DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST RULES, TIPS AND REQUIREMENTS Collected and edited by Dr. Bahaa Hakam Which test is easier, the Duolingo or IELTS test? Duolingo is considered to be an easier test than IELTS. It focuses on basic language skills such as grammar and vocabulary and does not require a deep understanding of the language. On the other hand, IELTS requires a more in-depth knowledge of the language. What is Duolingo English Test? What are the Test Structures and Question Types: The Duolingo English Test is a modern English proficiency assessment for today’s international students and institutions. The test is available online, on demand. You don’t have to make an appointment or travel to a test center—you can take the test from your home via a computer and webcam. The test is administered using computer adaptive technology, meaning that the question difficulty adapts to each test taker. The test also integrates a video interview and writing sample, which are sent to an institution along with your proficiency score when you send your results. The entire test experience takes just under an hour. Test results are certified within two days, and they can be shared with an unlimited number of institutions. Learn more about the test in our official guide. How do I take the Duolingo English Test? To take the Duolingo English test, you'll need to sign up for an account at https://englishtest.duolingo.com/register. Once signed up, click the "Buy Now" button to purchase the test. You will be able to take the test any time within 21 days of purchasing it. Learn more about when and where you can take the test! When you are ready to take the test, download and install the Duolingo English Test desktop app. How long are my Duolingo English Test results valid? Results for the Duolingo English Test are valid for two years. After two years you will still see your expired result on your homepage, but you will no longer be able to share the result or view the certificate. How can I grant permission for the test to record my computer's screen? In order to take the test on macOS, you will need to grant screen recording access to the Duolingo English Test desktop app. If you do not grant this access, you will be unable to start the test. Unsure if this access is granted for the Duolingo English Test desktop app? Please follow these steps: •Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording tab. •Unlock (click) the lock icon in the lower-left to allow you to make changes to your preferences. •Select the checkbox next to the Duolingo English Test app icon. Can I use writing materials during the test? No. You cannot use pencils, pens, paper, notepads, or any other writing materials during the test. To help ensure your test is certified, you should remove all of the items mentioned above from your testing area before beginning the test. How can I make sure my test environment is secure? To help our proctoring team verify the security of your test environment, follow these tips: •Take the test alone in a quiet room. •Remove all external devices and materials from the room. •Ensure all plug-ins, pop-ups, notifications, and add-ons are disabled. •Close all other windows and programs, including any that are running in the background. •Use a standard English keyboard input method. (Note: This only applies to test takers who sometimes use a Chinese language keyboard input method.) •Do not use previously prepared answers for any speaking section. •Make sure your entire face is visible to the camera. •Keep your eyes on the screen while speaking. •Make sure the room is well illuminated. Please carefully review our test rules, policies, and requirements before taking the test. 4 tips for making sure your Duolingo English Test results are certified ✅ For most people, the Duolingo English Test is the first high-stakes test they have taken from home, instead of in a test center. This new model of testing comes with different rules that help maintain the integrity of each test session. Unfortunately, some test takers don’t receive their results on the first try—not because they are cheating, but because they unintentionally broke one of the rules. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to ensure that your test is certified and you receive your results in 2 days. 👀 Stay focused on your screen Since you are testing from the comfort of your home, each test is proctored to ensure that you're not getting help from an outside resource. Looking away from your computer could be an indication of this. It’s natural to want to look up when thinking or trying to find the right words, but try to remember to look at the question as you answer it. You may need to occasionally glance at the keyboard as you type your answers—don’t worry, that’s okay! ❎ Close all programs on your computer When you're ready to take the test, your test session should be the only thing running on your computer. Before you start the test, close programs including all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.), telecommunication software (Skype, Discord, etc.), remote desktop software (Teamviewer, Anydesk, etc.), and spelling or grammar checkers (Grammarly, etc.). You can also double check that there aren’t any programs running in the background without you knowing. If in doubt, you can shut down your computer entirely and only launch the Duolingo English Test desktop application. In addition to passing a security check, this also helps ensure you have a stable test experience! 