writing tips for duolingo

Covering all the bases: Duolingo's approach to writing skills

This is the third of four posts about the most important skills for a language learner: reading , listening , writing, and speaking . Each week, we'll focus on a different skill to understand how it works, the best way to learn it, and how you can practice it! This week our focus is on writing .

collage of images representing reading, listening, writing, and speaking: a pencil, book, Duolingo Story, name tag, laptop with a Duolingo lesson, a dropped pin, headphones, an audio button, and a cell phone with a Duolingo lesson

Writing is a skill that connects us with friends, family, and even strangers across long distances—and we can revisit written messages in letters, newspapers, and group texts long after they were first written. Humans have evolved all kinds of written communication systems since our days of painting shapes and animals (probably owls) on cave walls, and today writing is especially important because of digital communication.

For many learners, writing in a new language is a chance to express yourself and engage with a new language community while still being able to think through and edit exactly what you want to say. Writing is great for strengthening the language in your memory, and there are lots of meaningful ways to practice writing in your everyday life, whether through pen and paper or on your favorite screen. In writing, you can also draft a sentence and then... revise it ....ummm, we mean, go back, cross out, and edit until you're satisfied with the result. Now that reads better, doesn’t it?

No matter if you are writing a text message to your sister or contributing to an online fandom, we want to make sure you're ready to express yourself in writing! In this post we dive into how we teach writing at Duolingo, what the science says about how writing works, and the best ways for learners to practice it.

Duolingo's all-star lineup

Because writing is such a good way to get practice pulling words out from your memory, our lessons start building writing skills right away! As you've already seen, all the language skills are closely tied together, so becoming comfortable with writing also means connecting with other skills. In your Duolingo lessons, tapping on a written word triggers a sound recording, so you can listen to what words sound like to build connections between sounds and writing.

We scaffold , or carefully structure, how we teach writing so that you start with simpler words and phrases and word banks until you're ready for longer writing on your own. Even the exercises where you tap on words in a word bank are training your writing muscles for the real deal! Here are some of the places you can get writing practice on Duolingo:

Writing, from one perspective, is about connecting written squiggles (whether letters, syllables, characters, or something else) with sounds and meanings. More and more of our courses now include special exercises to build these connections to prepare you for writing. See more in our reading post !
Writing also means composing phrases and sentences, too! At the earliest levels, we help you learn to write in the language by focusing on single words and by providing a word bank to get you used to organizing sentences in the language. As you advance to higher levels, you'll see fewer word bank exercises and more open-ended exercises, where you do more of the writing yourself!
Of course, some learners like a challenge. Did you know that exercises in higher levels let you turn off the word bank and instead use your keyboard to type in the language? Check to see if there is a blue icon at the bottom near the "Check" button. This is a great way to get in the habit of writing as soon as you feel ready. If typing in the language with your thumbs is too tricky, try it from a full-sized keyboard on your computer by doing lessons on the Duolingo website . And if you’re not quite ready yet – don’t worry, we got you: just keep using those word banks!
For certain languages that use non-Roman scripts, we provide lessons focused on the letters or characters and their sounds and meaning. These lessons are available for Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Yiddish, Hindi, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, and Korean.

Let's talk strategy: How does writing work?

Unlike reading and listening, writing is a productive skill, because you are producing the language...which can feel like a lot of pressure! Writing is a great way to get comfortable with producing the language, because it allows your brain to think more slowly and carefully about the sentences and words that you want to use. (Of course, in exciting text conversations you might want to be able to write as fast as you think!) This piecing together of words, phrases, and endings is what we described as bottom-up processing in our reading post. To write, you retrieve the words that match your intended meaning, and the more time you have to retrieve words, the easier it can feel.

Of course, sometimes retrieval is tricky, even in languages you've spoken your whole life. Have you ever felt like a word was on the tip of your tongue? You wanted to say a specific word but you just couldn’t think of it, and instead you could only remember words that sounded similar! Language research [1] shows that when you’re retrieving words in your new language, your mental muscles have to really flex to get you producing the words you want: you have to avoid picking similar words in the new language, and you even have to keep words from your other languages from bubbling to the surface. So for example, if you're trying to write the Spanish word carta 'letter,' your brain has to hold back related Spanish words (like página 'page' and escribir 'write' and even cara 'face' because they start the same), and you have to work to keep in check all the non-Spanish words you know (like paper in English and lettre in French). Even people who are super highly proficient in multiple languages need just more milliseconds to recall words that have lots of related words. In fact, someone who knows Spanish and English has to do extra cognitive work to retrieve carta 'letter' from memory since there are some especially distracting English words, like card and cart , in the mix. But your brain is made for this kind of linguistic balancing act! Luckily, we don’t have to rush in writing, so whether you’re smidgen slower or not, your message will be what matters.

A blue envelope is open and inside is a white sheet of paper with writing on it.

Some parts of writing are the same no matter the language (you're always doing retrieving!), but there are also a lot of differences to learn about writing for different languages and cultures. While some cultures write from left to right (like English and Spanish), others write from right to left (like Arabic and Hebrew). That means that if you’re reading an Arabic book you’ll need to start from what English speakers think of as the back! In our blog post about reading, we learned a bit about languages that use characters in writing, and these languages can do some pretty clever things with their characters. Like in Japanese, the characters themselves sometimes look like what they mean: the Japanese character 木 ki means 'tree,' 林 hayashi means 'woods,' and 森 mori means 'forest'!

Learning off the field

To really knock it out of the park, find ways to incorporate writing practice in your everyday routine!

For fast and easy practice, try writing your shopping list in the language you are learning.
On your phone or computer, install a keyboard in the language, so that you can more easily text, search, and Tweet in the language.
Make a friend at a Duolingo Event or in our Forum and become text penpals!
Find Facebook groups, subreddits, Twitter communities, and other groups that use the language, and spend some of your social media time writing quick responses in the language. Soon you might be writing even longer messages!
Check out this guide of writing goals for more ideas at different levels!

For rookie learners, focus on writing what you do know. It can be tempting to want to write out everything in your own language first, but it's even better practice to think up what you want to say using only what you know. You can start your writing by relying on the exact words and sentences you learn in the course, and then build up to writing on your own, reusing familiar words and grammar. That means that if you don't know past tense yet, just worry about writing everything you can in present tense! Another good strategy for beginners is to practice useful "chunks" of language; "I am going to" and "I would like" are two chunks that you can use to write all kinds of sentences ("I am going to the park today. I am going to walk. I am going to bring a snack and I am going to eat it."). You can tailor this to yourself by thinking of the specific words and phrases that you use the most in your own language, and learn to write them in the new language!

For more veteran learners, try using writing to engage with the community who uses the language you're learning. This could be through forums or websites, by finding digital penpals, connecting with people in your own community who use the language, or even by writing the old fashioned way -- pen and paper -- to people around the world! You can also use writing for more personal practice by starting a language diary where you write a little bit each day--maybe a paragraph or more as you get more comfortable! To practice specific topics, try switching up when you write your entry each day: to practice writing in the future tense, write in the morning about your plans for the day, or use entries at the end of the day to practice the past (“Hey diary, today something really cool happened…”). And remember to treat your diary like a close friend: don’t worry about making mistakes, anything you tell your diary will be a secret!

Image of Duo the owl holding a yellow envelope with sparkles around it and one wing waving in the air excitedly

Taking your learning to the big leagues

Successful communication always relies on combining your language skills! Now that you know more about how we're helping you become a skilled writer in the language, check back next week to learn about the fourth key language skill: speaking!

