Now let’s take a look at how an Academic Discussion looks like:

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Writing | Question 1 of 1

Your professor is teaching a class on Human resources management. Write a post responding to the professor's question.

• Express and support your opinion
• Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor Rivera:

In today’s session, we will explore how organizations manage their workforce. While hiring new staff to fill vacancies is crucial, many experts argue that keeping current employees is just as important. In your view, what strategies should a company use to motivate employees to remain with the organization rather than look for work elsewhere?

Sam:

I believe the most effective way to retain employees is to ensure the workplace is enjoyable and welcoming. Crowded offices or chaotic production areas are not environments where I would want to spend most of my day. Creating a comfortable and organized workspace can make a big difference.

Lila:

I agree with Sam, but I also think it’s essential that employees feel they can grow in their roles. Companies should provide training and development opportunities so staff can advance within the organization. Employees need to feel that they have meaningful goals and chances for career growth.

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Now let’s go through each part of this section together:

 Class Name and Professor’s Question

First comes the class name: Human Resources Management.
Then the question appears:

“Your professor is teaching a class on human resources management. Write a post responding to the professor's question.”

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.

So based on the question, your answer should have the following features:

1. Express and support your opinion
   Don’t just say what you think. Give reasons and examples.
   Weak: “Companies should pay higher salaries.”
   Strong: “According to a Harvard study, companies that offer higher salaries have employees who are more likely to stay. Therefore, by increasing salaries, companies can retain staff better.”
   
   
2. Add something new to the discussion
   Don’t just repeat what the two students said. Share your own ideas.
   
   
3. Use at least 100 words (aim for ~120 words)
   Keep your writing meaningful and avoid repeating yourself.
   Weak: “I think employee salaries should be increased.”
   Strong: “In my opinion, companies should raise employee salaries. Increasing pay motivates employees to stay and improves their job satisfaction.”
   
   

Professor’s Question

The highlighted question is:

“What should companies do to keep employees satisfied and prevent them from leaving?”

Students’ Responses

• Sam: Make work fun and engaging so employees enjoy being at the company five days a week.
  
  
• Lila: Give chances for career growth to help employees stay.
  

Next, we’ll look at two sample answers that get full scores:

1. One uses points from both students and adds extra ideas.
   
   
2. The other presents a strong opinion without mentioning the students.
   
   Both ways work, pick the style that feels easiest for you!

Sample 1:

This is a challenging topic, but I think that providing opportunities for growth and advancement is the best way for a company to encourage its employees to stay. I strongly agree with Lila’s idea that employees need opportunities to improve their skills and advance within the company. I’d add that such opportunities often lead to promotions and higher salaries, which can significantly motivate employees to stay. When employees feel valued and see a clear path for their future, they’re more likely to stay loyal. While Sam raised the relevant point that a pleasant work environment is important, he didn’t mention that even the best physical spaces won’t retain employees if they feel stagnant in their roles. For example, workers in great spaces might still leave for jobs offering better career prospects and financial incentives.

Sample 2:

While I appreciate the points made by both Sam and Lila, I think paying employees higher salaries is the best way for a company to keep its staff. A good salary shows that the company cares about its workers and gives them financial security, which is really important for making them stay. For instance, research conducted by Harvard shows companies offering higher salaries experience greater employee satisfaction and longer tenure. That’s because when workers feel they are being paid fairly, they are less likely to look for other jobs. Therefore, by offering better salaries, companies can earn loyalty and create a more motivated team, which benefits both the employees and the business.

1️⃣ Clearly States Your Opinion
Start by making your opinion very clear and direct. Look at these examples:

• Sample 1: “Providing opportunities for growth and advancement is the best way for a company to encourage its employees to stay.”
  
  
• Sample 2: “Paying employees higher salaries is the best way for a company to keep its staff.”
  
  

2️⃣ Add Something New to the Discussion
Don’t just repeat the students’ ideas. Bring in new thoughts or details.

• Sample 1 agrees with Lila but adds: “I’d add that…” before explaining more.
  
  
• Sample 2 adds extra reasons for raising salaries.

Question: What if I can’t think of new ideas?

Answer: This is normal! With practice, brainstorming gets easier. Nutty English’s MEGA Reasons article has 14 core ideas that can help you think of reasons for almost any question.

3️⃣ Support Your Ideas with Reasons and Examples
Adding new points is good, but explain them clearly. Ten unsupported points are not helpful.

Weak: “Companies should allow remote work to save employees’ time. This helps retain them.”
Better: Explain how remote work saves time and why that helps employees stay.

Giving clear and logical reasons for your ideas is called Organization & Development. ETS raters pay close attention to this when they score Task 2 of the writing section.

4️⃣ Stay On-Topic and Answer the Question
Don’t go off-topic!