👩‍💻 Make sure your test environment is private It goes without saying that nobody can help you with your test. That’s why nobody is allowed in your testing environment—even if they aren’t helping you. Make sure you have one hour of uninterrupted time. Let everyone around you know not to enter your testing area. You can even put a sign on your door! Also, it’s best to put your phone, smart watch, or connected device in another room to be certain you won't get distracted or disturbed during the test 💬 Speak and write naturally The Duolingo English Test is a test of your real, natural English ability. During open response sections of the test, try to respond naturally with answers that you are coming up with in the moment. Even if you have practiced answers to similar types of questions, your response should be specific to the topic, and in your own words. By following these tips, you’re well on your way to getting your results certified. If you're looking for more advice about the Duolingo English Test, read this step-by-step guide for making the most out of your test experience. Best wishes for your test! May I wear a religious head covering while taking the test? You may wear a religious head covering that covers your ears while taking the test. Your eyes and mouth must be uncovered and visible. Can more than one person complete the test using the same email address / Duolingo account? No. Each person must use their own email address or account to test. If more than one person uses the same account, the tests may be invalidated and the account may be blocked. Please contact support if you have already shared a test account with another person. How do I disable my browser plug-ins / add-ons / extensions? The Duolingo English Test is now administered through a desktop app. This is a better, more stable experience for test takers compared to taking the test in a browser. The app provides a secure and reliable environment for the duration of the test. You may still take the practice test using a web browser. If you encounter an issue during the practice test with your browser add-ons or plug-ins (such as Grammarly), these will all need to be disabled in order to successfully start and complete the test. Instructions to add/remove add-ons or extensions in Google Chrome are listed here. You can also get around many browser-based issues by using an incognito browser in Chrome. Can I take the test on a 2-in-1 hybrid device, such as Microsoft Surface? The Duolingo English Test desktop application will not allow hybrid 2-in-1 computing devices to enable the camera swap functionality between the front and back camera. We recommend that you use a different device such as a laptop or full desktop computer to complete your test. How do I update the Duolingo English Test desktop app to the most recent version? When you first download the Duolingo English Test desktop app, you will receive the most recent version. If you already have the Duolingo English Test desktop app installed, it will automatically update to the most recent version when required. Follow these steps to complete the update: 1. Open the Duolingo English Test desktop app and sign in to your account. 2. A screen will appear saying a new version of the app is available and must be installed before continuing. What devices and operating systems can I use to take the Duolingo English Test? You can take the test on a laptop or desktop computer with Windows or macOS. The Duolingo English Test will not work on a Chromebook, iPad, tablet, or cellular device. The test also does not support the ChromeOS or Linux operating systems. Windows 7 While we have had test takers successfully complete Duolingo English Test using Windows 7, Microsoft discontinued Windows 7 support in 2020. Technical assistance and software updates to Windows 7 are no longer available from Microsoft. Likewise, the Duolingo English Test cannot actively support or provide technical assistance for Windows 7 users trying to take the Duolingo English Test. For most Windows 7 users, we recommend moving to a device with Windows 11 or a Mac. If this is not possible, we recommend upgrading to Windows 10. How can I make sure my eyes are visible throughout the test? There is an image of your face in the upper right corner of the screen. Please check it before the test to make sure your eyes are well lit and clearly visible. If you are wearing glasses, make sure there is no glare on the lenses that obscures your eyes. Take the test in a well-lit room. Use a table lamp to clearly illuminate your face, if possible. If you are wearing glasses, avoid sitting facing a window, as this can cause additional glare on your lenses. How can I make sure I speak enough during the graded speaking section of the test? You will need to speak continuously for 30 to 90 seconds in response to each graded speaking question. This is required to appropriately score your speaking abilities. Long pauses and repeated words or phrases do not count as continuous speaking. How can I make sure I properly answer the graded speaking questions? Try to respond naturally with answers you are coming up with in the moment. Even if you have practiced answers to similar types of questions, your response should directly address the topic and be in your own words. Remove all writing utensils, paper, and written or printed materials from the room before starting the test. Do not use prepared, memorized, or rehearsed responses. Do not copy responses from other sources. Can I memorize answers from other sources to use for my writing responses? No. You cannot copy or memorize answers from other sources for use on any test questions. Try to respond naturally with answers you are coming up with in the moment. Even if you have practiced answers to similar types of questions, your response should directly address the topic and be in your own words How can I make sure my test video is clearly visible? Please clean your camera lens and make sure it is in focus before starting the test. There is an image of your face in the upper right corner of the screen. You can check this to make sure your entire face (including eyes and mouth) is clearly visible. What is the Duolingo English Test desktop app? The Duolingo English Test desktop app is a better, more stable experience for test takers around the world. You will be able to take the certified test in a secure and reliable environment with the latest version of the desktop app. You can still take a practice test, purchase the test, view your results, and share your results with institutions in a web browser from your Duolingo English Test home page. Learn more: How do I install the Duolingo English Test desktop app? How can I show that I am the one typing during the test? Please take the test in a private, quiet room. Close all other windows and quit all other programs before starting the test. It is okay to use an external USB keyboard or mouse during the test. However, you should only type on one keyboard and use one mouse when responding to test questions. Do not switch back and forth between multiple keyboards or mice. If your test was invalidated because our proctoring team could not confirm you completed the written sections independently, you should disconnect any extra keyboards or mice before testing again. If you are taking the test on a laptop, unplug all external keyboards/mice