The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Traditional Businesses - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test

In the TOEFL iBT^® exam, the writing section is designed where you will be assessesed on your ability to write academically and organise your thoughts coherently. Ideally, there are two Writing Sections, such as Academic Discussion and Integrated Writing, which make up the Writing Section. With this practice test on 'The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Traditional Businesses', you will be able to increase your comprehension skills and writing skills where at first, you will hear a lecture from a professor in the Academic environment. Then, you'll voice your opinion and justify the same with concrete evidence as well as explanation.

By attempting this test paper, you will be able to comprehend the exam format vividly. Let's start your study with our "The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Traditional Businesses"-themed TOEFL Academic Discussion practice 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.

Instruction: Your professor is teaching a class on economics. Write a post responding to the professors 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. You have ten minutes to write.

Professor: Today, were going to talk about how the sharing economy affects traditional businesses. The sharing economy, which includes services like ride-sharing and home-sharing, has grown quickly in recent years. Do you think the rise of the sharing economy is eventually good or bad for traditional businesses? Why or why not?

Amelia: I think the sharing economy is good for traditional businesses. It promotes competition, which can lead to new ideas and better services. For example, traditional taxi companies have had to improve their services. They also had to use new tools to compete with ride-sharing apps. This competition can eventually benefit consumers by providing better options and lower prices.

Thomas: I think the sharing economy is bad for traditional businesses. Many traditional businesses struggle to compete with the lower prices and convenience offered by sharing economy services. Such as, many small hotels and bed-and-breakfasts have lost a lot of business. This is due to home-sharing services. This can lead to job losses and hurt local economies that rely on these traditional businesses.

Before delving into sample responses, let us examine the parameters of a strong TOEFL score!

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on The Impact of the Sharing Economy on Traditional Businesses

Below are the two responses for the Academic Discussion Writing question where one of them showcases a mid-level proficiency while the other exhibits a high level of skills. Through examining the distinctions, you will acquire valuable insights into the components that lead to attaining an exceptional score in the Writing section.

Score 3 Response

I think the sharing economy is bad for traditional businesses. Like Thomas said, small hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are losing customers to home-sharing services. This can cause job losses and hurt local economies. Also, traditional businesses have to follow more rules and pay more taxes, which makes it hard for them to compete. While competition can be good, it is not fair when one side has more advantages. For example, ride-sharing apps dont have to follow the same rules as taxi companies, so they can offer lower prices. Therefore, it can be stated that this makes it hard for traditional businesses to survive.

(Word Count - 103)

Rater’s Comment

This response is adequate but lacks the depth and clarity of a higher-scoring response. The student agrees with Thomas and provides some reasoning, such as job losses and regulatory disparities. However, the argument is not as well-developed or supported with specific examples. The response also contains grammatical errors, such as "Like Thomas said" instead of "As Thomas said," and "This can cause job losses and hurt local economies" without a clear linking word. Additionally, the sentence "While competition can be good, it is not fair when one side has more advantages" could be clearer. Despite these issues, the response is generally comprehensible and addresses the prompt, making it a mid-level response.

Score 5 Response

While the sharing economy has its benefits, I believe it ultimately poses significant challenges for traditional businesses. Thomas makes a valid point about the struggle of small hotels and bed-and-breakfasts against home-sharing services. These traditional businesses often cannot compete with the lower prices and flexibility offered by platforms like Airbnb. This can lead to job losses and negatively impact local economies that depend on these businesses. Additionally, traditional businesses are subject to stricter regulations and taxes, which sharing economy services often bypass. This creates an uneven playing field. While competition can drive innovation, the disparity in regulatory burdens makes it difficult for traditional businesses to thrive. Therefore, the rise of the sharing economy may be more detrimental than beneficial to traditional businesses in the long run.

(Word count - 126 words)

Rater’s Comment

This response deserves a high score because it effectively addresses the prompt by presenting a clear and well-supported argument. The student acknowledges Thomas's viewpoint, adding depth to the discussion by highlighting the regulatory disparities between traditional businesses and sharing economy services. The response is well-organized, beginning with a clear stance and following up with specific examples and reasoning. The mention of job losses and local economic impacts provides concrete evidence to support the argument. Additionally, the language is formal and appropriate for an academic setting, with no major grammatical errors. Overall, the response is coherent, logical, and contributes meaningfully to the discussion.

Now, it's time for you to also share your response in the comments.

Our TOEFL experts will guide you with your preparation by providing valuable feedback to help you achieve your target score! 

Additional Reads:

• Teamwork - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Questions with Answer Key
• Should High School Education Be Extended to Five Years - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test
• Domesticated Mammals - Speaking Practice Test with Answer Key
• Wearing Masks During Pandemic - TOEFL Speaking Independent Practice Questions with Answer Key
• The Role of Space Exploration in Advancing Science - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test