Deibel, I. (2020). The contribution of grammar and lexicon to language switching costs: Examining contact-induced languages and their implications for theories of language representation. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , 1–16. DOI: 10.1017/ S1366728919000865

Sunderman, G., & Kroll, J. F. (2006). First Language Activation During Second Language Lexical Processing: An Investigation of Lexical Form, Meaning, and Grammatical Class. Studies in Second Language Acquisition , 28, 387–422. DOI: 10.1017/S0272263106060177 ↩︎

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The Duolingo English Test Writing Section

The Duolingo English Test ® Writing Section: 12 Practice Questions and Sample Answers

Everything you need to know about the two DET writing questions

The Duolingo English Test ® Writing Section?

All right, all right, you caught me.

There is no “writing section” for the Duolingo English Test like there is for the TOEFL iBT or the IELTS.

However, there are three writing question types on the Duolingo English Test that require you to write for an extended period of time.

Write About the Photo
Read, Then Write
Writing Sample

Even though you are not required to write a full essay for the Duolingo English Test, you still have to showcase your writing.

And even worse, if you follow the directions on the test, you will struggle to score higher than 120 in your production score. Yikes!

But don’t worry…

You will know exactly how to earn a high production score on test day by the end of this brief article.

We are going to take a look at 12 high-scoring sample responses for both Write About the Photo and Read, Then Write questions. On top of that, you are going to see an expert teacher’s feedback on every, single response. We will not include an example of Writing Sample since the question is pretty much exactly the same as Read, Then Write. The only difference is that the Writing Sample comes at the end of the test. That’s it!

Let’s do it!

A Brief Look at the Duolingo English Test Writing Questions

Before we dive into the sample answers, let’s take a quick step back and make sure we know what the writing questions will look like on test day.

The Write About the Photo question will present an image and provide you with 60 seconds to write about it. You will have three of these questions on the exam. The directions are always the same, “ Write one or more sentences that describe the image. ” Aim to write more . Here is an example image of this particular question type courtesy of Duolingo .

IMAGE SOURCE: Duolingo English Test Readiness, 2021

Read, Then Write and Writing Sample questions require longer responses. You can think of these questions as a mini-essays. You will have five minutes to write at least 50 words. Even though you only need to write 50 words, aim to have a response of at least 100 words. When you write more, you showcase a broader range of vocabulary and grammar, which will have a positive impact on your score.

Read, Then Write and Writing Sample questions ask for your opinion on a subject or a description of a topic. These questions may also ask you to share a past experience. Here are a couple of examples:

Opinion (general topic) – “ Many parents will take away a child’s phone as punishment for bad behavior. Do you support or oppose this idea? Explain why. ”
Describe (general topic) – “ Describe current technology used in schools. Which technology is most important in the classroom? Explain with details and examples. ”
Describe (personal experience) – “ Think about someone who has encouraged you in life. How have they encouraged you? Give specific examples. ”

Don’t worry about the topic. While you may have more to say about some questions than others, the question is usually about something you can relate to and have an opinion on. Here is a list of a few of the most common topics:

Health and wellness
Educational styles
Parenting styles
Technology and the future
Using technology
Influential people

And in case you are wondering, here is how the question will look on the exam.

To help make your life easier (or more difficult, I’m not sure which one), I have laid out the various question types along with some sample questions, typical wording, and popular topics in this one table.

Write About the Photo: 8 Sample Questions and Answers

I know, I know, you came here for sample answers and I haven’t delivered yet!

All right, here they are. Let’s start with eight sample questions for Write About the Photo. You might also want to set a timer for 60 seconds and try to write a response for each yourself before looking at the samples.

Here we go:

Example #1:

Write one or more sentences that describe the image. You have one minute

I see an enormous yellow and brown fish being held by a man in a red shirt. The man is looking at the fish with pride. I think he has just returned from a fishing trip and wanted to take a picture with the fish he caught.

Teacher Feedback: The length of the response is good and there are no grammatical errors or typos. Some of the vocabulary is repeated, like the word “fish” and various colors. This response would be stronger with a wider vocabulary.

Example #2:

In this picture, I see a woman wearing black clothing sitting on a blanket with what appears to be bags that she made herself. I think she is trying to sell some of her bags to the man sitting in front of her.

Teacher Feedback: Good use of making an inference here with the phrase “I think”. Also, I like that the writer began with the phrase “in this picture” since it sounds natural and also provides the opportunity to include a comma.

Example #3:

There is a large group of people walking on a sidewalk in a city. In the front of the group is a mom in a green shirt, and she is walking beside her little boy. There is a teenager listening to music beside her son and a man in a green shirt beside her.

Teacher Feedback: This is a very long response, so I am impressed by the length and the lack of grammatical errors or typos. My biggest critique is that the sentences all follow the same grammatical structure “is a…”. Try to vary your grammar a bit more.

Example #4:

The men on the ice are in the middle of an exciting hockey game. The man crouched lowest to the ground is attempting to get the small puck into the goal to score a point for his team. The man with the huge white knee pads is trying to block his shot.

Teacher Feedback: This response has a lot of good vocabulary like “crouched”, “puck” and “pads”. This type of topic-specific vocabulary shows the rater that you know a wide range of words. All of the sentences here begin the same way “the man/men…”. Try to vary your grammatical structures next time.

Example #5:

The young couple is sitting on a park bench drinking wine. The young woman in a red scarf has a huge smile on her face because she is in love with the man with brown hair. After they drink wine, they will stroll around the park hand in hand.

Teacher Feedback: The length is excellent. Clearly, this student is a fast typer. I noticed a tiny typo, a missing comma after the phrase “After they drink wine…”, but besides that, this is a strong response.

Example #6:

The man has on a white shirt, a backward hat, and sunglasses. I think he is the clown of the group because he has a funny grin on his face while he is trying to take a group picture. I think those are his friends and he is very well-liked.

Teacher Feedback: I really like the way the writer started this response, with a descriptive list. It afforded the opportunity to use commas and show a range of grammatical capabilities. The second sentence as well includes two clauses, showing the rater that the student can craft more complicated sentences. Well done.

Example #7:

The man in the dark blue shorts is running beside a woman dressed in black on a city street. I see that there are palm trees, so they must be in a place where it is hot, like Florida or California. They will take showers and rest after their workout.

Teacher Feedback: I love the second sentence of this response, which includes a comma and two clauses. It sounds natural and contains no grammatical errors or typos. Excellent example.

Example #8:

In this picture, I see two people running on an empty street. They are training for a race, and I think they are enjoying the scenery while they are running. Behind them, there is a beautiful mountain range and a lovely lake.

Teacher Feedback: The response is strong overall. The writer used good descriptive phrases like “beautiful mountain range” and “lovely lake”, which is much better than just stating, “Behind them, there is a mountain and a lake”.

One extra note before I move on to the next question type:

All of these answers are long.

Do not worry if you can not write this much in 60 seconds. These are examples of the ideal amount to write. Rest assured, you can still score well while writing less.

Read, Then Write: 4 Sample Questions and Answers

Are you tired of writing yet? Or are you hungry for more?

More? Really?

You got it.

A few examples of high-scoring sample answers for the Read, Then Write questions on the Duolingo English Test are coming right up.

Respond to the question in at least 50 words.

“Choose one of the following inventions: the car, the telephone, or the microwave. Explain some of the ways it has changed people’s lives.”

Nowadays, most people agree that the telephone has had a tremendous impact on our lives. First of all, phones have evolved over time, and now almost every person on Earth carries one wherever they go. I still remember when I worked in an office in Osaka and they gave me a company phone. I had to be available all day, everyday. One day I went to the movie theater with my girlfriend at the time and the phone rang right in the middle of the film. I did not want to get fired, so I had to take the call and ruin the movie for everyone in the theater. I felt like a dog on a leash, so I quit. Unfortunately, I have had other jobs where I also had to carry a phone with me at all times. While the car and microwave have impacted our world today, no other invention can quite match the massive effect the telephone has had on our lives. (165 words)

Teacher Feedback: This response is excellent. Even though the directions ask for at least 50 words, this test taker wrote much more. One of the ways he was able to do that was through a personal example. The story about working in Osaka fit perfectly for this particular question.