and use the laptop's built-in keyboard and trackpad. If you are taking the test on a desktop, make sure only one keyboard and one mouse are connected. Was this article helpful? How do I install the Duolingo English Test desktop app? To download and install the Duolingo English Test desktop app, follow these steps: •Purchase the Duolingo English Test. •Click "Download." •On the next screen, click "Download." A download of the Duolingo English Test desktop app will start. •Open the file and follow your computer's installation instructions. oMac - How to install on macOS oWindows - How to install on Windows •Open the application and log in with your Duolingo English Test account. You can also directly download the app by going to englishtest.duolingo.com/download. Please note you will still need to purchase the test before taking it. How can I make sure my face is in the camera frame throughout the test? There is an image of your face in the upper right corner of the screen. Please check it to make sure your entire face (including eyes and mouth) is visible, your camera is facing forward, and your body is positioned directly in front of the camera at close proximity throughout the test. Do not leave this video frame during the test. Test Update: New Interactive Writing question Beginning April 2, 2024, the Duolingo English Test is adding a new Interactive Writing component to help improve the assessment of your writing proficiency. Interactive Writing expands upon the pre-existing Read, Then Write question by encouraging you to elaborate on your ideas. First, you will read a prompt and write about it for 5 minutes. Next you will read a follow-up prompt related to the original one, then write about that new prompt for 3 minutes. Interactive Writing will contribute to the overall Duolingo English Test score. More specifically, it will contribute to the Literacy and Production subscores. What are faster results? When will my results be available? When purchased, a test with faster results will reduce the turnaround time from two days to 12 hours, though tests will still receive the same level of human proctoring and AI scoring as standard tests. It does not guarantee a certified result. Please note that faster results purchases are not eligible for a refund. How can I make sure my microphone clearly records my voice? Set your microphone to the highest volume. Speak loudly and clearly during any speaking sections. To decrease background noise, turn off any fans, televisions, and loud devices in the area, and ask others in your apartment or house to be quiet. General tips There are some good strategies and habits that apply to all of the question types on the Duolingo English Test. They include test-taking strategies, writing tips, and speaking tips. Test-taking strategies Use all of the time that you have available to answer a question. You will not receive a better score for answering questions faster. If you can, give longer responses than is required. For example, write more than 50 words or speak longer than 30 seconds. If you are using English effectively, and your response is relevant to the question, a more developed answer could help you achieve a better score. You will not be penalized for mistakes until you click NEXT to submit your answer and move on to the next item, so take the time to make any corrections. You can’t return to a question once you have clicked NEXT. Try not to look at the timer too often, because it can distract you from effectively responding. Leave time at the end of each question to check your response. Writing tips Use proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. The Duolingo English Test accepts both American and British spelling. The only exception is the Read and Complete question type, which uses American spelling only. Vary your sentence structure and word choice as much as possible. Using more diverse, sophisticated vocabulary and grammar can help you achieve a better score. Speaking tips Speak loudly, clearly, and at an understandable pace. You will not have a chance to re-record your response. So even if you make a mistake, just keep going. Make sure you don’t submit your recording until after you have finished your entire response. Just like with writing, vary your sentence structure and word choice as much as possible. If you see a question you don’t recognize… Duolingo is always working on improving the test. This includes researching and developing new question types that you may see on the practice test or certified test. This is a common practice and helps improve the test for everyone. Don’t worry, these questions don’t affect your score or the time available for your responses. Please reach out to our support team with questions. Read and Select TIME LIMIT 5 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Read and Select asks you to answer, “Is this a real English word?” You will need to read each word and decide if it is an actual word in English. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips Make sure to select either YES or NO. Missing responses will be marked incorrect. There could be any number of real words in this section, so don’t worry if there are more or fewer real words. Read carefully. Some words may look real, but have small differences from real English words. Click YES or NO to select if it is a real English word. After you click YES or NO, the next question will appear. Fill in the Blanks TIME LIMIT 20 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Fill in the Blanks asks you to “Complete the sentence with the correct word.” In this question, you will read a sentence with one unfinished word, then fill in the blanks to complete the word. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips Read the whole sentence before focusing on the unfinished word. Use context clues to help you complete the word. Use the backspace or delete button to go back one space and delete a letter. Interactive Writing TIME LIMIT 5 minutes for step 1 3 minutes for step 2 SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Production Interactive Writing asks you to “Write about the topic below for 5 minutes,” and then “Write a follow-up response for 3 minutes.” For step 1, you will be given a written prompt. Then, you will respond in writing. For step 2, you will be given a follow-up prompt based on your initial response. Then, you will respond to this second prompt in writing. Tips You will be able to see the current step’s question as you write. During step 2, you will be able to see your initial response. Proofread carefully! Do not click NEXT until you have checked your response for the current step and are ready to submit. Read and Complete TIME LIMIT 3 minutes SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Read and Complete asks you to “Type the missing letters to complete the text below.” For this question type, you will fill in the blanks of unfinished words in a passage. