TOEFL 2026 practiceWrite for an Academic Discussion
Read a class discussion and add your own post. 71 prompts in the bank.
Choose a prompt
1 free today- Prompt 1ProMandatory Volunteering
- Prompt 2ProRemote Learning
- Prompt 3ProSocial Media Age Limits
- Prompt 4ProAI in Education
- Prompt 5ProGap Year Benefits
- Prompt 6ProStandardized Testing
- Prompt 7ProFour-Day Work Week
- Prompt 8ProSpace Exploration Funding
- Prompt 9ProFast Fashion Impact
- Prompt 10ProUniversal Basic Income
- Prompt 11ProHomework Necessity
- Prompt 12ProPlastic Bag Bans
- Prompt 13ProVoting Age
- Prompt 14ProGig Economy Regulations
- Prompt 15ProGroup Projects
TOEFL Academic Discussion Practice
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.
Strategy tips
- 1Take a side in your first sentence and never hedge; the scorer rewards a defended position, not a balanced survey of both classmates.
- 2Name one classmate, then push past their point with a new reason; agreeing without adding anything reads as filler.
- 3Skip memorized template openers; the ETS engine is tuned to detect canned phrasing and marks it down.
- 4Develop one reason with a concrete example instead of listing two thin ones; depth outscores coverage on this task.
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.