“Describe your favorite teacher. What qualities did you respect most?”

Over the years, I have attended many classes and had different types of teachers. One teacher who stands out in my mind as the best teacher I have ever had was my high school history teacher. He was extremely compassionate and would hold study sessions before tests to help students who may have been struggling during a unit. His lectures were engaging, and he kept the students gripped with intrigue as he taught. Furthermore, he always made sure that there were hands-on projects to help us further understand the material. I remember one time we were learning about the House of Representatives and the Senate, so he turned the classroom into Congress to help us understand how it worked. I still think about that project every time I hear about politics in America today. He was so dedicated to making sure his students found success. (145 words)

Teacher Feedback: I really like the first two sentences of this sample response. The introduction begins on a general note and the second sentence narrows the topic down. There are also a few good examples of appropriate colloquial phrases like “stands out in my mind” and “gripped with intrigue”. This student displayed an advanced level of lexical and grammatical knowledge in this short text.

“Your local government has decided to improve their community. Do you think they should build a public park, a public library, or a public pool? Provide specific reasons for your opinion.”

Building a public park, library, or school is an important decision for any local government. I believe it is best for the community to build a public park because it can benefit the most people. I remember when I was a kid I went to the Valley Stream State Park almost every day. It was just a five-minute bike ride from my house and it had basketball nets, handball courts, and a huge open field. We used the entire area and played different games depending on our mood and the number of kids. There were also a bunch of older people who used the exercise equipment or jogged around the track. As you can see, building a public park would be the best way to improve the living standard of any community. (131 words)

Teacher Feedback: This response is a good length and contains no grammatical errors or typos, which is rare in a writing response. The author also included a personal example that was relevant to the topic, expanded on the writer’s opinion, and provided the opportunity to include more context-specific vocabulary like “basketball nets” and “handball courts”.

“Imagine that your school requires you to join a club. Would you join an athletic club, academic club, or volunteer group? Explain why.”

If my school required me to join a club and I had the option to choose between an athletic club, an academic club, or a volunteer group, I would choose to be part of an athletic club. Being part of a team has many different benefits. First, it would give me the opportunity to be part of a group and learn how to collaborate with others. Second, I think that it is important for people to learn to manage their time and become a member of a team. I remember when I was on the soccer team in high school and all of my teammates expected me to be at every practice and every game. There was no way to skip out with a bunch of phony excuses, I had to show up no matter what, which helped me later in life to balance work and play. Another reason why I would opt for an athletic club is because it would allow me to move my body and keep active so I can maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there may be arguments for each of these options, I think that I would benefit the most from being part of an athletic club. (202 words)

Teacher Feedback: The first thing I notice is that this response is over 200 words. Well done! Of course, you do not have to write this much and you should not if it hurts your grammatical accuracy, but the length is a helpful factor in boosting your overall score. For this particular student, there were no typos or grammatical mistakes. The writing is clear, well structured, and stays on topic. Well done!

DET Writing Section Summary

You know by now that the Duolingo English Test does not have a writing section, but it does have a couple of specific questions that require you to write.

Besides learning about the questions, you have also read a few examples of high-scoring responses so you know exactly what to do on the day of the exam.

Now it is time for you to actually practice writing your own responses. Use the grading rubric tables below to help you start and check your own writing today. Sign up for your free account with more example questions and answers.

Cue the applause.

Seriously, there are a million other things you could be doing besides preparing for the DET, so be proud of yourself and keep it up.

Don’t forget to sign up for your free account today at TST Prep and gain access to over 400 additional free practice questions for the Duolingo English Test.

Thanks again for reading and drop a comment below if you have any follow-up questions.

Keep studying 🙂

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Your Beginner’s Guide to the Duolingo English Test®

In case you haven’t heard, there is a new English test available for students worldwide: The Duolingo English Test. According to this article published by Top Universities in September 2020, there were 1415 schools in North America accepting the Duolingo English Test. As of Dec 1st, 2023 that number now stands at over 5000 institutions in multiple countries around the globe.

Duolingo English Test® vs. the TOEFL iBT®

Your dream is to study abroad, but the entire process is a massive headache. You have to fill out applications, research visa requirements, and prepare for exams.

One common requirement is an English language proficiency exam. You have probably heard about the TOEFL iBT® before, but there is a chance you might be able to take a new test: the Duolingo English Test®

Duolingo English Practice Test with Answers

Ready to take a free and complete Duolingo English Practice Test? Just create an account here and gain access to this test and over 100 additional practice questions for the Duolingo English Test®.

Taking a practice test is only half the battle. You also need to learn about the structure of the test and how to study in a way that will help improve your score.

The TOEFL Essentials® Test: 8 Things You Need to Know

Exciting, right?

Not really, I know, but if you need a TOEFL score for school or work, read closely to learn about the Essentials test and what makes it different from the TOEFL iBT®.

I want to make this as painless as possible (because reading about the TOEFL is painful), so I have organized the article into frequently asked questions.

TOEFL iBT® Paper Edition: Your Top 10 Questions Answered by ETS®

Registration has already begun for the brand new TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test, with the first tests scheduled to be administered in Colombia, Mexico, the United States, and India in December 2021.

Wait, wait, wait… what?

A TOEFL iBT Paper Edition? I thought you had to take the TOEFL iBT on a computer.

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Published on November 2, 2021 by English Proficiency Editorial Team

Best Duolingo English Test Tips and Tricks

If you’ve decided to take the Duolingo English Test , the following best tips and tactics might help you improve your score on your first attempt. Of course, you may retake the test, if necessary, but it is preferable to be as prepared as possible the first time to save time and money.

What is the Duolingo English Test (DET)?

Adaptive questions , video interview and writing sample, 4 general tips for the a successful test experience, 7 practical study tips for the det, faqs about the det preparation.

First offered in 2016, the Duolingo English Test is a digital English language proficiency test that helps students certify their English level while applying for various purposes such as higher studies. Like its counterparts, the Duolingo English Test focuses on four areas of a language: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

Over 3,000 educational institutions presently accept the Duolingo English Test in over 50 countries.

The two main sections are the Adaptive Test and Video Interview & Writing Section of the Duolingo English Test. In the Adaptive Test section, expect a combination of varied questions.

The degree of difficulty of the questions changes each test taker since the algorithm creates progressively difficult questions based on the candidate’s performance. The candidate’s speaking and writing abilities are assessed in the Video Interview & Writing exam portion.

Preparation Tips for Each Section

Here’s how you prepare for each section of the Duolingo English Test:

1. Read And Select (Select The Actual English Words In This List)

You must trust your instincts, comprehension, and familiarity with the English language in this situation. There may be more English words in specific questions than in others; in other words, there may be any number of actual English words.

Some words may even appear to be real, although they may be missing one or two letters. You have an option to pick and deselect words if you change your mind.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Read and Select

How to Prepare for this Section?

Building vocabulary collection.
Having a reading habit.
Watching English movies or YouTube videos.
Having English conversations with English-speaking peers.
Read carefully. Some words look real but have slight differences from actual words.
There could be many real words in the list, so don’t worry if one question has more than another.

2. Listen And Select (Select The Real English Words From An Audio List)

Trust your instincts, comprehension, and grasp of the English language, just like you did before.

Pay attention to the syllables of each word since certain words may change slightly from the genuine ones. It’s a good idea to double-check the wording before moving forward.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Listen and Select

How to Prepare for this Section?

