Duolingo English Test: Speaking Interview Questions

 logo

Aarushi Jain
Updated on Aug 29, 2022 03:59 PM IST

The Duolingo English Test is a one-of-a-kind English proficiency exam that assesses your English literacy, conversation, comprehension, and presentation skills. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Duolingo English Test Speaking Interview Questions.

Duolingo English Test: Speaking Interview Questions

Duolingo English Test Speaking Interview Questions: The Duolingo English Test measures an individual's ability to converse in English. Several institutions and universities around the world have recently started to accept the Duolingo English exam, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

If you are thinking about taking the Duolingo English Test, refer to our guide to ensure you obtain the highest possible score and get admission to your target university abroad. The Duolingo English Test will challenge you to complete a series of exercises that will assess your English speaking, reading, and listening proficiency. 

Here, we will provide you with all you need to know to prepare for the Duolingo English Test Speaking Interview Questions and samples.

What is the Duolingo English Test?

Before we jump onto the Duolingo English Test speaking interview questions, let us quickly brief you about the Duolingo English Test. Just like any other English proficiency test like the IELTS and TOEFL, the Duolingo English Test assesses non-native speakers' English proficiency.

Its primary goal is to evaluate your English language skills and determine your readiness to study at a university overseas. However, unlike IELTS and TOEFL, this test is only one hour long. And your results will be available within two days of taking the test. The most likeable aspect of this exam is that you can share your Duolingo English Test scores with an unlimited number of foreign universities!

Know If Your Target University Accepts Duolingo!

Duolingo English Test Pattern

As stated above, the Duolingo English Test is an hour-long exam that assesses your ability to read, listen, speak, and write in English. It does not have four different sections for each of these skills, as IELTS and TOEFL do. Instead, you will be asked a sequence of questions designed to assess two or more of these skills simultaneously. Here is a list of all the different types of Duolingo English Test questions:

  • Fill in the blanks with the statement you hear.

  • Choose from a selection of real English words to read.

  • Speak the English word that corresponds to each image you see.

  • Create a statement or sentences that describe an image.

  • Choose from a selection of authentic English words that you hear.

  • To complete a given statement, type the missing letters.

  • Record yourself speaking a sentence that has been given to you.

  • Write your thoughts on a specific topic.

  • Make a video of yourself answering a question.

  • Discuss a specific image.

  • Give your thoughts on a specific topic/subject orally.

As previously stated, the Duolingo English test allows you to include a video interview and a written sample in addition to your test scores. This is why the test includes an unscored section where you can:

  • Choose one of the two themes provided and speak about it for 1-3 minutes.

  • Choose one of the two topics provided and write about it for 3-5 minutes.

All of this may appear to be extremely simple to you right now. However, keep in mind that the Duolingo English Test is adaptive. This means that the more correct answers you provide, the more difficult the problems get.

Take the Duolingo Test Now! Practice FREE

Overview of Duolingo Speaking Interview Questions 

The Duolingo English Test speaking interview questions require you to speak for 1 to 3 minutes about the topic allocated to you. For this type of assessment, you will be given two textual prompts. You will spend a significant amount of time discussing the individual you have picked. 

Take note that the prompt appears for 30 seconds before the recording begins. During this time, you will read and consider the two prompts before selecting your decision. The following are some examples of Duolingo English Test speaking interview questions that will help you understand the assessment even better.

  • Give a brief description of the geography of the country in which you now reside. What effect does the country's geographical location have on its people and culture?

  • Students at certain schools are required to acquire a foreign language. Do you think this is a good or bad thing in general? Explain your point of view.

  • Choose a plant or animal that fascinates you. Describe some of the hazards or hurdles it faces and how it overcomes them.

Ace Your Duolingo English Test to Study Abroad!

How to Structure Your Duolingo Speaking Interview Response?

To impress your target university, you must complete 90 minutes promptly. You must also utilize specific, intriguing terms and order your response properly to achieve this. You must also use emotion in your voice to get a good pronunciation score. 

All of that will happen if you stick to these strategies and practice them until they become second nature. In the DET speaking interview question, you will be given 1-3 minutes to speak on a specified subject. The DET will provide you with a cue card and 30 seconds to collect your thoughts before the test.

