Duolingo 130 points Guide 🎯

 

Duolingo English Test

Understand the test questions.

In this section, you will learn about the different types of questions you’ll see on the Duolingo English Test. The description of each question type will have important information and tips on how to respond.

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. 🎯

Test-taking strategies.

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.

Read and Complete. 😎

TIPS
 • Read the passage before focusing on each individual word. • Use context clues to help you complete the words.

Read and select.

TIPS👇

 • Select only the words you know are real! Trust yourself. • There could be any number of real words in the list, so don’t worry if one question has more than another. • Read carefully. Some words look real but have small differences from real English words.

Listen and select. 🙄

TIPS 
• Make sure to pay attention to each syllable of each word—some fake words may have small differences from real ones. • Select only the words you know are real. • Double-check your selected words before clicking NEXT. 

Listen and Type. 👂

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. 📢

TIPS 
• If you have time, practice speaking the statement once out loud before recording if you have time. • 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. 👇

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.

Speak About the Photo. 📈

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. 

Read, then write. 📃✏

DIRECTIONS

 Read, then write asks you to “Respond to the question in at least 50 words.” For this question type, you will read a written prompt. Then, you will respond in writing with at least 50 words. The directions for this question will appear when the timer begins.

TIPS
 • Use all of the time you have to make sure your response is the best it can be. • Write as much as you can, as long as you are using English effectively and it is relevant to the topic. • Use writing best practices to help you develop your response (see “GENERAL TIPS” at the beginning of this section). 

Read, then speak. 📃👨

TIPS • 
Speak naturally and clearly and use varied words and structures. • Make sure you’ve answered all of the components of the question.

Listen, then speak.👂👨

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).

Complete the Sentences. ✍

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. 

Complete the Passage/📃

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. 

Highlight the Answer. 🧧

 

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. 

Title 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 is the best title for the whole text. 

For Writing & speaking, you can view another blog with templates. ☺