Watch English movies or YouTube videos
Listen to English podcasts
Listen carefully. Some fake words may have slight differences from real ones.
Click on the speaker icon to replay each word as many times as you want.

3. Read And Complete (Type The Missing Letters To Complete The Paragraph)

You must complete the missing letters in selected words in a provided text for this job. But, instead of focusing on the missing letters or words, read the paragraph.

Make sure you grasp the context of the passage since this will aid you in filling in the blanks.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Read and Complete

Read non-fiction such as newspapers, novels, or any advanced English articles.
Read the passage before focusing on each word.
Use context clues to help you complete the words.

4. Listen And Type (Type The Statement That You Hear)

Because this question type enables you to listen to the statement 2-3 times, it’s a good idea to write it down after the first time you hear it.

After hearing the statement, a second and third time, make the proper corrections.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Listen and Type

Listen to American podcasts.
Pay close attention to any idioms or unfamiliar turns of phrases.
Type out what you hear first, then check your response by replaying the statement.
You can replay the statement up to two times (three plays total) by clicking on the speaker icon.

5. Read Aloud (Record Yourself Saying A Given Statement)

This is likely one of the few sorts of questions for which you may prepare on your own by reading books, articles, and other written material aloud.

Before moving on to the following question, students should check for each punctuation mark in each phrase, pause, and pronounce accurately.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Read Aloud

Practice reading aloud.
Record and listen to yourself and assess any mistakes afterward.
Exercise speaking the statement once out loud before recording your answer.
It will only take 20 seconds, and you only have one chance to record, so do the best you can.

6. Speak About The Photo (Speak The English Word For Each Image)

After the prompt, you have 20 seconds to organize your response and speak at a regular tempo while enunciating appropriately since the recording for your answer.

According to Duolingo, you should describe the snapshot as if you were describing it to a blind person. It’s also a good idea not to panic if you slip while speaking; recover and resume your response.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Speak About the Photo

Don’t stress.
Read magazines, picture books.
You’ll have 20 seconds to look at the image before the recording begins. Take this time to plan.
Try to describe the image to someone who can’t see it.
Don’t panic if you stumble–just keep going.

7. Write About The Photo (Write One Or More Sentences That Describe The Image)

While it is simpler to describe the picture before moving on to the next question, it is preferable to go the extra mile. All test takers have the option, try writing more than one phrase.

Before moving on to the next question, double-check your grammar and spelling once you’ve finished writing your response.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Write About the Photo

Revise adjectives and adverbs.
Use vocabulary that you know.
Focus on the general idea of the picture.
Practice writing.
Try to go beyond simple labeling and describe the image in detail.
The directions ask for one sentence, but try to write more than one if you can.

8. Read, Then Speak (Prepare To Speak For At Least 30 Seconds)

While responding to the prompt, talk confidently, at a consistent tempo, and enunciate clearly, just like you would for any other speaking question in the section. It’s critical to notice that you’ve addressed all of the prompt’s components.

Before moving on to the recording screen, it’s crucial to plan and prepare your response.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Read Then Speak

Practice speaking for one minute and record yourself.
Assess your pronunciation and cadence.
Identify areas of improvement.
Speak naturally and clearly, and use varied words and sentence structures.
Make sure you’ve answered all of the components of the question.

9. Read, Then Write (Respond To The Questions In At Least 50 Words)

Allow yourself plenty of time to plan and arrange your response to the challenge. Candidates are to write as much as possible as long as they use proper English grammar.

Once the applicant has typed 50 words, the algorithm will select “ Next,” although students may also click manually. As a result, double-check your response’s spelling and punctuation before moving on to the next question.

Duolingo English Test Exam Format Adaptive Questions Read Then Write

Practice free-writing for short 5-minute periods
Revise spelling and grammar
Write as much as you can, and make sure your response is relevant to the topic and you are using English effectively.
Don’t forget to proofread your response before submitting it.

10. Listen, Then Speak (Speak The Answer To The Questions You Hear)

Before recording your response to the question, have a good grasp of the question, similar to the prior kind. However, you can only play the prompt twice after the initial time. You must talk continuously for 30 seconds to answer the question. Once the 30 seconds are up, the “Next” button on the screen will turn orange to signify this.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Adaptive Questions Listen then Speak

Unlike the Duolingo Adaptive Test, the Video and Writing part only assesses the candidate’s speaking and writing abilities.

Here are ways to ace the Duolingo English Test 2021’s Ungraded Video and Writing Sample parts.

1. Speaking Sample (Choose One Topic To Talk About For 1-3 Minutes)

This task provides you with some prompts on the topic they want you to discuss. The Duolingo English Test evaluates and assesses your fluency, correctness, pronunciation, and how effectively you can comprehend.

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Video Interview Speaking Sample

Practice speaking for one minute and record yourself
Assess your pronunciation and cadence
Identify areas of improvement
Choose the topic that inspires you to say more.
Don’t be distracted by the timer.
The Duolingo English Test will send your speaking sample as a video recording so recipients see your response and the topic.

2. Writing Sample (Write 3 To 5 Minutes About The Topic Below)

This part of the test will allow you to demonstrate your extraordinary writing abilities on one of the themes provided. The Duolingo English Test will give you hints about what to include.

So, it will put your ability to follow instructions put to the test. To ensure that you exhibit your writing style and basic English knowledge, try to write for as much as possible (5 minutes and 500 words is the limit).

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern Video Interview Writing Sample

The following tips will ease your anxiety while preparing for it. Remember to organize and prepare as much as possible, so make use of all available resources.

In addition to the tips and tactics listed above, here is some general advice to help you navigate the test-taking process and make it simpler.

1. Watch The Video Walkthrough

To familiarize yourself with the structure, watch a brief overview of the exam experience—it only takes 3 minutes!

2. Take A Free Practice Test

Taking the practice test allows you to become familiar with the time limits of each question type and guarantees that you can transition swiftly between them. You may take the sample exam as many times as you like for free! When you finish the sample exam, you’ll get an idea of your score range. For a thorough understanding of how the scoring process works, check out The Complete Scoring Guide for the Duolingo English Test .

Remember that the sample exam is shorter (just 8 minutes), not proctored, and the score range is unofficial and inaccurate.

3. Prepare The Test Environment

If you opt to take the exam, make sure you have a reliable internet connection and a distraction-free environment. More so, ensure to have your passport, government ID, or a driver’s license on hand.

Check your computer thoroughly to ensure that the browser supports the Duolingo English Test and has a front-facing camera, microphone, and speakers.

4. Understand The Rules

After finishing it, proctors will examine your test video to make sure you followed the guidelines, including not wearing headphones, engaging with people, not using your phone or other devices, and not looking offscreen.

If you don’t follow these guidelines during the test, you’ll have to retake it. The DET will give the exam rules in the FAQs and directions at the start of the exam.

After you’ve completed the first DET practice test, score yourself to see which areas of the exam will require the most preparation. Take responsibility for your learning, and study efficiently and effectively.

The following are some study suggestions that may be useful to you:

1. Plan The Day Of The Exam

After deciding which exam you’ll take, scheduling your exam is an excellent place to begin. When you know when your exam is, you may schedule your studying appropriately so that you’re ready when it’s time to take it.

2. Create A Study Plan

As you plan, reflect on what works and what does not for you. Is it more effective to study for long periods once or twice a week, or is it more effective to review for thirty minutes every night? Is there a specific time of day when you’re more productive?

You can organize your study sessions now that you know how much time you need to study and how much time you have available. Make a note of your study sessions on your calendar, just like you would any other obligation. This will help you recall that this time has been set out just for learning.

3. Focus On Your Areas Of Weakness

It’s advisable to spend your time and attention on improving the areas of your exam that require the most work after you’ve recognized them. Try incorporating English practice into your daily routine in addition to standard practice activities.

