What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

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University Spending - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Answers

University Spending - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Sample Answers

Prity Mallick

5 min read

Updated On August 08, 2024

The TOEFL iBT^® writing test assesses our ability to write academically and requires you to integrate the knowledge into your work effectively and also logically present your ideas. The Writing Section consists of the two tests, such as Integrated Writing and Academic Discussion.

In the Academic Discussion, a professor would give a lecture on a certain topic after which you'll need to evaluate the information and engage in a discussion. Following that, you'll have to express your opinions and present relevant evidence to support the reasons and ideas mentioned.

Practicing on examinations designed for the Academic Discussion format is the most effective way to prepare for this section of the exam. Let's begin your study with our TOEFL Academic Discussion sample exam with a "University Spending" theme.

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.

Professor: Since nowadays, funding for education is a huge topic of discussion, we'll be talking about how institutions make the most of their limited resources. In the discussion board, you'll have to react to the following question: Is it appropriate for universities to sponsor athletic programs and sports, or should they prioritise investing in academic facilities like libraries with the same amount of money?

Rachel: I believe that educational institutions should put more emphasis on funding libraries as their top priority. Libraries allow students to access materials and knowledge that they might not have otherwise, making them essential for academics. Investing in libraries could assist the institution by attracting and retaining the best instructors. On the contrary, there is only a small percentage of people find sports to be appealing.

Mike: Although libraries have an important role to play, I believe that athletic departments should be given the utmost emphasis at universities. Even if all that happens is that people come to games and support their favourite players, sports can foster a sense of community among students. Sports, meanwhile, help athletes develop their leadership and teamwork abilities. Successful athletic departments can also bring in money and improve the university's standing.

Response Time: 10 minutes

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

Sample Response for the Academic Discussion Writing Task on University Spending

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 that universities should have invest on both athletic programs and libraries. I believe that both are needed for a good educational experience. Libraries provide resources to research and athletic programs helps in building the school spirit as a community because of teamwork. By playing sports, students can also generate revenue and sponsorships for the university. Therefore, instead of focussing and prioritising on one, universities should aim to alocate funds in both academic and athletic programs. In this way, there would be a vibrant and engaging environment in the campus for all students. (94 words)

Rater’s Comment

This response is a mid-level answer as it represents an opinion but with many mistakes in answering the prompt. Even though it provides a balanced viewpoint on investing between libraries and athletics programs. The arguments made are supported with points but lacks depth and elaboration. There could be specific examples and evidences to substantiate further to the claim. Additionally, there are a few mistakes in spellings and could have used a more varied sentence structure. Overall, the opinion with the ideas is not coherent and could have been elaborated more while writing atleast 100 words as per the instructions.

Score 5 Response

In my opinion, universities must allocate more funds on academic facilities. While Rachel emphasised on the vital role that libraries play in fostering academic excellence by providing the required essential resources for students and faculty. This is predominantly because such facilities help schools recruit the best possible students as well as experienced faculties, which improves their academic environment as a whole. Everyone enjoys classes a lot when their classmates are intelligent and devoted to their studies, so this seems like an obvious choice to make. However, Mike also makes a point about the benefits of athletic programs in promoting community, leadership, and school spirit. For example, organising a campus festival is a more cost-effective way to help students bond than funding an entire football team. (125 words)

Rater’s Comment

This response acknowledges the importance of both libraries and athletic programs, providing clear and well-supported reasons for why universities should invest in both. It has been elaborated with relevant examples to justify the reasons presented, which is clear, concise, and well-organized. The sentences are varied and provide coherent information logically arranged, making it a high-level answer.

Strategies for Taking the Academic Discussion Writing Task

The TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Task may seem difficult while developing ideas around the discussion, but with the essential strategies, you can attempt this task effectively and ace your academic writing section.

Develop a detailed understanding of the question which is necessary to ideate the main idea for that specific question. Not only that but also consider the guidelines, such as providing a response that addresses all relevant angles.
Dissecting the question into its various parts, generating the key arguments will help organising the response and successfully manage each component at the same time.
Always plan and come up with ideas while using examples to support the reasons in order to show varied perspectives.
Making an outline ensures that the response is cohesive and the concepts are well-organized.
Giving evidence and points of view would illustrate your grasp of the subject while justifying the opinion.
Avoid using any slang or informal language and use professional language as well as academic terminologies, while focusing on grammar and punctuation.

Finally, it's time for you to shine! Attempt the practice question and share your response in the comments!

Our TOEFL experts are more than willing to provide valuable feedback which would help you achieve your target score! Let's improve your writing skills together!