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips Read the passage before focusing on each individual word. Use context clues to help you complete the words. Use the backspace or delete button to go back one space and delete a letter. Listen and Type TIME LIMIT 1 minute SKILLS MEASURED Comprehension, Conversation Listen and Type asks you to “Type the statement that you hear.” In this task, you will listen to a person speaking a statement and then transcribe what you hear. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips Type out what you hear first. Then check your response by replaying the statement and comparing it to what you wrote. You can replay the statement up to two times (three plays total) by clicking on the orange speaker icon. Read Aloud TIME LIMIT 20 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Comprehension, Conversation Read Aloud asks you to “Record yourself saying the statement below.” In this question type, you will read a written statement, and then speak it out loud into the microphone. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips If you have time, practice speaking the statement once out loud before recording. Look at the punctuation in the statement to help you pace yourself — briefly pausing at each comma, for instance. Speak loudly, at a natural pace, and make sure to enunciate clearly. You only have 20 seconds, and you only have one chance to record the statement, so use your time wisely. When you are ready to record, click RECORD NOW and start speaking. When you are finished recording, click NEXT. If you do not click NEXT, the test will advance automatically when the timer runs out. Make sure you capture your full response in the recording. Write About the Photo TIME LIMIT 1 minute SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Production Write About the Photo asks you to “Write a description of the image below for 1 minute.” For this question type, you will see an image on the screen and you will write a description of the image. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins. Tips Try to go beyond simple labeling and describe the image in detail. The directions ask for one complete sentence, but try to write more than one, as a longer response can help demonstrate more of your skills. You will be able to see the image as you write your response. Use your mouse or trackpad to scroll back through your response if you need to check it for spelling and grammar. Speak About the Photo TIME LIMIT 1 minute, 30 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Conversation, Production Speak About the Photo asks you to “Speak about the image below for 90 seconds.” In this task, you will talk about an image that appears on the screen. The directions and image will appear for 20 seconds before automatically advancing to the record screen. You can also click NEXT to manually advance. Tips Try to describe the image as if explaining it to someone who can’t see it. Speak at a natural pace and enunciate clearly. Don’t panic if you stumble on a word or phrase, just recover and keep going. You will have 20 seconds to look at the photo before the recording begins automatically. Take this time to observe and mentally plan your response before recording your answer. You will also be able to look at the image as you speak. You have only one opportunity to record your answer. Read, Then Speak TIME LIMIT 1 minute, 30 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Conversation, Production Read, Then Speak asks you to “Speak about the topic below for 90 seconds.” For this question type, you will see a written prompt. You will speak your response to this prompt for 90 seconds. The directions will appear for 20 seconds before the timer begins. Tips Speak naturally and clearly, and use varied words and structures. Make sure you’ve answered all of the components to the question. Take your time to read the question carefully and start thinking about your response before the test advances to the recording screen. You will still be able to see the question as you speak your response. Listen, Then Speak TIME LIMIT 1 minute, 30 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Conversation, Production Listen, Then Speak asks you to “Speak about the topic for 90 seconds.” For this question type, you will listen to a prompt, then speak your response. Note that the directions will appear for 20 seconds before recording begins. During this time, you can hear and replay the prompt. Tips Speak naturally and clearly, and use varied words and sentence structures. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the prompt before you start to record. You can replay it up to two times (three plays total). You will need to speak for a minimum of 30 seconds. Once 30 seconds have gone by, you will see the NEXT button turn orange, and you will then be able to come to a natural conclusion and click the button to submit your response. Complete the Sentences TIME LIMIT 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Complete the Sentences asks you to “Select the best option for each missing word.” In this task, you will see a passage with several blank spaces, and select a word to complete the sentence. Tips Read the entire sentence and use context clues to help you determine the best word choice. Time permitting, read the passage after you’ve completed all of the sentences, as a way to double check your responses. You can complete the sentences in any order. You won’t be able to click NEXT until you’ve selected a response for each blank. To navigate between the sentences, you can use your mouse/touchpad or the tab button. Complete the Passage TIME LIMIT 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Complete the Passage asks you to “Select the best sentence to fill in the blank.” In this task, you will see two sections of a passage with a missing sentence in the middle. Tips Some parts of the passage will be familiar to you from the