TOEFL Academic Discussion Practice
About this task
Academic Discussion is the last of the three TOEFL 2026 Writing tasks. You read a professor's question and two classmates' replies, then write your own post in ten minutes, aiming for about 100 to 130 words that take a clear position and build on what a classmate already said. ETS scores every response with an automated engine on a 0-to-5 scale that rewards a defended position and genuine engagement with the other students, not a templated five-sentence essay. This practice mode gives you a new discussion prompt, the same 10-minute clock, and a running word count. After you submit, you get a 0-to-5 score plus an inline markup of your response and feedback on how well you engaged the classmates, developed your reasoning and handled grammar and mechanics.
- Take a side in your first sentence and never hedge; the scorer rewards a defended position, not a balanced survey of both classmates.
- Name one classmate, then push past their point with a new reason; agreeing without adding anything reads as filler.
- Skip memorized template openers; the ETS engine is tuned to detect canned phrasing and marks it down.
- Develop one reason with a concrete example instead of listing two thin ones; depth outscores coverage on this task.
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Write for an Academic Discussion
TOEFL Writing Task - 10 minutes
Time Remaining
In your response, you should do the following:
- Express and support your opinion
- Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a program where the government provides all citizens with a regular, unconditional sum of money regardless of employment status. Supporters argue it could reduce poverty and provide security in an era of automation, while critics worry about costs and potential work disincentives. What do you think? Should governments implement a universal basic income program?
I support UBI because automation is eliminating many jobs, and this trend will only accelerate. UBI would provide a safety net, reduce poverty, and give people freedom to pursue education, caregiving, or entrepreneurship without fear of financial ruin. It recognizes that everyone deserves basic economic security.
I'm opposed to UBI because it's extremely expensive and could reduce motivation to work. Instead of giving everyone money regardless of need, we should invest in targeted programs like job training, education, and healthcare. UBI treats symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of economic inequality.
0 characters | 0 words (minimum 100 recommended)
Start typing to begin. You have 10 minutes to complete your response.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the TOEFL Academic Discussion task?
You get 10 minutes to read the professor's question, read two classmates' posts, plan, and write your own reply. It is the last of three tasks in the 2026 Writing section, after Build a Sentence and Write an Email. The 10-minute timer covers everything, so reading and planning eat into your writing time.
How many words should I write for the TOEFL Academic Discussion?
ETS says a good response is usually at least 100 words, with no maximum. Most tutors put the workable range at 100 to 150 words, with roughly 120 to 130 as a sweet spot. That is enough to state a position, develop one reason with an example, and reference a classmate without running out of time.
Do I have to mention the other students?
You should. Responses that ignore the classmates' posts and read like a standalone mini-essay tend to score 3 or below, even with clean grammar, because the task is a contribution to a discussion. Refer to one student by name and build on or push against their idea.
Can I use a memorized template?
Avoid it. The 2026 writing tasks are scored by the ETS AI engine, which is tuned to detect canned, templated phrasing and lowers the score when it finds it. Learn a flexible structure instead: state your view, engage a classmate, develop one reason with a specific example.
Is the Academic Discussion scored by AI?
Yes. In the 2026 format, ETS scores the writing tasks with its proprietary automated engine, developed and monitored with human raters. Each task gets a 0 to 5 score, and the three combine into your Writing band from 1.0 to 6.0 in half-point steps.