Off-topic example:

• “Retaining employees is important because hiring new staff is costly.”
  This explains why it’s important, but not how to keep employees. The question has asked you to explain “how” to keep employees. Always read the question carefully to not give off-topic answers.

5️⃣ Use Strong Grammar and Punctuation
Use varied sentences and correct punctuation. Nutty English Feedback Service can suggest ways to improve grammar.

6️⃣ Use Varied Vocabulary
Try to use different words instead of repeating the same ones. Don’t stress about fancy words—balance is best.

🐿️ Now It’s Your Turn!

Writing is an active skill, reading alone is not enough.

STOP reading, START writing.

After you write:

• Click “Receive Feedback”
  
  
• Get a score close to ETS standards
  
  
• See your strengths and weaknesses
  
  
• Get tips to improve your next practice

Here are some templates for responding to the TOEFL Writing Task 3.

In this task, you have two ways to write your answer:

1. Your own opinion only: You can write your response without mentioning the other two students at all. Just share your ideas clearly and support them.
   
   
2. Include the students’ ideas: You can also use what the other students said and add your own thoughts. For example, agree with one and explain why, or give another example to make your point stronger.
   

Template 1: For those who want to present their own opinion independently

If you want to provide a response that is completely different from the other two students and don’t plan to reference their points, you can use this template:

While I appreciate the points mentioned by both STUDENT 1 and STUDENT 2, I think that… [elaborate on your idea for a few sentences]

See how this answer is written, using this template:

While I appreciate the points made by both Sam and Lila, I think paying employees higher salaries is the best way for a company to keep its staff. A good salary shows that the company cares about its workers and gives them financial security, which is really important for making them stay. For instance, research conducted by Harvard shows companies offering higher salaries experience greater employee satisfaction and longer tenure. That’s because when workers feel they are being paid fairly, they are less likely to look for other jobs. Therefore, by offering better salaries, companies can earn loyalty and create a more motivated team, which benefits both the employees and the business.

Template 2: For those who want to incorporate the other students’ ideas

If you want to reference the opinions of the other two students, you can use one of the following templates:

Template 1

This is a challenging topic, but I think that [respond directly to the question]. I strongly agree with [student]’s idea that [mention one point made by the student]. I’d add that [expand on the point with your own idea].

While [other student] raised the relevant point that [mention one point made by the other student], he/she didn’t mention that [challenge that point]. For example, [elaborate on your challenge with your own ideas].

Template 2

In my opinion, [respond directly to the question]

My personal belief is that [specific reason]. For example, [give your example]

I understand [student]’s concern over [mention one point made by the student], but I believe he/she misses another critical point. I totally agree with [other student]’s point about [mention one point made by the other student], and I would like to add [expand on the point with your own idea].

Template 3

If I were forced to choose, I would definitely say [respond directly to the question]

My personal belief is that [specific reason]. I have to admit that my opinion on this matter has been profoundly influenced by my own personal experience. For example, [give your example]

I understand [student]’s concern over [mention one point made by the student], but I believe he/she misses another critical point. I totally agree with [other student]’s point about [mention one point made by the other student], and I would like to add [expand on the point with your own idea].

As you can see, multiple templates are offered for this approach. Which one should you use? The answer is simple: use whichever one feels most natural to you! Remember, your score for Task 3 mainly depends on how well you develop your ideas, not on which template you use.

In Task 2 (Academic Discussion), there are three main question types:

1. Preference Questions
   You pick between two options.
   Example: “Should attending class be mandatory or optional?”
   
   
2. Yes/No Questions
   Simple yes/no answers.
   Example: “Do celebrities have a big impact on society?”
   
   
3. Open-Ended Questions
   You can give any answer you like.
   Example: “What should companies do to keep their employees?”

Task 3 can be about anything, but some topics show up often:

• Sociology: “How does social media affect people’s lives?”
  
  
• Psychology: “Best ways to manage stress?”
  
  
• Politics: “Would you prioritize education or environment?”
  
  
• Economics: “Should governments control prices?”

You have 10 minutes to: read the question, read student answers, and write about 120 words. Tight, right? 🐿️ Don’t worry! Here’s a plan:

Step 1: Focus on important parts

• Yellow: class name
  
  
• Green: professor’s main question
  
  
• Red: instructions you already know
  
  
• Unhighlighted: skim quickly
  
  

Step 2: Timeline

• 0–2 min: Read highlights + scan extra
  
  
• 2–9 min: Write your answer
  
  
• 9–10 min: Quick proofreading
  

Your professor is leading a $yellow class on human resources management. $yellow Write a post responding to the professor’s question.

$red In your response, you should:

• Share and support your opinion.
  
  
• Add something new to the discussion using your own words.
  