If you need to enhance your listening abilities, for example, consider listening to a daily English-speaking podcast to aid understanding.

4. Read, Speak And Write In English

The test’s vocabulary section evaluates your ability to recognize English words. Reading articles, news stories, social media postings, emails, and academic word lists as much as possible is the most excellent method to recall terms.

5. Revise And Practice Writing

Start writing and work on your descriptive language skills.

Try to utilize a new and intriguing descriptive language to write short sentences about objects you notice around you.

6. Revise Grammar Structures

Start reading and pay attention to the grammatical structures.

Read a book, a magazine, a website, or a blog. Examine various grammatical patterns in various forms of writing.

7. Read And Read Aloud

To improve your intonation, record yourself reciting certain sentences. Test your pronunciation with the new terminology you’ve learned by watching YouTube videos with the proper pronunciation.

Believe in the saying “practice makes it perfect!”.

You will get more and more familiar with the test structure and hone your English skills through practice. The Duolingo English test also provides several practice tests for candidates to take before taking the exam properly. This will support you in determining the degree of difficulty of the questions on the test.

Remember to practice and read as much as you can in English. You should familiarize yourself with the test and be as prepared as possible if you follow these tips and methods.

1. Is It Possible To Get Full-Length Duolingo English Test Practice Papers For Free?

No. A full-length practice exam is not available for free. Practice papers with a shorter duration and fewer questions are free online through the Duolingo English Test account. A free sample paper might assist you in comprehending the exam format for Duolingo English Test .

2. How Long Should You Prepare For The Duolingo English Test?

First, assess yourself and ask how much time you can commit to studying and preparing. Next, check your English skills.

If you have a good command of the English language, you should pass the Duolingo English Test with just two weeks of study. You can use the Duolingo English Test practice tests and sample questions accessible online during this time.

3. Is The Difficulty Of The Online Duolingo English Test Practice Sheets Comparable To The Real Duolingo English Test?

Yes, the Duolingo English Test practice tests and the actual test have identical exam formats, difficulty levels, question types, and scoring algorithms.

However, the practice test will only give you an idea of your score range and not accurately assess you.

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28 Duolingo Tips That EVERY User Should Know About

Posted by by Matt
Last updated: August 12, 2022
15 minute read

This mega list of Duolingo tips will help you get the absolute maximum out of your Duolingo experience!

I’ve been using Duolingo since 2014 and my current streak is over 5 years old. In that time I’ve learnt a lot about Duolingo and the best ways to approach it.

So I’ve racked my brain and come up with 28 pro tips to help you become a Duolingo master.

Let’s get into it!

This page may contain affiliate links. This means that we may receive a commission for any sign-ups or purchases made, but at no extra cost to you . Learn more

1. Don’t worry about your League

One of the biggest mistakes new and long-term Duolingo users have in common is making a big deal out of their league.

Instead of focussing on improving in their target language, they become more invested in getting promoted and winning their leagues.

While the league system is great for keeping you committed to Duolingo, it has a tendency to encourage bad habits, such as constantly going back over the easy lessons.

I’ve also found it’s one of the biggest culprits for turning people away from Duolingo. They get so burnt out from the constant grind that they eventually throw in the towel and give up on learning their target language altogether.

My advice is to take the league system lightly. Treat it as a secondary concern. See it as a bit of fun. Remember that your league is not a reflection of your ability in your target language.

(For a more detailed breakdown of Duolingo Leagues, be sure to check out this article ).

2. Focus on Crowns

As far as I’m concerned, one of the best measures of your ability in your target language is how many crowns you have in it.

This is because, unlike XP, unlocking crowns requires you to progress through your tree. You can earn lots of XP by simply going back over the easy lessons every day. And while this will do wonders for your league position, it won’t help you improve in your target language.

In theory, the more crowns you have, the more you know about your target language. So take this as your goal and you will be sure to make progress.

(For a more detailed explanation of why your Duolingo crowns matter, be sure to check out this article ).

Follow me on Duolingo!

Up for some friendly competition? Then be sure to follow me on Duolingo!

My username is DCiiieee 🙂

(If the link doesn’t work then just type my username into the ‘Search for friends’ bar on the app )

3. Keep your streak

Alongside your crowns, I believe that a solid streak is a great indicator of language learning success.

Now it’s important to note that a good streak itself doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing well in your language. Again, you could just keep your streak alive by doing the easy lessons every day.

The importance of your streak is found in the habit that it creates. Learning a language is a long term commitment. You have to show up every day for a very long time in order to see results.

Your streak is the manifestation of this commitment. By making it a priority, you ensure that you login and engage with your target language every day. This is really important. Consistency won’t necessarily carry you to fluency, but fluency does require consistency. That’s something to think about!

( Be sure to check out this article for a more detailed explanation of why I think maintaining your Duolingo streak is important).

4. …but don’t cheat

It’s also important to note that you’ve got to keep your streak clean .

In addition to ensuring that you’re pressing forward in your tree, you also need to resist the temptation to use Streak Freezes or Streak Repairs.

The reason is simple: if you miss a day, but you preserve your streak with one of these tools, then it’s no longer a streak. It may say that you’ve logged in and used Duolingo every day for 365 days in a row, but the reality is that you haven’t. It’s a deception.

This might not seem like a big deal, but it’s all about those habits that you adopt. If you do it once, then you’ll almost certainly do it again… and again… and again… until eventually the whole point of keeping a streak is lost.

So keep it clean. If you miss a day, let it go. This can be hard, especially if your streak is super long. But keeping a zombie streak won’t do you any favours in the long run.

5. Set a manageable daily goal

In the interests of creating a healthy language learning habit, I think it’s a good idea to set a healthy daily goal.

Some argue that it’s best to set a really high daily XP goal, as it will force you to spend more time on Duolingo than usual. I think this approach has some merit, particularly if you have a clear and compelling reason for learning your target language.

But more often than not it’s actually counter-productive. Doing too much in too short a time frame can lead to burnout. And burnout, as I mentioned above, is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t succeed on Duolingo.

It can also be really frustrating. If you’re a non-Plus member, which most of you will be, then you’ll know how frustrating the heart system can be . Setting a high daily goal will make it more likely that you exhaust your heart reserves, and this will prevent you from completing any more lessons.

In my opinion, the best thing to do is to set a manageable daily goal. 10 XP a day isn’t much, but it will make it easier for you to log in every day and complete your lessons. Of course, you don’t have to stop there if you don’t want to. If you still have hearts available and you’re motivated to carry on then there’s nothing stopping you from diving into more lessons.

The important thing is that you keep coming back. It’s better to do 20 XP every day than to do 100 XP one day but not show up again for another week.

6. Practice to unlock hearts

While we’re on the subject of hearts, one of the easiest ways to unlock more is to do a practice session.

You simply tap on your hearts at the top of the screen and select ‘Practice’.

The cool thing about these sessions is that you can work on your target language without the fear of losing any of your hearts, and also know that at the end of the session you will unlock another. This will allow you to dive back into your tree and pick up where you left off.

I go into more detail on how to beat the heart system in this article , so be sure to check it out if you’re getting frustrated!

7. Consider Duolingo Plus

This is something that many, including myself, have been too quick to dismiss over the years.

For a long time I vowed that I would never subscribe to Duolingo Plus (Duolingo’s premium membership). It seemed too pricey and didn’t seem to add much to the free experience, which is already one of the best deals in language learning.

But in recent times Duolingo have really stepped up their premium offering. It now packs a ton of cool features, including Pronunciation Review, Mistake Practice, Mastery Quiz, and, perhaps best of all, unlimited hearts. It also removes adverts and allows you to download your courses for offline use.

It’s still pretty pricey at $83.88 for the year. But if you use Duolingo regularly and know you will continue to do so then it’s definitely worth considering. I’ve been using it for over a year now and recently resubscribed for another.

(For a detailed review of Duolingo Plus and whether it’s worth the price, be sure to check out this article ).

8. Don’t skip the tips

Not all of Duolingo’s language courses include the Tips sections, but for the ones that do they’re definitely worth looking at.

When I started learning French I found myself ignoring them and just diving straight in to the lessons. I had enough knowledge from Italian to help me through those early lessons, so I just didn’t see the point.

But as I progressed through the tree, I started to consult the tips pages a bit more. And to my surprise they’re actually really well written, presented and explained.

So be sure to give them a glance.

9. Read the Stories

To be honest, I don’t think this is something that I really need to encourage.

Stories are one of the coolest features on Duolingo at the moment. They pretty much sell themselves given how well written and utterly hillarious most of them are. I regularly find myself binging the French ones as they’re so brilliant.

And the best bit is that they actually have a positive effect on your language learning. They’re all about testing and improving your reading and listening comprehension. They take everything you’ve learned in the standard tree and present it in an authentic environment.

The result is that you start using the language as opposed to simply learning it. This is a big deal.

If you’re learning French or Spanish then you’re in luck, as there are absolutely loads of stories available and their libraries are constantly growing. There’s plenty to choose from in German, Portuguese and Italian as well, albeit they’re not as well catered to.

Anyone currently learning Japanese can get excited as this is the next language to be getting Stories.

( Be sure to check out my complete guide to Duolingo Stories here ).

10. Use the forums

The Duolingo forums are brilliant to use alongside your Duolingo studies.

This is where the Duolingo community congregates to discuss all things Duolingo and language learning.

Here you will find conversation about all aspects, including course-specific discussions, general language learning chatter, as well as the future of Duolingo and possible updates.

It’s a great place to ask questions if you’re getting stuck, and to mingle with like-minded users. You never know, you might find yourself a language learning buddy with whom you can practice your conversation skills with!

11. …and for confusing questions

Another great use of the forums is through the questions you answer in your language tree.

Whenever you answer a question, you get the option to discuss it on the forums. Each question has its own forum page, so you can hop in and ask for clarification if ever you get confused.

This is really useful if the question is a particularly confusing one, as you can guarantee that others have had the same difficulties.

12. Don’t forget to report

The above is also useful for when a question just doesn’t make sense — and isn’t supposed to because there’s an error.

The guys at Duolingo are only human, after all, so sometimes mistakes are made. It could be that your answer was correct and should have been accepted, but was marked wrong. This can be really frustrating, especially if you only have a couple of hearts left.

Not only is the forum a useful place to find out if others are having the same issue, but you can also report the problem to Duolingo by tapping the flag icon. This will let the guys at Duolingo know that there’s an issue with one of their questions. If enough people do this, then the issue will get resolved.

13. Tune in to the podcasts

This is another feature that is unfortunately limited to only a couple of languages. But if you’re studying French or Spanish, then the Duolingo podcasts are definitely something you should consider checking out.

I’ve listened to a few of the French ones and they’re actually really good. They’re usually about 20 to 30 minutes long and combine English and French to great effect. They’re easy to follow and the topics are usually pretty interesting.

And even better news for those learning Spanish: Duolingo have created a 6-part mini-series which they describe as “ the world’s first-ever true crime series designed specifically for language learners “. I haven’t listened to it myself, but from the previews, I’d say it sounds pretty cool!

You can access the Duolingo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify, and they’re 100% free.

14. Try not to skip the speaking exercises

The speaking exercises have long been one of the most frustrating exercises on Duolingo.

The AI can be really strict about some of the pronunciations to the point that nothing you say will be accepted. On the flip side, sometimes you can pronounce something completely wrong and it will accept your answer.

As a result it can be really tempting to tap ‘Can’t Speak Now’ and avoid speaking altogether.

I’ll hold my hands up and say that I’m just as guilty as anyone of doing this. They’re just too inconsistent. And besides, it can be pretty embarrassing repeating the same thing over and over again when other people are in the room with you. Sometimes I’d rather just avoid it altogether.

As frustrating as it is, though, it still isn’t in our best interests to do this. Even if the exercises aren’t accurate, it’s still good practice to speak every once in a while. If you skip the speaking exercises too often, then, trust me, your pronunciation will suffer.

Anyone with Duolingo Plus will know that Duolingo have gone some way to helping with this recently. Pronunciation Review gives you the opportunity to listen back to your recordings. So even if the AI continues to reject your answer, you can at least know yourself whether or not you’re getting it right.

15. Keep moving forward

I’ve referred to this a couple of times already but it’s worth repeating because it’s so important.

You must resist the temptation to coast along in the easy lessons. While this may be the best way to avoid losing hearts and to storm up the league standings, it won’t do your language learning prospects any favours.

You should always be looking to step out of your comfort zone. On Duolingo, this means moving on to the next skills as soon as possible.

Personally, I like to take two steps forward and one step back: I’ll throw myself into a new skill as soon as I unlock it and try to unlock the first crown; I’ll then go back to a previous skill and level it up. This way I can ensure I’m making progress while at the same time keeping everything else I’ve learned fresh.

You might want to read this article from the Duolingo Blog about the Hover technique as it’s pretty much what I do!

16. Dabble with desktop

I don’t do this as much as I used to, but something you might like to consider is to mix up your Duolingo usage between the app and the desktop version.

While the app is definitely more convenient and, in my opinion, more versatile, the desktop version also has a few tricks up its sleeve.

If you’re a free member, then you can use the desktop version to avoid the heart system. So if you’ve lost all your hearts but you’d like to keep your language learning session going, hop on over to the desktop site and pick up where you left off.

Another cool thing about the desktop version is that you get access to a list of all your encountered words. You can see all the words Duolingo thinks you’ve learned in your target language, as well as a strength bar and when you last practised it.

Again, this isn’t something I use as much as I used to. As a Plus member I don’t have to worry about hearts, and the word strength stuff I get over at LingQ while I’m reading through news articles and song lyrics . But for free members this is definitely something worth playing around with.

Duome.eu is a cool little website that you can use to really dig into your Duolingo stats and flesh out your experience.

It’s a fan-made website that collates loads of data from Duolingo and presents it in a bunch of different leaderboards.

It’s got a hall of fame for longest streak, most crowns, golden owls and more. You can find your stats by typing duome.eu/*yourusername* into your browser’s address bar.

Better still, you can also access the vocabulary lists for every course. This is great if you want to create flashcards or you simply want to go over everything you’ve encountered.

18. XP Ramp Up Challenge

This has been one of my favourite features on Duolingo for a few months now.

XP Ramp Up is a timed challenge available via the league tab on IOS devices. It tests your comprehension speed (as well as your nerves) by throwing a bunch of questions at you, which you have to answer before the time runs out.

If you answer them all before the time runs out, you will earn a cool 40 XP. If you don’t manage it, then you’ll usually earn 5 to 10 XP for your efforts.

( You can learn more about XP Ramp Up in this article , in which I share several tips to help you succeed more often).

Personally I’m not that bothered about the XP side of things. What I’m most interested in is the timed aspect. Answering questions with a timer looming over you forces you to think instinctively, and this is great for improving your comprehension.

Better still, XP Ramp Up doesn’t use up your hearts, so this is a great option for non-Plus members.

19. Get acquainted with your settings

This one might sound a little stupid, but hear me out.

How familiar are you with the settings menu?

Here you’ll find a bunch of cool settings that you can use to propel you to language learning success. You can tweak your daily goal, manage your courses, and dive into the help center if ever you’re having any issues.

