Can You Disagree with Everyone in TOEFL Academic Discussion?

Yes. There's no requirement to agree with either classmate's post in TOEFL's Write for an Academic Discussion task — the scoring rubric rewards a clear, well-supported position, not agreement with what's already been said. Disagreeing with both posts is a completely valid approach, as long as you clearly state and support your own view.

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How to Disagree Without Sounding Dismissive

Briefly acknowledge what the other students said before presenting your own view — this shows genuine engagement with the discussion rather than ignoring it, which is part of what's being evaluated. A pattern like "While [classmate]'s point about X is reasonable, I'd actually argue..." engages directly with the existing posts while still clearly staking out your own position.

Disagreeing Still Needs Real Support

Disagreement alone isn't enough — the same rubric applies regardless of whether you agree or disagree: a clear position, one well-developed specific reason, and ideally a brief acknowledgment of the strongest counterpoint. A response that just says "I disagree" without developing why scores no better than a vague agreement would.

Frequently Asked Questions

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