Complete the Sentences question. Make sure to read each section thoroughly, especially new material. Pay special attention to the sentences before and after the blank, especially if you are undecided. If you hover over each option, you will be able to see it in context in the passage. Highlight the Answer TIME LIMIT 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Highlight the Answer asks you to “Click and drag the text to highlight the answer to the question below.” You will see a question on screen, then you will find and highlight the answer within the passage. Tips Be precise but thorough in your selection, and make sure to highlight only the answer to the question asked. You don’t want to highlight too much or too little. Once you highlight the text, it will appear in the box below the question so you can read it in context. If you want to change your highlighting, you can click and drag your cursor on the screen again to highlight. Be sure the answer you want is in the box before clicking NEXT. Identify the Idea TIME LIMIT 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Identify the Idea asks you to “Select the idea that is expressed in the passage.” In this task, you will select an idea from the list that best represents what you read in the passage. Tips Read and consider all of the options carefully. Some of the options may be somewhat relevant, but make sure to choose the one that best describes the text. Once you select your response, the box around it and the circle next to it will turn orange. Title the Passage TIME LIMIT 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Comprehension Title the Passage asks you “Select the best title of the passage” You will select a title from a list of given options. Tips Read and consider all of the options carefully. Some of the options may be somewhat relevant, but make sure to choose the one that is the best title for the whole text. Once you select your response, the box around it and the circle next to it will turn orange. Listen and Respond TIME LIMIT 4 minutes SKILLS MEASURED Comprehension, Conversation Listen and Respond asks you to select the best response. For this question type, you will read about a situation. Then, you will pick the best option to start the conversation. As the conversation progresses, select the best response each time it is your turn. Tips Listen carefully! You can only play the audio clips once. You can read the earlier parts of the conversation again to help you. Pay attention to the relationship between the speakers. How would two students talk to each other? How would a teacher and a student have a conversation? Don’t worry if you don’t choose the best response — the test will let you know so that you can still get the next ones correct. Pay attention to the correct answer in order to follow the conversation. Try to remember the main ideas of the conversation for the summary task that follows. Summarize the Conversation TIME LIMIT 75 seconds SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Production Summarize the Conversation asks you to write about the conversation you just had in 75 seconds. Tips Don’t worry if you didn’t choose the best answers in the previous section. Focus on summarizing the conversation. Write a complete paragraph instead of separate bullet points. You don’t have very much time to write, so start with the facts about the conversation. Who was speaking? What was the conversation about? What was the outcome? Use all the time to summarize the task in as much detail as possible. If you have time, check the spelling and grammar of your response. Writing Sample TIME LIMIT 5 minutes SKILLS MEASURED Literacy, Production The Writing Sample asks you to “Write about the topic below for 5 minutes.” For this question type, you will be given a written prompt. You will write about it at length for 5 minutes. Note that the directions appear for 30 seconds before timer begins. During this time you will read and consider the prompt, and prepare to respond. Tips Practice good writing habits: vary your sentence structure and word choice, and express a variety of thoughts with logical transitions. Make sure to leave time to check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The topic will be shared with the recipients of your results, so make sure your response is relevant to the topic. Think of this as a short essay. The recipients of your results may use the Writing Sample as additional information about your writing skills. Speaking Sample TIME LIMIT 3 minutes SKILLS MEASURED Conversation, Production The Speaking Sample asks you to “Speak about the topic below for 3 minutes.” For this question type, you will read a written prompt. Then, you will speak at length about the topic shown. Note that the directions appear for 30 seconds before recording begins. During this time you will read and consider the prompt, and prepare to respond. Tips Do not watch the timer, as it may distract you from thinking and speaking clearly. Keep talking at least until the NEXT button turns orange, and speak even longer if you can. Then, come to a natural conclusion before clicking NEXT to finish and submit the recording. Practice speaking about a topic in English for 1–3 minutes before taking the test so you are familiar with the length. Remember that the Speaking Sample will be sent as a video recording, so the recipients of your scores will be able to see you during this response. The topic will be shared with the recipients of your results, so make sure your response is relevant to the topic and do your best to show your speaking skills! Q: Why is Duolingo English Test an adaptive test? A: Duolingo English Test is an adaptive test due to the fact that the questions asked in it adapt to the answers that the test taker gives. Therefore, the difficulty level of the questions is set accordingly. The questions are generated by a grading system implemented by Duolingo as the test is AI-driven. So, questions are chosen by the system from a large pool of questions and no question appears twice. In order to get an in-depth idea about the DET structure, you are suggested to go through the video walkthrough on the official website. Is it possible to give Free practice test? Yes, you can receive unlimited free practice tests in Duolingo official website. Go to the link below to give the practice tests: (https://englishtest.duolingo.com/test/practice ) What are the 4 modules in Duolingo English Tests? 