The most important settings you’ll want to adjust though can be found under the Notifications heading. Here, as you might expect, is where you control the notifications that the owl sends you. For maximum commitment, I recommend setting up device and email reminders for your daily lessons and picking a convenient time to receive them.

This bit is really important. Don’t leave it set for 09:00 am if you know that’s when you start work, otherwise you’ll be more inclined to ignore it and annoy the owl in the process!

Instead, set it for a time that will work for you more often than not. It could be first thing in the morning when you’re having your breakfast, in the middle of the day when you’re having your lunch, or at the end of the day when you’re winding down.

20. Look for the capitals

A cool little hack if ever you’re stuck in a lesson is to keep an eye out for the capital letters.

If you have a word bank exercise, in which you have a selection of cards and you have to pick the right ones to match the sentence, have a look and see if you can spot one with a capital letter.

There won’t always be a capitalised word, but if ever there is this will usually be the first word of the sentence.

I’ve noticed this isn’t as common as it used to be (maybe Duolingo have realised and started to snuff it out). Certainly in the French course the French cards rarely seem to have any capitals. But when you’re translating from French to English, the English cards still usually have a capitalised word.

This will probably vary from course to course, so keep your eyes peeled.

21. XP Boosts

Again, this is another feature that, for some reason, doesn’t grace every course. I don’t even know why as it wouldn’t be hard to incorporate.

But on the French course, whenever you complete a level, you will usually unlock an XP Boost. This is a timed boost that doubles your XP for about 15 minutes. You’ll know when it’s on as there will be a little XP Boost icon showing on your lesson tree.

If you’re really intent on doing well in your league, then you can use these boosts strategically to your advantage. The best course of action is to hold off on completing a level until the start of your language learning session. This way you can ensure that every lesson you complete earns you double XP.

If you unlock an XP Boost at the end of your session then it will go to waste, as the time starts as soon as you unlock it.

So if you’re determined to get as much XP as possible, be sure to take this into consideration.

22. Combo bonuses

Further to the above, if you’re hell-bent on maximising your XP totals, then be sure to keep an eye on your combo bonus.

This is awarded based on how many correct answers you get in a row, with 5 XP being the maximum award (10 if you have an XP Boost active).

This is dished out at the end of the lesson along with the rest of your lesson XP. So if you complete a lesson without making any mistakes, you’ll bag yourself 15 XP as opposed to 10.

23. Tap the pairs

I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to notice this.

It’s not much of a tip as it doesn’t really help that much. But it might save you a bit of time if, until now, you’ve been looking in the wrong places.

The Tap The Pairs exercises always have the root language down the left-hand side of the screen, and the target language down the right. So if you’re learning French from English, the English words will be down the left and the French words will be down the right.

Again, this probably won’t be of much use, and you might have already spotted it. But if some of the words on both sides are similar, it could prevent you from making a mistake.

24. Skip levels if they’re too easy

If you’re coasting along in a skill then this is definitely something you should consider.

Tap on the skill in your lesson tree and you should find a little Key button. If you tap it you’ll be given the opportunity to sit a test, which will assess whether or not you can skip forward to the next level.

The tests are harder than the standard lessons in that you don’t get any hints. Make three or more mistakes and you get a big fat fail.

This is something I recommend doing if you’re flying through a level and you don’t feel as though you’re learning much.

In fact, if your performance is strong enough, Duolingo will ask if you want to skip to the next level without even needing to sit the usual test. This happens when you complete two lessons in a row without getting any of the questions wrong.

25. Tap flags to see XP and Crowns

If you’re anything like me then you’ll have dabbled with a few different languages on Duolingo.

If you’d like to see your stats for these languages, specifically how much XP you’ve acquired in each, then doing so is really simple.

All you need to do is navigate to your profile page and then simply tap on the list of flags beneath your details. Here you will find a breakdown of all of your languages and how much XP you’ve acquired.

To see how many crowns you’ve unlocked in each language, just tap on the flag in the top left corner of your language tree and select your desired language. Your crowns for that language will be recorded just to the right of the flag.

26. Tap friends/users to compare stats

Want to see how you stack up compared to your pals? Well Duolingo have made it easier than ever.

Just head over to your friend list on your profile page and tap on the account of a user you’d like to compare your stats with.

You’ll find a neat little graph which tracks your XP for the week vs your friend’s, as well as some other statistics including streak length, XP total, crown total, and current league. You can also view all the achievements they’ve earned.

This isn’t something you need to take that seriously. It’s just a bit of fun that adds to the overall learning experience!

27. Check the Incubator

The Incubator is where you’ll find everything you need to know about upcoming courses and updates.

It’s currently split into three sections. Incubation Phase 1 contains details of courses not yet released; Phase 2 contains details of courses currently released in beta; Phase 3 contains all the courses that have graduated from beta and that are now live.

And if you want, you can also contribute to up and coming courses. Know both Swedish and Russian? Then why not contribute to the Swedish course for Russian speakers!

28. Reverse tree

I’ve left this one until last as it’s not something I’ve actually done, but I know it’s something that a lot of Duolingo users recommend.

The reverse tree involves flipping (or reversing) your target language with your root language. So if you’ve been learning French from English, you would instead ‘learn’ English from French.

It’s recommended that you do this after you’ve completed the tree to mix things up.

Although this isn’t something I’ve done myself, I can see a lot of merit in it. It looks like a great way of keeping things fresh and allows you to come at your target language from a different angle.

Alternatively, if you’re that confident in your target language, you could even learn a new language from your newly acquired one. For instance if you’ve recently completed the Spanish tree and now you’d like to learn Russian, then you could do so with Spanish as your native language.

It’s definitely something you can get creative with, so be sure to give it a whirl if you’re feeling confident!

Have your say!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that you will find some of the tips I’ve shared useful!

But is there anything I’ve missed out?

Perhaps you disagree with some of the ones I’ve included?

Do you have any top tips that you’d like to share?

Let me know in the comments!

Hey! I'm Matt, the Duolingo-nut behind duoplanet. I started using Duolingo back in 2014, and my current streak stretches all the way back to May 2016. Using Duolingo I've reached a comfortable level in Italian and acquired a basic understanding of Russian. I've also gone deep into the Spanish, German and French courses, and intend to explore more languages in the years to come. Needless to say, I'm obsessed with language learning!

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Great tips, Matt! I’ve been a Duo user for a little over 4 years and I am addicted. (French) I also just discovered the audio lessons with “Paul & Estelle”. As you probably know, Paul is Ngofeen who hosts the podcasts! Fantastique! Deb

Hey Matt! Thanks a bunch for the tips. I really hope to implement them as soon as possible into my Duo learning.

No problem. Hope they help!

Hey Matt? Great article and tips. I read them all! Perhaps you can help as Duolingo Support has been totally unresponsive. I cannot get my progress/achievements to populate in Friend Updates. I can see and comment on all of my friends progress but mine don’t materialize. I’ve checked and rechecked my profile settings and it’s set to “Public.” Any insights would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks!

Looks like a lot of good tips. Too bad Duolingo got rid of the discussion forums, they were one of the best parts of the app!

one of the things i do, i’m taking german on duolingo and i do french at school, so i take french from german. it really helps!

I have a question On my desktop, I can’t tell which sessions I have already completed. They all show up, and I find myself repeating ones I have successfully completed. I do the ‘level up’ exercise, and it still shows up the next time I log on.

Would appreciate your help!

I’m having trouble answering some of the questions on my Duolingo phone app because some of the answers are covered up by the “Check” button.

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"Writing Sample" - Guide to Duolingo English Test Question (2024)

Many people consider the “Writing Sample” one of the most challenging questions on the Duolingo English Test. It's also confusing because it's not clear if it's graded or not (It is graded. More on that later.)

By the end of this post, you will see why the "Writing Sample" is easier than you think and you'll learn how to do well on it.