  

An effective response should be at least 100 words. $red

Professor Rivera:
In today’s session, we will explore how organizations manage their workforce. While hiring new staff to fill vacancies is crucial, many experts argue that keeping current employees is just as important. $green In your view, what strategies should a company use to motivate employees to remain with the organization rather than look for work elsewhere? $green

Sam:
I believe the most effective way to retain employees is to ensure the workplace is enjoyable and welcoming. Crowded offices or chaotic production areas are not environments where I would want to spend most of my day. Creating a comfortable and organized workspace can make a big difference.

Lila:
I agree with Sam, but I also think it’s essential that employees feel they can grow in their roles. Companies should provide training and development opportunities so staff can advance within the organization. Employees need to feel that they have meaningful goals and chances for career growth.

1. Study this guide carefully
   Nutty English articles are researched from all the reliable sources. They are complete and free, so you get all the key points.
   
   
2. Practice writing often
   Reading isn’t enough, you must write. Workflow:
   
   
3. Practice with Academic Discussion.
   
   
4. Get feedback from Nutty English correction service
   
   
5. Review feedback, fix mistakes, then start next task

Common Questions

Q: Write 50 essays without review or 10 essays with feedback?
A: Go for quality—analyze each essay carefully.

Q: Review all at once or after each essay?
A: Review immediately to fix mistakes in the next essay.

Q: How many essays to master it?
A: Advanced: 3–4; Intermediate: ~40. Always include correcting mistakes and using better words.

Q: Timed or untimed?
A: Start untimed to focus on quality, then try timed exercises.

 Key Writing Tips

1. Proofread at the end! Use the last minute to fix spelling, punctuation, and capital letters—every mistake counts more in Task 3 because it’s shorter.
2. Always support your ideas clearly—no information gaps
   
   
3. Grammar is very important in Task 3
   
   
4. Avoid repeating words—use varied vocabulary
   
   
5. Use different sentence structures: simple, compound, complex
   
   
6. Paraphrase students’ opinions and add your own
   
   
7. Stick to Simple Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect
   

If you are practicing TOEFL® Writing at home, these little squirrel checklists can help you review your own work more carefully! 🐿️📚 After finishing an Academic Discussion task, use the lists below to spot mistakes, find weak areas, and slowly strengthen your writing skills one acorn at a time. 🌰

Academic Discussion Self-Check 🎓🐿️

After finishing your task, use these squirrel-approved questions to review your work carefully:

1. ✅ ❌ Did I stay focused on the topic and answer the discussion question clearly?
2. ✅ ❌ Did I write at least 120 words?
3. ✅ ❌ Did I include my own opinion, a supporting reason, and a useful example connected to the discussion?
4. ✅ ❌ Did I keep the response short enough, with no more than 12 sentences?
5. ✅ ❌ Did I use transition words or phrases to help my ideas flow naturally?
6. ✅ ❌ Did I include at least two sentences with more than one clause?
7. ✅ ❌ Did I use both types of conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating?
8. ✅ ❌ Did I use some higher-level vocabulary or expressions to improve the quality of my writing?
9. ✅ ❌ Did I avoid too many small mistakes in spelling, typing, or formatting?
10. ✅ ❌ After using a grammar checker, did I reduce grammar mistakes to fewer than two?

In TOEFL, longer, clear sentences show your English skills and can help you get a higher score. You can make longer sentences in two main ways:

1️⃣ Subordinating conjunctions (fancy connectors) like while, when, although, since
These help you join ideas in one sentence. Using them makes your writing more advanced.

Example:
While I agree with David that online courses are flexible, I think he forgets that face-to-face learning is also important.

2️⃣ Coordinating conjunctions (linking words) like so, but, yet, and
These connect ideas and make sentences smooth.

Example:
Students can watch lectures online, but they often find it hard to communicate with classmates.

In the text below, subordinating conjunctions are highlighted in red, and coordinating conjunctions are highlighted in yellow.

$red While $red I agree with David that online courses provide flexibility, I believe he is overlooking the importance of face-to-face interaction. Students can easily access lectures and resources online, $yellow but $yellow they often struggle to build strong communication skills. $red Since $red education is not only about knowledge but also about collaboration, in-person classes can be more effective. Moreover, professors can give immediate feedback, $yellow and $yellow classmates can exchange ideas more naturally. Online learning can be convenient, $yellow yet $yellow it sometimes reduces motivation because students may feel isolated. $red Although $red technology has improved the quality of virtual classrooms, I still think that combining both online and traditional learning offers the best results. This approach balances flexibility and personal engagement, which benefits all students.

Congrats! You finished the TOEFL Academic Discussion writing guide!

Next steps:

• Practice with good resources
  
  
• Get feedback on your writing and speaking
  
  
• Review these tips whenever you forget something
  
  

Good luck, and happy writing! 🐿️✨