1.Literacy : The test taker’s ability to read and write. 2.Comprehension : The test taker’s ability to read and listen. 3.Conversation : The test taker’s ability to listen and speak. 4.Production : The test taker’s ability to write and speak. Can I use writing materials during the test? No. You cannot use pencils, pens, paper, notepads, or any other writing materials during the test. To help ensure your test is certified, you should remove all of the items mentioned above from your testing area before beginning the test. Duolingo English Test Structure and Question Types: Question Type Time What it Measures Read, Then Write 5 mins Literacy, Production Read, Then Speak 1.5 mins Conversation, Production Video Sample 3 mins Reading, Speaking Listen, Then Speak 1.5 mins Conversation, Production Common Topics for Duolingo Writing The Duolingo Writing Sample section, with its limited time frame of 3-5 minutes, is designed to evaluate your English writing skills. To succeed, you’ll need strong vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. This section can be tricky because it requires you to express your thoughts and arguments clearly and concisely in writing. However, by familiarizing yourself with common writing prompts, you can feel more prepared to tackle the task effectively. Here are some of the common topics for Duolingo Writing Sample Task: 1.Art and Culture 2.Travelling 3.Technology 4.Parenthood 5.Health 6.Government Policies 7.Education 8.Business CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LINK Types of Questions Asked in Duolingo Writing The Writing section of the DET exam comprises question types such as ‘Read then Write’, ‘Write about the Photo’, and the ‘Writing Sample’. Let’s understand these tasks one by one. •Write about the Photo: This task tests your ability to describe a visual image using strong vocabulary and grammar. You’ll need to create clear and well-organized sentences to effectively convey the details and meaning of the photo. •Read then Write: This task assesses your reading comprehension and writing skills. You’ll be given a short text to read and analyze, followed by a question or prompt that requires a concise and informative written response. Aim for a word count within the specified limit (30-50 words) and ensure your answer directly addresses the prompt while maintaining clarity and coherence. •Writing Sample: This open-ended writing task evaluates your ability to express yourself on a given topic. You’ll need to demonstrate your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure while crafting a well-developed and organized response that adheres to the prompt. Duolingo Writing: Sample Questions and Answers (With PDF) Duolingo’s Writing section can pose a major challenge to test-takers. Students must have a certain level of familiarity with the Duolingo writing topics and sample questions. That being said, one must solve these sample questions to get a good understanding of the question types and how to answer them to score better on the section. Download the pdf given below to work through the sample questions. If you get stuck on a certain question, feel free to refer to the answer bank. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LINK 5 Tips to Ace Your Duolingo Writing Here are some of the best tips for Duolingo writing. Have a look. •Understand the Prompt: Before you start writing, take a moment to understand the question being asked. Reread the prompt and make sure you know what information you need to include in your response. •Plan Your Response: Don’t just jump straight into writing. Take a few seconds to plan your response mentally or even jot down a quick outline. This will help you stay focused and organized. •Focus on Clarity and Conciseness: Duolingo often has word limits for writing tasks, so it’s important to be clear and concise in your writing. Use simple sentence structures, avoid unnecessary words, and get to the point quickly. •Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating your opinion, try to show the reader why you believe what you do. Use examples, data, or personal anecdotes to support your claims. •Proofread Carefully: Before submitting your response, take a few minutes to proofread it carefully. Check for any typos, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing. You can also try reading your response out loud to catch any mistakes you might make while reading silently. So that was all about the Duolingo Writing topics. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic. Related Blogs A Guide to the Duolingo English Test Scores Updated List of Duolingo Test Centres in India List of Top Countries Accepting Duolingo Scores Duolingo Exam Rules 2023: New Policies and Requirements Duolingo Writing Topics: Question Types, Common … Breaking Down the Sections in Duolingo English Test FAQs Q1. What is the total duration of the Writing and Speaking Section of the DET exam? Ans: The writing and speaking section of the DET exam lasts for 10 minutes. Q2. What are the rules for writing in the Duolingo Exam? Ans: Students attempting the Duolingo Writing Sample section must not exceed the word limit of 50 words and must complete the task within a time frame of five minutes. Students are recommended to work on their vocabulary and grammar to score better in the Duolingo Writing sample test. Q3. What are the common topics for the Duolingo Writing Sample Task? Ans: Art, business, Family, Childhood, Travelling, Technology, and Parenthood are some of the most common topics that come in the Duolingo Writing Sample Task. Duolingo 50 Words Essay Questions and answer •Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students. What are the advantages of this new approach? Answer: Using technology to teach students has several advantages such as creating a more engaged environment, improving collaboration, having more scope to connect with the students, etc. Technology also allows teachers to explain complicated theories and concepts to students using attractive visuals, which in turn helps students to learn and understand better. As a result, incorporating technology in the field of teaching has positive effects both on the method of teaching and the students. •In many countries schools have severe problems with student behavior? •What do you think are the causes of this? Answer: Perhaps the most predominant cause of problematic student behavior is a troublesome home environment. Negligence, abuse, lack of affection from parents at home are some of the causes of students developing problematic behavior and expressing them at school. Furthermore, being exposed to negative experiences in life, having wrong companionship, and low mental health are also causes of problems with student behavior. Most importantly, school authorities aren’t trained enough to handle such student behavior, which in turn exacerbates the issue. •Many historic buildings are being destroyed or replaced. What are the reasons for this? •Answer: One of the predominant reasons behind historic buildings being destroyed is shortage of land. As the population of the world continues to rise, more land is needed to accommodate housing for the increasing number of people. Furthermore, many historic buildings are being replaced due to urbanisation. The rapid growth in urbanisation has allowed many companies to take over historic buildings in the name of development. As a result, the value of historic buildings are gradually decreasing as people go unbothered by these changes around them. •Describe a time when you were extremely happy. What happened? Answer: The last day when I was able to spend time with my entire family was a time when I was extremely happy. It was during the holiday last year and that was the last time I had each and every one of my siblings together at our parents’ house. Now we’re all in different parts of the world, living our lives, trying to make a living. While I do have my fair share of fun every now and then, there is nothing quite like the pure happiness of spending time with your own family. •Some people argue that the teenagers have lost moral values. What is your opinion? Answer: I think that children from every generation differ from their previous generation in many ways, and this difference attracts a lot of scrutiny. I believe that the importance of moral values has declined for all people, and that includes teenagers as well. Therefore, while it is safe to say that many teenagers these days have lost regard for moral values, it isn’t true that all of them have done so. So, I do not think that the statement should be generalized for teenagers only. •Describe the house in which you live? •Answer: The house that I live in is an apartment. It is a ten storied building that has six flats on every floor, and forty flats in total. It is located in the city, and in quite a busy street. I’ve been living here my entire life and have made many friends from this apartment. We all grew up together and have developed very good friendships over the years. This house and its people are two components that I have made some of the most beautiful memories with in my life. •Describe the neighborhood where you live? •Answer: The neighborhood where I live is located in the city, and in quite a busy street. There aren’t many trees around, but there is a park very close to it that sort of fulfills the need of greenery in the area. Many people from the neighborhood and especially kids flock to the park every afternoon. I myself go there a couple times a week to catch up with my friends from the area. Our neighborhood is quite safe, with rarely any sort of crime happening here. I have lived here my entire life and truly believe that this is a great place to grow up and live in. •Public transport helps save money and curbs pollution over private transport. What do you prefer and why? Answer: Personally, I wholeheartedly agree with the statement. Public transports are indeed an inexpensive option as opposed to private transport. It is something that I use everyday myself. But while they do curb pollution as opposed to private transports, the convenience and comfort of owning a private transport can’t be denied. It is truly a luxury and privilege to own a private transport. But for mass people, public transports are definitely the better option by a landmark. •Describe a time when you were cheated. Answer: During its onset, online shopping didn’t have much credibility as people were afraid of being cheated on through misleading products that were different from what they had expected. However, over time, online shopping has made a place for itself in society, and rightfully so. However, there are still some online shops that are nothing but scams. Last month, I ordered an air cooler online from an advertisement that made it seem perfectly normal. In reality, it did nothing to serve its purpose and was simply an object of no use. That made me not only waste a good amount of money but also feel extremely cheated. •Some people argue that the government should spend money on Space research while others say that the government should build hospitals. Which argument do you support? •Answer: I believe that the government should undoubtedly spend money on building hospitals as opposed to spending money on space research. I believe that space research has a lot of opportunities for human civilization. However, for a developing country like ours, it is a luxury. Our country is in dire need of better health care systems; one of the main steps to get that done is building good hospitals. While the government has every right to spend money on space research, it has no right to do so at the expense of the health of its citizens. •Describe your daily exercise routine. Answer: A prerequisite of my exercise routine is waking up early in the morning at 6 am. After that I go for a quick twenty-minute run. When I get back, I shower and then have a banana that gives me energy to do yoga for the next forty minutes. On extremely busy days, I do yoga for 15 minutes, but make sure I never go below that. Afterwards, I have my breakfast and do thirty minutes of exercise. On most days I do cardio, while I sometimes incorporate a bit of weightlifting in my exercise routine. •Describe a time when you travelled somewhere. Answer: Last year I went to Cox’s Bazar with my parents and my sister. It was during the end of winter, so the weather there was quite perfect. However, the beach was quite sunny, of course. We did a lot of activities such as jet skiing, kayaking, and parasailing. It was my first time doing all of these activities, so I had an amazing time. We also bought a lot of dried fish from the street shops, which is a common tradition for visitors in Cox’s bazar. We relaxed to our hearts’ content and returned after four days of peaceful vacationing. •How do you travel to your work/study? Describe