Books To Prepare For Duolingo English Test 2023: Check books for Grammar and Vocabulary Practice Tests

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Samarpita Goswami
Updated on May 07, 2023 7:56 PM IST

Since there is no predetermined or official Duolingo English Test syllabus, the means and way of study are solely determined by the person taking the test, depending on their discretion and expertise. To do well on an exam or test, it is important to have access to quality study materials, such as online practice papers or books, during the preparation period.

Although there are abundant study resources accessible on the internet, students overwhelmingly opt for the conventional method of learning from printed books. Books specifically created for Duolingo English Test preparation may be acquired by a candidate who is preparing for the exam. These best Duolingo books will help them enhance their English proficiency and abilities through intensive preparation. Find out the suitable books to prepare for Duolingo English Test. 

Are Duolingo English Test Best Books Important?

As the Duolingo English Test gains popularity among leading universities worldwide, its proficiency testing system is advancing. Books can assist in developing a sufficient language foundation, even though excessive preparation is not obligatory for those taking exams. Therefore, individuals preparing for the DET exam should utilize specific book recommendations as a guide.

The Duolingo English Test’s approach is centred on evaluating a candidate's aptitude across a range of capabilities including:

  • Vocabulary

  • Grammar

  • Communication skills and proficiency in dialogue

  • Abilities to read and comprehend.

To attain mastery in these fields, one must engage in a regular practice of:

  • Specific grammar tasks are designed particularly for speech patterns and types of words.

  • Exercises concerning subject-verb agreement and similar topics.proper sentence formation.

  • Various types of words (including participles, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and more). and units.

  • Passage and associated activities like summarization, taking notes, creating a title, and so on.

  • The act of improving one's ability to speak fluently by engaging in various phonetic and pronunciation exercises.

The Duolingo English Test Book

Although the Duolingo English Test doesn't have a defined textbook or course structure, there is a resource available that can serve as a guide for test preparation.

Duolingo English Test Book by Ashok Kumar offers thorough preparation for the Duolingo English Test. The book is the initial publication crafted particularly for the Duolingo English Test groundwork. This guide serves as a comprehensive tool for students to strategically and effectively prepare for the DET.

The Duolingo English Test Book is an effective resource for enhancing one's English proficiency and is also appropriate learning material for individuals who are not native English speakers or are not proficient in the language.

The book content covers the following topics:

  • Tips for DET preparation 

  • Practice Papers 

  • Grammar, spelling check and sentence formation questions 

  • Tips to enhance English vocabulary

The Duolingo English Test Book is easily available in a bookstore or online through an e-commerce website. 

Know the Duolingo English Test Score Required for USA!

Best Books to Practice Grammar for Duolingo English Test 2023

While grammatical questions are not directly asked by Duolingo English Test the element is easily recognizable in almost all the questions and specifically in sentence completion ones. While practising test papers are a lot of help to understand the basic rather than just an idea following books are recommended:

Oxford English Grammar

Authored by Sidney Greenbaum (British Linguist) in 1996 the book is recognized and reputed. It contains detailed grammar lessons for the language as well as multiple exercises to practice those lessons.

Gain Control Over English Writing

Authored by Prof. Shrikant Prasoon, Gain Control Over English Writing is an English workbook with numerous exercises for the practice of English grammar in it. The book can be used alone or as collateral to a lesson book. There are also available answer keys within the book.

English Grammar In Use

Authored by Raymond Murphy it is amongst the reputed practice and grammar books of English. It has been published under the banner of Cambridge University Press and is regularly updated to suit the trends and resolve printing mistakes.

Practical English Usage

The book was authored by Michael Swan in 1860 and is running in its 4th edition. The book has been published by Oxford University Press and is recognized as an amazing practice book for common English usage.

Cobuild English Grammar

Modern English grammar is presented in a simplistic manner in this book by Collin Corpus. It is written in a user-friendly manner and captures the essential differences between American and English grammar with examples. You can improve your writing and speaking skills.

Oxford Practice Grammar with Answers

This book by J. Eastwood is designed for students who have a basic understanding of grammar. So if you are at the intermediate or upper-intermediate stage then you should practice from this book. Grammatical structures are explained in detail and practice exercises are provided for students. 

