This page is an online resource to help students prepare for TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion, a short academic essay in which they share their opinion in an online discussion with a professor and other students.
These writing questions, all with sample answers, come from test-takers and other public resources. It's updated monthly.
1. Recent Academic Discussion Questions
2025-04-12: Academic DiscussionNo. 1
Should cities institute congestion pricingThe professor is teaching a class on pubic policy. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next, we'll discuss methods to reduce traffic in urban areas. One popular approach in recent years has been congestion pricing. This involves charging drivers a fee to enter high ...
Keywords: traffic
Type: classroom 2025-04-11: Academic DiscussionNo. 2
Should government funding for major sports eventsThe professor is teaching a class on pubic policy. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Globally, governments often allocate substantial taxpayer funds to construct stadiums and infrastructure for international sporting events. Supporters claim these events can ...
Keywords: government; sports event
Type: classroom 2025-04-10: Academic DiscussionNo. 3
Should we push for a totally cashless societyThe professor is teaching a class on technology. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Today, we're discussing the possibility of a "cashless" economy where we can pay for goods and services only by card, phone, or QR code, and paper money is no longer used. ...
Keywords: economy
Type: classroom 2025-04-09: Academic DiscussionNo. 4
Role of standardized tests in college admissionsJoin the discussion below. You may agree or disagree with a student, offer a different perspective, or build on their ideas.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Tomorrow, we'll discuss the role of standardized tests in college admissions. Some argue that requiring test scores makes it easier to select students from ...
Keywords: university admission; student
Type: classroom 2025-04-07: Academic DiscussionNo. 5
Impact of artificial intelligence tools on student learningThe professor is teaching a class on technology. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Over the next few weeks, we're going to explore the many ways artificial intelligence is changing higher education. Before tomorrow's class, I want you to consider the following ...
Keywords: ai; student
Type: classroom 2025-04-06: Academic DiscussionNo. 6
Is it acceptable for doctors to form friendships with their patientsThe professor is teaching a class on ethics. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next week, we’ll begin exploring ethical issues in the medical field. There has been a lot of discussion recently about personal relationships between physicians and their patients. ...
Keywords: health; ethics
Type: classroom 2025-04-05: Academic DiscussionNo. 7
Should scientists bring back extinct speciesThe professor is teaching a class on scientific ethics. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next, we’ll discuss the possibility of reviving extinct species. As genetic engineering advances, it seems increasingly likely that, at some point in the future, species ...
Keywords: gene
Type: classroom 2025-04-05: Academic DiscussionNo. 8
Do you oppose or support autonomous public transit systemsThe professor is teaching a class on science. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: In our upcoming classes, we will take an in-depth look at autonomous public transit systems. These systems use technology to operate vehicles without human drivers, potentially ...
Keywords: public transit
Type: classroom 2025-04-04: Academic DiscussionNo. 9
Will AI ultimately benefit or harm workersThe professor is teaching a class on science. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next, we’ll discuss the future of AI and its impact on the workforce. As industries adopt more advanced technologies, concerns about job displacement and the transformation of work ...
Keywords: ai
Type: classroom 2025-04-03: Academic DiscussionNo. 10
The most effective way to assess whether a website can be trustedThe professor is teaching a class on research techniques. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next week, we’re going to discuss the best way to determine whether a website or article is reliable. There are many factors to consider to ensure that your essays are ...
Keywords: internet
Type: classroom 2025-04-02: Academic DiscussionNo. 11
Should the government impose price controls on essential goodsThe professor is teaching a class on economics. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Today, we’re going to discuss whether the government should impose price controls on essential goods, such as housing, food, and medicine. On the one hand, price controls can make ...
Keywords: economics
Type: classroom 2025-04-01: Academic DiscussionNo. 12
Is space colonization is a feasible solution for humanity futureThe professor is teaching a class on science. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: This week, we’ll discuss the intriguing concept of space colonization. As technology advances and Earth faces growing environmental and resource challenges, some scientists propose ...
Keywords: space explore
Type: classroom 2025-03-31: Academic DiscussionNo. 13
A position with a large company or an opportunity to start own businessYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: As I briefly mentioned in class last week, starting a small business involves both risks and rewards. So let’s explore this topic a little more. Before we meet again next week, I ...
Keywords: job; carrer
Type: classroom 2025-03-30: Academic DiscussionNo. 14
Can influencers can sway consumer by endorsing products or servicesYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Hello, class! Next week, we will discuss the impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube, we’ve seen ...
Keywords: influencer; social media
Type: classroom 2025-03-29: Academic DiscussionNo. 15
Is a lot of discussion or classes better for students to take classesYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: In next week’s class, we’ll talk about different approaches to education. Not everyone agrees on the best way for young people to gain knowledge and learn new skills. Let’s prepare by ...
Keywords: study; classroom
Type: classroom 2025-03-28: Academic DiscussionNo. 16
The smartphones have a positive impact or a negative oneYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Lately, we’ve talked a lot about the impact of technology on our lives. With the prevalence of smartphones and other devices, we’re more connected than ever, but some people are ...
Keywords: mobile
Type: classroom 2025-03-27: Academic DiscussionNo. 17
The most significant impact of online classes: pros and consYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Over the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about recent trends in education. Specifically, we’ll discuss how many universities have started allowing students to take classes from ...
Keywords: remote work
Type: classroom 2025-03-26: Academic DiscussionNo. 18
Is remote work beneficial, or is it a bad ideaYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Today, we’re going to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of remote work. Many companies have implemented remote work policies in recent years, and many others are considering ...
Keywords: remote work
Type: classroom 2025-03-25: Academic DiscussionNo. 19
what is the best way for a company to have a positive impact on societyYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: Next week, we’re going to spend a lot of time in class discussing the positive and negative ways companies affect the world around us. Before we start talking about that in class, I ...
Keywords: company
Type: classroom 2025-03-24: Academic DiscussionNo. 20
What strategy should governments use to improve residents’ quality of lifeYour professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor's question.
In your response, you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Contribute to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor: As you know, governments have a responsibility to improve residents’ lives. In today’s class, we’re going to discuss the best way for governments to do that. What strategy do you ...
Keywords: government
Type: classroom 2. More Sample Questions
This page only shows the latest 20 questions; please search early questions there: