Academic Discussion Practice Prompts

More practice, across more topic areas, builds the flexibility needed to engage confidently with whatever discussion appears on test day. Below are 10 more original Academic Discussion prompts spanning science, culture, and work, each with two contrasting classmate views to respond to directly.

In this guide

1. Science and environment prompts
2. Culture and media prompts
3. Work and career prompts
4. A rotation strategy for these prompts
5. Try this yourself
6. Frequently asked questions

Science and environment prompts

1. Should universities require a science course for all majors, including humanities? Classmate A values scientific literacy for everyone; Classmate B thinks it takes time from major-specific study.

2. Should campuses ban single-use plastics entirely? Classmate A supports it for environmental impact; Classmate B worries about cost and convenience for students.

3. Should universities invest more in solar energy for campus buildings? Classmate A sees long-term savings and sustainability; Classmate B worries about upfront cost diverting funds from academics.

Culture and media prompts

4. Should social media use be restricted during study hours in dorms? Classmate A thinks it would improve focus; Classmate B sees it as an overreach into personal choice.

5. Should universities require a course in media literacy? Classmate A sees it as essential given misinformation online; Classmate B thinks it duplicates skills taught elsewhere.

6. Should streaming platforms be used as required course material more often? Classmate A likes the accessibility; Classmate B worries about production quality versus traditional textbooks.

Work and career prompts

7. Should universities require a co-op or internship for every degree? Classmate A values real-world experience; Classmate B worries it delays graduation for some students.

8. Should career services be a mandatory part of freshman orientation? Classmate A thinks early planning helps; Classmate B thinks students aren't ready to think about careers that early.

9. Should universities partner more closely with local businesses for student jobs? Classmate A values convenient, relevant work experience; Classmate B worries about limiting exposure to broader options.

10. Should students be required to complete a resume-writing workshop before graduation? Classmate A sees it as a practical necessity; Classmate B thinks it should remain optional and student-driven.

A rotation strategy for these prompts

Rather than working through these prompts in order, pick one from each category in a single practice session to build comfort switching between unrelated discussion topics quickly — a skill that matters since the actual test topic is unpredictable. After each attempt, note whether your response engaged with a specific classmate's point or stayed generic, since that's the single biggest lever for improving your score across any topic.

Combining these prompts with earlier practice sets

If you've already worked through the first set of practice prompts, mix a few of these newer science, culture, and work topics into your rotation rather than treating them as a separate, later stage. Alternating between familiar and unfamiliar topic areas within the same practice week helps confirm that your process — stating a position, engaging with a classmate, and elaborating with a reason — has become a repeatable habit rather than something that only works for topics you've already seen.

What to do after a weak attempt

If a practice response feels weak, resist the urge to immediately rewrite it from scratch. Instead, identify which single element was missing — a specific reference to a classmate, a concrete reason, or a logical connection between sentences — and revise only that part. This targeted approach builds the specific skill that was weak, rather than practicing the same balance of strengths and gaps repeatedly.

Try this yourself

Pick three prompts above and write all three in one sitting, timed at 10 minutes each. Then check your responses with the Academic Discussion checker to compare contribution and elaboration across different topic areas.

Frequently asked questions

How do these prompts differ from the ones in the first practice set?

These cover different topic areas (science, culture, work) so you build comfort responding across a wider range of discussion types, rather than only practicing one familiar subject area repeatedly.

Should I always agree with one classmate rather than proposing a new view?

No — agreeing with one classmate, disagreeing with both, or proposing a middle-ground compromise are all valid approaches. What matters is that your position is specific and well-elaborated, not which approach you choose.

What if I don't have a strong personal opinion on a topic?

Pick whichever side you can elaborate most concretely, even if it's not your strongest personal view — the task rewards clear reasoning, not a particular stance.

See more prompts in Academic Discussion topic ideas, or review Contribution vs Elaboration before your next attempt.