proper adjective usage. The phrase "yet succumb to buy high-end gadgets" should be revised to "yet succumb to buying high-end gadgets" for grammatical accuracy. Overall, while the response makes valid points, attention to grammatical accuracy would enhance its effectiveness.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on Targeted Advertising

The writing tasks of the TOEFL exam can be quite daunting, especially for those aiming for a high score. However, by embracing a structured approach you can greatly enhance your writing abilities.

Our TOEFL experts have devised a systematic approach that you can integrate into your practice sessions to boost your writing skills. This approach is centered around using real TOEFL writing examples as the foundation. By adhering to these tactics, you can adeptly address the TOEFL Writing Academic Discussion Task on the topic ‘Targeted Advertising’.  

• Ensure a clear understanding of the prompt, which in this case is about the ethics of targeted advertising and whether it constitutes a breach of privacy.
• Acknowledge different viewpoints, as shown by Phoebe and Matthew in the class discussion. This demonstrates an ability to consider multiple angles of an issue.
• After acknowledging different viewpoints, clearly state your own opinion on whether targeted advertising is ethical or a violation of privacy. Support your opinion with reasoning and examples. For instance, if you believe targeted advertising is ethical, explain why you think it's an effective way to connect with consumers and how it can benefit both businesses and customers.
• Anticipate counterarguments and address them in your response while ensuring your response is well-organized, with clear transitions between ideas. This shows critical thinking and a well-rounded understanding of the topic.
  

Keeping these test strategies in mind when practicing for the TOEFL Writing academic discussion task will help you construct a well-developed response and approach this section effectively on actual exam day. Don’t forget to continue your preparation with our additional TOEFL practice tests!