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
2026-05-18: Academic DiscussionNo. 1
Is World Cup expansion motivated by commercial interestsThe professor is teaching a class on sports management and 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’ll discuss the expansion of major international sporting events. The FIFA World Cup has gradually expanded from 16 teams in earlier decades to 48 ...
Keywords: sport event; economy
Type: classroom 2026-05-17: Academic DiscussionNo. 2
Does some governments accept illegal economic activityThe professor is teaching a class on public policy and international crime. 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’ll discuss the relationship between organized crime and government responsibility. In recent years, some regions around the world have been ...
Keywords: crime; government
Type: classroom 2026-05-16: Academic DiscussionNo. 3
Are new technologies changing the warfareThe professor is teaching a class on military technology and international security. 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’ll discuss how emerging military technologies are changing warfare. New weapons such as drones, autonomous systems, and robotic combat ...
Keywords: war; technology
Type: classroom 2026-05-16: Academic DiscussionNo. 4
Should US hold a military parade for 250th anniversaryThe professor is teaching a class on political culture and national identity. 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’ll discuss military parades and national celebrations. The United States will soon celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Some ...
Keywords: anniversary; culture
Type: classroom 2026-04-23: Academic DiscussionNo. 5
Should influencers face accountability for misinformationThe professor is teaching a class on media ethics and digital communication. 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’ll discuss misinformation and the responsibility of online influencers. Influencers on social media platforms can reach millions of people and ...
Keywords: misinformation; influencer
Type: classroom 2026-04-12: Academic DiscussionNo. 6
Is AI the main cause of higher youth unemploymentThe professor is teaching a class on economics and labor markets. 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’ll discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. In recent years, AI applications have increasingly been used to perform tasks that were ...
Keywords: ai; employment
Type: classroom 2026-04-11: Academic DiscussionNo. 7
Should governments allow AI to handle medical casesThe professor is teaching a class on health policy and 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’ll discuss the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Recent research suggests that AI diagnostic systems can identify certain illnesses more ...
Keywords: ai; health
Type: classroom 2026-04-10: Academic DiscussionNo. 8
Will AI permanently reduce job opportunitiesThe professor is teaching a class on technology and employment. 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’ll discuss how artificial intelligence may affect employment in the future. Some experts predict that AI systems and robots will eventually perform certain ...
Keywords: ai; employment
Type: classroom 2026-04-09: Academic DiscussionNo. 9
Replace employees after using their skill to train AIThe professor is teaching a class on business ethics and labor relations. 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’ll discuss the ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence in the workplace. Some companies are using employees’ knowledge, work records, ...
Keywords: company; employee
Type: classroom 2026-04-07: Academic DiscussionNo. 10
AI and robots negatively affect consumer marketsThe professor is teaching a class on economics and business strategy. 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’ll discuss the economic effects of automation and artificial intelligence. Many companies are increasing their investment in AI systems and robots ...
Keywords: ai; economy
Type: classroom 2026-04-06: Academic DiscussionNo. 11
High oil prices help the development of clean energyThe professor is teaching a class on environmental 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’ll discuss the relationship between energy prices and clean energy development. Some economists argue that high oil prices encourage governments, companies, ...
Keywords: energy; economy
Type: classroom 2026-04-05: Academic DiscussionNo. 12
Should nuclear energy be treated as a clean energyThe professor is teaching a class on environmental policy and energy development. 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’ll discuss the role of nuclear energy in addressing climate change. Supporters of nuclear power argue that it produces electricity with ...
Keywords: energy; nuclear
Type: classroom 2026-04-05: Academic DiscussionNo. 13
Are wind and solar power genuinely clean energy sourcesThe professor is teaching a class on environmental science and energy 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:Today, we’ll discuss whether renewable energy sources are completely environmentally friendly. Wind and solar power are often described as clean energy ...
Keywords: energy; pollution
Type: classroom 2026-04-04: Academic DiscussionNo. 14
Use environmental ethics to limit energy developmentThe professor is teaching a class on environmental ethics and energy 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:Today, we’ll discuss the relationship between environmental ethics and energy development. Some activists oppose major energy sources such as fossil ...
Keywords: ethics; energy
Type: classroom 2026-04-03: Academic DiscussionNo. 15
Is hydropower a harmful energy source in the long termThe professor is teaching a class on environmental engineering and energy 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:Today, we’ll discuss the long-term environmental impact of hydropower. Hydroelectric dams are often considered a source of renewable energy because ...
Keywords: energy; environment
Type: classroom 2026-04-02: Academic DiscussionNo. 16
Should others oppose U.S. return to the moonThe professor is teaching a class on international relations. 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’ll discuss international competition in space exploration. The United States has announced plans to return humans to the moon after more than half a century. ...
Keywords: space; technology
Type: classroom 2026-04-01: Academic DiscussionNo. 17
Should governments restrict space-based servicesThe professor is teaching a class on technology 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:Today, we’ll discuss the growing role of private companies in space technology. In recent years, commercial space companies have rapidly expanded services such as satellite ...
Keywords: space; government
Type: classroom 2026-03-31: Academic DiscussionNo. 18
Should space exploration become more profit-orientedThe professor is teaching a class on economic history and space 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:Today, we’ll compare historical exploration with modern space exploration. In the past, many geographical discoveries on Earth were motivated by economic ...
Keywords: space; business
Type: classroom 2026-03-30: Academic DiscussionNo. 19
Should we contact extraterrestrial civilizationsThe professor is teaching a class on astronomy and 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:Today, we’ll discuss the search for extraterrestrial civilizations. For decades, scientists have used telescopes and radio signals to search for intelligent life beyond ...
Keywords: space; ufo
Type: classroom 2026-03-29: Academic DiscussionNo. 20
Would extraterrestrials be more civilized than usThe professor is teaching a class on philosophy and space 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:Today, we’ll discuss a popular idea related to extraterrestrial life. Some people believe that if extraterrestrials have successfully traveled to Earth, they must ...
Keywords: ufo; civilization
Type: classroom 2. More Sample Questions
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