You can check out these articles on Duolingo:

Duolingo Practice Test - Benefits, How to Attempt Duolingo English Test: Speaking Interview Questions
Minimum Duolingo Score Accepted in Top US Universities Benefits of Taking the Duolingo English Test

Best Books to Practice Vocabulary for Duolingo English Test 2023

Vocabulary is the knowledge of words of a language and the ease at which they can be put to use by any person. To be able to use the language with ease, building a solid vocabulary is extremely important. The following books are recommended:

The Dictionary

A Dictionary is a collection of words, phrases, and clauses, recognized by the language to date, and their meanings. Every language learner must own at least one dictionary of that language as there is no way better than to build a vocabulary. It is chronologically set up and is therefore easy to refer to as well.

The Thesaurus

A Thesaurus is a kind of dictionary but for a special category of words, such as synonyms, antonyms, idioms, proverbs, homonyms, etc. Each word has some other connection to many words of the language, what is this connection decides the nature of their usage together. Owning a thesaurus is as important as owning a dictionary.

Word Power Made Easy

Originally published in 1949 by the author Norman Lewis the book contains the most commonly used words, their descriptive meanings, formulations (noun, verb, and adjective), related words (synonyms, antonyms, etc.), and usage. It is like a combined dictionary and thesaurus for the most common terms of the English language.

Best Books to Practice Text Exercises for Duolingo English Test 2023

DET as an exam shall be dominated by passage-based questions. To easily and speedily understand the test-related question proper practice is required. In this case following books on reading comprehension can be of great help:

A Complete Book Of Reading Comprehension

The book is filled with unseen passages and varying kinds of exercises are based on these passages. The exercises include short answer questions, matching exercises, in-text phrases, one-three word answers, note-making, summarizing, title exercises, etc.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

This book contains advanced-level exercises in the format of multiple-choice questions and is, therefore, a very good book to practice reading comprehension abilities. The book’s uniqueness is in the factor of multiple-choice questions as DET 2023 also has a similar format.

Know Which is the Best Study Material for Proficiency Tests!

FAQs on Duolingo English Test Best Books

Which is the best book to prepare for Duolingo?

The best book to prepare for Duolingo is the Duolingo Book by Ashok Kumar. The book is comprehensive and covers all topics asked in the Duolingo English Test. It contains practice sets, sample questions, and guidelines to help you perform well in the test. The book can be purchased either online or from a bookstore.

Which English Language Books should I refer to prepare for Duolingo?

The English Language books which you should refer to to prepare for Duolingo are exercise-oriented. There are many good books to improve the English language skills like Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, Everyday English for Grown-Ups By Michelle Finlay, Spoken English for My World by Sabina Pillai, and Common Errors in Everyday English by Saumya Sharma, etc.

Can I refer to IELTS books to prepare for Duolingo?

You can refer to IELTS books to prepare for Duolingo, but it is not advisable. The exam pattern and format of Duolingo are completely different from the IELTS exam. It is best to refer to the books and practice sets specifically designed for the Duolingo English Test.

What is the Duolingo - Official Guide to Test Taker?

The Duolingo - Official Guide to Test Taker is designed by Duolingo for test-takers to learn about Duolingo. It is a complete guide to help candidates understand the test format, types of questions asked and level of difficulty of the test. It can be downloaded online after creating an official Duolingo account.

Which books should I study for Duolingo?

Books which you should study for Duolingo are described are Duolingo English Test Book, Oxford English Grammar, Cobuild English Grammar and Gain Control Over English Writing. These books are based on different target topics, such as vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, etc. Theybooks not only educate you on the topical material but also help practice them.

Is it necessary to use books to prepare for Duolingo?

It is not necessary to use books to prepare for Duolingo. Books are good and recommended preparation material for candidates who are not quite fluent in a language. Moreover, to use books as preparation material, you need to have at least 2 months before you sit for the exam.

I have registered for Duolingo and will attempt it in 2 weeks. Which books must I refer to?

If you have registered for Duolingo and will attempt it in 2 weeks, then you must not refer to the books. Books are good preparation material, but their information is huge to grasp in 2 weeks. Instead, you must go for practice and question papers. However, if you still want to consult books, then exercise books are good.

When is the right time to use books to prepare for Duolingo?

The right time to use books to prepare for Duolingo is when you have ample time before sitting for the exam. If your admission deadlines are still months away and you can afford to consult wide course materials, only then must you choose books. It is advisable to use books with at least 2 months in your hands before the exam.

Can I prepare for Duolingo from the books alone?

You can prepare for Duolingo from the books alone, however, it is not advisable. Books shall strengthen your base, knowledge, and fluency in the language, however, practice papers and question papers are the best mediums to grow familiar with the test format. Hence, it is advisable to use them along with books, especially in the later stages of preparation.

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