# TOEFL Academic Discussion: Sample Answers (Band 5–6)

Two full model responses, with the reasoning behind why each one scores well.

## The task, quickly

You're shown a professor's discussion question and two classmates' short replies, then given about 10 minutes to write your own contribution — typically at least 100 words. The single biggest scoring trap is summarizing what the other students already said instead of adding something new.

## Scoring criteria

Graded on **development** (a real, well-supported idea — not just an opinion), **organization** (coherent structure with clear transitions), and **language use** (grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety).

## Example 1

**Professor:** "Some people believe universities should make all courses available online, while others think in-person classes are essential for learning. What is your opinion?"

**Maria:** "I think online courses are better because they're flexible — students can learn anytime, from anywhere."

**Tom:** "I disagree. In-person classes let you build real relationships with classmates and professors, and it's easier to stay focused without home distractions."

**Band 5–6 model response:** "I agree with Tom that in-person classes offer real advantages, but I think the best solution is a hybrid model rather than choosing one format over the other. Lecture-based courses that mainly involve listening and note-taking could be offered online, since students can pause and rewatch difficult sections — something Maria's point about flexibility supports well. Discussion-based or lab courses, though, benefit enormously from being in person, because they depend on spontaneous interaction that's hard to replicate on a screen. Splitting course types this way would keep the accessibility Maria values while preserving the collaborative environment Tom prefers."

*Why this scores well:* it directly engages both classmates by name instead of ignoring them, proposes a genuinely new position (a hybrid split by course type) rather than just picking a side, and uses clear transitions ("though," "this way") to organize the argument.

## Example 2

**Professor:** "Should students be required to complete an internship before graduating?"

**Wei:** "Yes — required internships give students practical experience that classroom learning can't provide."

**Sara:** "I disagree. Mandatory internships are unfair to students who can't afford to work unpaid for months."

**Band 5–6 model response:** "I see Sara's point about unpaid internships creating financial barriers, but I don't think the solution is to remove the requirement — it's to fix how it's structured. Universities could partner with local businesses to guarantee paid placements, or allow part-time internships spread across a semester so students can keep other jobs. This way, students still gain the hands-on experience Wei describes, which employers increasingly expect, without excluding those who need income. Removing the requirement entirely would solve Sara's problem but create a new one: students graduating with strong grades but no practical skills, which is exactly the gap internships are meant to close."

*Why this scores well:* it acknowledges the real weakness in Sara's argument instead of dismissing it, proposes concrete fixes (paid placements, part-time spread), and closes by explaining the tradeoff of the opposing view rather than just restating its own opinion.

## What both examples have in common

- They name the classmates and respond to specific claims — not generic paraphrasing.

- They land on a position that's more nuanced than "I agree" or "I disagree."

- They support the position with one concrete mechanism (a course split, a paid-placement structure) instead of staying abstract.

- Both land right around 100–120 words — enough to develop the idea, short enough to finish inside the 10-minute limit.

## Practice under the real 10-minute clock

Reading model answers shows you the shape of a strong response. Building the speed to write one from scratch in 10 minutes takes reps — our free lane runs the same timer and prompt format as the real 2026 exam, with instant AI feedback against this same rubric.