your vehicle. Answer: I use public transport to travel. So that means I have to get up early to catch the bus. I prefer using an AC bus as the route to my work is quite long and the hot weather becomes quite intolerable. It doesn’t accommodate more passengers than it’s supposed to, which is quite rare for most public buses in the country. And since I have the privilege to afford a fairly developed public transport, I choose to use this bus for my own safety. •Having a good university degree is important in finding a job. Do you agree? Answer: Yes, I agree with the statement that a good university degree is important in finding a job. In fact, considering how competitive the job market is becoming with each passing day, a good university degree is not only important in finding a job but also a prerequisite. While it is true that a lot of people can’t afford a good university degree, that hasn’t stopped companies from prioritizing a good degree while hiring new employees. •Describe a skill that you want to learn. Answer: A skill that I want to learn is coding. It is a skill that has a lot of demand in the job market right now. Furthermore, coding is also an integrated part of different kinds of jobs, all of which have scope for many job opportunities. These opportunities are becoming more and more available all over the world, making a skill like coding highly advantageous. •Write about your dream job. Why do you want this job? Answer: My dream job would be a position that allows me to make a positive impact on people every day. I would love to work for a company that makes time-saving and life-enriching products that thousands of people use everyday. I would love to be part of a team that finds innovative ways to make products more efficient and effective. To be able to earn a living through something that helps people in one or more ways is the dream. •Write down about your best friend. How long have you known him/her? Answer: I have a best friend of fourteen years. We went to the same school. While we have been friends since grade 1, we became best friends in high school. Ever since then, we have become inseparable, but only in terms of bonding because we now live in different countries. However, the distance has not affected or deteriorated our friendship in any way. If anything, it has made the friendship even stronger. I can’t imagine my life without my best friend. •What is your favorite dish? How is it prepared? Answer: My favorite dish is pizza. Its main component is a flat soft bread which can be thin or thick depending on choice. The bread is then covered by a sauce, predominantly ketchup, followed by ingredients such as chicken, beef, bell peppers, olives and many others depending on the choice. One of the most important components of the pizza is cheese which goes on top of it at last. The bread is then baked at very high heat in an oven and becomes ready to eat in 15-20 mins. •Describe your favorite actor. Why is he your favorite? Answer: My favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio. The reason he is my favorite because of his sheer versatility. Starting from his attention grabbing role in “Catch me if you can” to his career-defining role in “Titanic”, from his mind blowing performance in “Inception” to his dangerously convincing role in “Shutter Island”, Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor who seems to have no area of weakness in acting at all. The way he adapts to every role and also makes it his own is something that is remarkably rare within actors these days. Duolingo Exam Pattern 2024 If you want to excel in your Duolingo Exam, you should know the most recent syllabus, 2024. The syllabus is for you if you plan to take the next Duolingo Exam. The Duolingo exam includes an Introduction and onboarding, an Adaptive Test, and a Writing and speaking sample. It has only one format. The Duolingo English Test does not follow a traditional syllabus outlining specific topics. It is 60 minutes long and consists of three parts: introduction & onboarding, and adaptive test. The Duolingo exam includes an Introduction and onboarding, an Adaptive Test, and a Writing and speaking sample. It has only one format. The format for Duolingo is the same globally, regardless of the location from which you’re applying. Duolingo administers and develops the Duolingo English Test (DET). It's a language learning platform offering this standardised English proficiency test. Duolingo is an English test taken by students and aspirants who want to study or immigrate to a significant English-speaking country. Students must take the Duolingo exam to demonstrate their English language proficiency. The Duolingo exam pattern in 2024 is as follows: The Duolingo Exam Pattern in 2024 Duolingo Exam Part Time Duration Introduction & Onboarding 5 Minutes Adaptive Test 45 Minutes 2. Duolingo English Test (DET) Syllabus 2024 The Duolingo English Test does not follow a traditional syllabus outlining specific topics. It is 60 minutes long and consists of three parts: introduction & onboarding, and adaptive test. Your performance will be assessed in reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing, and speaking skills. Your overall proficiency in the language is scored on a scale from 10 to 160, with increments of 5 points. This score scale aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), an internationally recognised standard for language proficiency. Duolingo Exam Syllabus for Introduction & Onboarding In this part, there will be no questions to answer. This section is only for 5 minutes. You have to review your details of the exam on the screen Read all the rules carefully of the exam to avoid any confusion Properly check to ensure you have met all the technical requirements for the exam, like camera, internet connection, etc. Each part has a time limit, so pay attention to your time for each segment. This way, you can manage your time wisely and complete each part within the given time frame. Duolingo Exam Syllabus for Adaptive Test The Adaptive test includes various questions, such as missing letters, fill-in-the-blanks, and reading aloud. This section is for 45 minutes only. The difficulty of some questions is based on your performance. The subscore in this section is based on comprehension, conversation, literacy, and production. Different types of questions for Adaptive tests are: Read & Select Fill in the Blanks Read & Complete Read Aloud