The Effect of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development - TOEFL Writing for Academic Discussion

The TOEFL Writing section assesses your ability to write essays at an academic level. It features two key tasks: Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion.

During the Academic Discussion, you’ll listen to a professor’s lecture, analyze the content, and participate in a discussion. You’ll need to express your opinion and back it up with relevant evidence and reasoning.

Practicing with Academic Discussion-format sample tests is an effective way to prepare for this exam section. Let's begin your practice with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample test on "The Effect of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development".

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: In our next class, we will explore the impact of bilingualism on mental growth. Some researchers argue that knowing two languages enhances thinking skills, while others believe it can cause confusion and hinder mental growth. What is your opinion on the effect of bilingualism on mental growth?

Maria: I believe that knowing two languages significantly enhances mental growth. Studies have shown that bilingual individuals often have better thinking skills, such as problem-solving and multitasking. For example, bilingual children can switch between tasks more efficiently than children who know only one language. Also, learning two languages can improve memory and delay the start of memory loss in older adults. These mental benefits make a strong case for promoting bilingualism from an early age.

David: While I see the potential benefits, I think knowing two languages can sometimes cause confusion, especially in young children. For example, children might mix up grammar rules or vocabulary from both languages, which can slow down their language development. Also, the mental effort of managing two languages might overwhelm some children, leading to difficulties in academic performance. So, it is essential to consider individual differences when assessing the impact of bilingualism on mental growth.

Learn what a good TOEFL score is before you check out the sample answer to the Academic Discussion Writing task!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on the Effect of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development

Below, we have provided two sample responses for the Writing Academic Discussion Task, demonstrating both a high-level and mid-level response. Analyzing these examples can help you understand the criteria for each score level and improve your writing skills accordingly.

High-level Response

While David raises valid concerns about the potential for confusion in young children, I strongly believe that bilingualism significantly enhances mental growth. Numerous studies have shown that bilingual individuals often exhibit superior cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, multitasking, and creative thinking. For example, bilingual children can switch between tasks more efficiently than their monolingual peers, demonstrating enhanced cognitive flexibility. Additionally, learning two languages can improve memory and delay the onset of cognitive decline in older adults, providing long-term mental health benefits.

Moreover, the initial confusion that some children may experience is typically temporary and can be mitigated with proper support and instruction. The cognitive benefits of bilingualism far outweigh these initial challenges. Bilingual individuals are also better equipped to navigate multicultural environments, enhancing their social and emotional intelligence. By promoting bilingualism from an early age, we can foster a generation of individuals with enhanced cognitive abilities and a greater appreciation for cultural diversity. In essence, the mental benefits of bilingualism make a compelling case for its promotion and support in educational settings.

Rater’s Comment

This response merits a high score due to its clear and well-structured argument. The student effectively counters David's concerns by emphasizing the long-term cognitive benefits of bilingualism and providing concrete examples. The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the discussion. The first paragraph aligns with Maria's viewpoint on the cognitive advantages of bilingualism, while the second paragraph addresses the potential challenges and suggests ways to mitigate them. The language is formal and appropriate for an academic discussion, and the response is free from grammatical errors. Overall, the student demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the topic and contributes meaningfully to the discussion.

Mid-level Response

I think knowing two languages significantly enhances mental growth. As Maria said, studies have shown that bilingual individuals often have better cognitive skills, like problem-solving and multitasking. For example, bilingual children can switch between tasks more efficiently than children who know one language. Learning two languages can also improve memory and delay cognitive decline in older adults.

However, I also understand David's concerns about potential confusion in young children. Some children might mix up grammar rules or vocabulary from both languages. However I believe that with proper support and instruction, these issues can be managed. Overall, the cognitive benefits of bilingualism outweigh the potential challenges.

Rater’s Comment

This response is adequate but lacks the depth and clarity of a higher-scoring response. The student addresses both the cognitive benefits of bilingualism and the potential challenges, aligning with points made by Maria and David. However, the argument is not as well-developed or nuanced. The response contains some grammatical errors. Additionally, the language is somewhat informal for an academic discussion, with phrases like "these issues can be managed" and "the cognitive benefits of bilingualism outweigh the potential challenges." While the student makes a valid contribution to the discussion, the response could benefit from more detailed reasoning and a more formal tone.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task on the Effect of Bilingualism on Cognitive Development

Let's explore the strategies devised by our experts and diligently apply them during practice sessions with TOEFL Writing sample tests!

• Begin your preparation by seeking out opinion articles in newspapers or online platforms and actively engage with them, expressing agreement or disagreement. Dive deeply into those concepts, maximizing your exploration.
• To enhance proficiency, generate varied rationales for your stance on a topic and provide ample supportive points and examples for each rationale. 
• During practice, identify recurring grammatical errors and work on improving them. 
• Develop the skills to rectify your errors and allocate time at the end of your writing sessions to review and incorporate these corrections.

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

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