What is the “writing sample” question type, what is special about the "writing sample".

Tips to do well on the “Writing Sample” question

How to use the I LAST strategy to get a great score

How to practice the “writing sample” question.

The “Writing Sample” question looks like this:

Example of the "Writing Sample" from the Duolingo English Test

You will have 5 minutes to write about the topic provided. You have to write at least 50 words and for at least 3 minutes.

But, we recommend that you write at least 120 words . The reason is simple: If you don’t write enough, you won’t be able to get a high score. Later in the post we’re going to look at a strategy that will help you generate ideas and write 120 words.

Your response to this question counts toward your Literacy and Production subscores. It appears just one time on the test.

Your response to the "Writing Sample" will be sent along with your test scores. The recipients of your test scores will receive your response to the "Writing Sample" so that they can evaluate your writing themselves.

☝️Note that your "Writing Sample" is still scored and counts toward your subscores and overall score.

Tips to do well on the “Writing Sample" question

Read the question carefully.

This sounds obvious, but it is easy to misunderstand the question or miss important details during the test because you may be nervous or stressed. Slow down and read the question multiple times to make sure you understand it.

Plan your response

You will be given 30 seconds to read the prompt and prepare your answer. Use all of that time to plan your response. That way, you know what you are going to say and you can focus on writing.

Keep your response organized

A well-organized response will gain you a significant number of points. Here is a video in which you can learn a useful strategy for the Writing Sample:

Save time to proofread your answer

If your response has typos, missing words, or other easy-to-fix mistakes, it will be impossible to get a high score. That’s why it is crucial that you save time to proofread your response.

For the “Writing Sample”, we recommend that you stop writing when there are 60 seconds left and using the rest of your time to proofread your response.

But if you don't have 120 words when there is a minute left, you should keep writing until you get to 120 words then use your remaining time to proofread and edit.

The key to doing well on Production questions like this one is to use a strategy. The right strategy makes it easy to do all the things you need to do to get a high score.

For the “Writing Sample”, we recommend the I LAST strategy:

Identify : Identify the topic
List : List out the tasks Duolingo wants you to perform
Answer : Answer the question or state your viewpoint directly
Support : Support your answer
Three : Provide three examples

Let’s use I LAST in an example. Here is a topic provided by Duolingo:

Describe behaviors that are important for success in school. Why are these behaviors important? How would some of those behaviors help you? Use examples from personal experience and observations to explain your perspective.

Identify the topic ⇒ Behaviors that are important for success in school
List out the tasks Duolingo wants me to perform ⇒ Duolingo wants me to:
Describe behaviors that are important for success in school
Explain why those behaviors are important and how they help
Use examples and observations from personal experience
Answer the question or state your viewpoint directly ⇒ I'm going to start my answer with a sentence like the following that lists out the behaviors that I think are important: "I believe that the three most important behaviors for success in school are..."
Support your answer & Provide three examples ⇒ Now, I need to defend my answer. This is best done by providing examples. Three examples is the perfect amount.

Here is my full response:

I believe that the three most important behaviors for success in school are staying disciplined, persevering through setbacks, and being strategic.

First, success in school does not happen overnight. It's like the old adage, "Rome was not built in a day." In order to acquire new knowledge and gain new skills, you have to learn a little bit each day. This consistency requires discipline. In my personal experience, this principle was most important in my study of mathematics. I never had a big breakthrough with math. Rather, I learned it a little bit at a time.

Second, persevering through setbacks is also important. I did not get top marks on every single assignment. In fact, I often did poorly! But I never gave up. This enabled me to go from a bad mark on an assignment to a good mark on the exam, which, in turn, resulted in a high, final mark in the class.

Finally, you need to be strategic. You need to think about how you can get top marks. Which assignments or exams contribute the most to your overall grade? Which ones don't? Being strategic like this means that you can get maximum results for the efforts that you make.

Simply writing answers to practice “Writing Sample” questions won’t help you very much. To improve, you need feedback.

That's exactly what Arno provides 😁 We give you instant scoring and feedback about your grammar and vocabulary. Let's see why it's such a great way to prepare for the DET.

1) Go to duolingo.goarno.io . If you don’t already have one, just create a free account.

2) Click on the “Writing Sample” question type.

3) Go through the steps of I LAST and type in your response.

4) When “1:15” (75 seconds) remains on the timer, review your response. Look for obvious mistakes like typos and missing words first, then make other edits.

Example of a Writing Sample practice question in Arno

5) Once you submit your response, Arno will give you a score. You can also see the different kinds of feedback, like on your grammar.

6) To understand why something was incorrect, just click "Explain why".

Arno's explanation of why something was grammatically incorrect

7) Look at the other kinds of feedback Arno provides. Make note of any grammar mistakes you made, suggestions for better vocabulary words, and any ideas for how you can write better by emulating the rewritten version.

Vocabulary Tips and the Rewritten Version feedback in Arno

7) Click the right arrow at the bottom to proceed to the next question. In Arno, there are unlimited practice questions!

How to move to the next question in Arno

Now you have a complete understanding of the "Writing Sample," and, more importantly, you know how to do well on it. By using Arno to practice with the I LAST strategy, you can get great at this question!

Arno is a great way to practice not just the “Writing Sample” question but all question types on the Duolingo English Test! To get started, just click below.

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What is the Duolingo English Test (DET)?

Preparation Tips for Each Section

1. Read And Select (Select The Actual English Words In This List)

How to Prepare for this Section?

2. Listen And Select (Select The Real English Words From An Audio List)

How to Prepare for this Section?

3. Read And Complete (Type The Missing Letters To Complete The Paragraph)

4. Listen And Type (Type The Statement That You Hear)

5. Read Aloud (Record Yourself Saying A Given Statement)

6. Speak About The Photo (Speak The English Word For Each Image)

7. Write About The Photo (Write One Or More Sentences That Describe The Image)

8. Read, Then Speak (Prepare To Speak For At Least 30 Seconds)

9. Read, Then Write (Respond To The Questions In At Least 50 Words)

10. Listen, Then Speak (Speak The Answer To The Questions You Hear)

1. Speaking Sample (Choose One Topic To Talk About For 1-3 Minutes)

2. Writing Sample (Write 3 To 5 Minutes About The Topic Below)

1. Watch The Video Walkthrough

2. Take A Free Practice Test

3. Prepare The Test Environment

4. Understand The Rules

1. Plan The Day Of The Exam

2. Create A Study Plan

3. Focus On Your Areas Of Weakness

4. Read, Speak And Write In English

5. Revise And Practice Writing

6. Revise Grammar Structures

7. Read And Read Aloud

1. Is It Possible To Get Full-Length Duolingo English Test Practice Papers For Free?

2. How Long Should You Prepare For The Duolingo English Test?

3. Is The Difficulty Of The Online Duolingo English Test Practice Sheets Comparable To The Real Duolingo English Test?

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28 Duolingo Tips That EVERY User Should Know About

1. Don’t worry about your League

2. Focus on Crowns

Follow me on Duolingo!

3. Keep your streak

4. …but don’t cheat

5. Set a manageable daily goal

6. Practice to unlock hearts

7. Consider Duolingo Plus

8. Don’t skip the tips

9. Read the Stories

10. Use the forums

11. …and for confusing questions

12. Don’t forget to report

13. Tune in to the podcasts

14. Try not to skip the speaking exercises

15. Keep moving forward

16. Dabble with desktop

18. XP Ramp Up Challenge

19. Get acquainted with your settings

20. Look for the capitals

21. XP Boosts

22. Combo bonuses

23. Tap the pairs

24. Skip levels if they’re too easy

25. Tap flags to see XP and Crowns

26. Tap friends/users to compare stats