It is crucial to have a plan for this phase of the speech because a 90-minute or longer speech is a long time to talk continuously, and some individuals find it difficult. You may make this easier by structuring your speech. 

Remember to structure your response as if you were narrating a story. This is crucial for improving your band score. The framework provided below will assist you in structuring your response to the Duolingo English Test speaking interview questions if used appropriately. 

  • Start with the topic/prompt

  • Speak about the past

  • Speak about the present

  • Speak about the future

While taking notes, avoid thinking about whole phrases; instead, consider keywords that you may refer to and build sentences around when speaking. Make a list of keywords for any important information or ideas you would like to communicate. Do not be too concerned with these terminologies because they will not hinder your fluency. You must talk clearly and fluently. If you pause too much, you will lose points, so do keep an eye on your speed. 

Duolingo Sample Speaking Interview Questions and Responses

Sample Question 1: English is the world's language. Discuss the need of creating a global language as well as the difficulties involved. Describe your point of view.

Sample Answer 1: That is an excellent question. Actually, I'd never given it any thought before. Don't we all agree it should be in English? But what other languages could we employ? Although most people find Mandarin difficult to pronounce, I believe Chinese is becoming a more important language. English is already the dominant language in academia and industry, and it may well stay that way. 

Do you mean creating a new language from the ground up? Yes? It's not like this hasn't been done before, right? Of course, there was Latin, which was spoken all over Europe, but I doubt it was intended for that reason. Actually, I believe there was a global language around a century ago. To be more specific, I don't believe anyone has ever succeeded in establishing a universal language, and I doubt it will ever be possible in the future.

Sample Question 2: Watching television has become popular in the 80s. Overall, do you think that watching TV is a good way of forgetting about work or study?

Sample Answer 2: Without a doubt. Nowadays, there is so much entertainment available that we can completely immerse ourselves in it. You know, you can turn on a fantastic drama or comedy show and completely forget about everything that happened earlier in the day. I believe we would all go nuts if we didn't have television. 

Television has a high educational value since it may be used to disseminate information, raise awareness, and expose individuals. It can be used as a learning tool at home as well as in the classroom. With the diversity of channels available, there is no scarcity of educational information. If science, geography, history, travel, wildlife, sports, health, nutrition, and agriculture were added, the list would be endless.

All that is required is that a parent or teacher select acceptable material for the child. Television's educational usefulness develops as a result of its powerful visual impact. It ensures that when children watch a nature show, for example, they retain more knowledge than when they read the same information in a printed book. However, we only get one life, and it is up to us to make the most of it.

Every hour of the day is a prudent investment for the present and future. If you make the right investments, your life will be filled with really attractive people doing incredible things and having incredible experiences.

Duolingo English Test Scoring 

The Duolingo English Test is a computer-scored exam with a range of 10 to 160 points in 5-point increments. It also provides your individual scores in the same range for Literacy, Conversation, Comprehension, and Presentation.

While 120 is considered an excellent score, it is critical to check the particular score requirements of the university/institute to which you intend to apply. The Duolingo exam can be retaken twice a month. It assesses a student's performance using both human raters and automatic scoring algorithms.

Also, when you will receive your scores, you will also be able to compare your Duolingo English test scores to the IELTS and TOEFL scores. 

Key Points to Remember About the Duolingo Speaking Interview Questions

Now that you are quite familiar with the Duolingo English Test speaking interview assessment and questions, here are some key points that you must remember: 

  • Read the prompt/question attentively and  speak at length about it

  • Remember to select one of the two prompts.

  • You will be assigned 30 seconds to select and prepare for your prompt.

  • You will be able to see the question as you speak.

  • Speak for a minimum of 1-3 minutes.

  • Continue speaking until the following button becomes orange.

  • Remember that the recording can be viewed by the university.

  • Answer all of the prompt's questions (2–3 questions).

  • Discuss each question in depth.

  • Demonstrate your English proficiency and personality to the university.

  • Make use of personal examples.

  • Extend and enhance your thoughts.

Note: You can also seek help from our Duolingo English Test Sample Papers 2022 to ace your Duolingo English Test! 

Still have doubts related to the Duolingo English Test Speaking Interview Questions? Reach out to us at abroad@colllegedekho.com and our experts will guide you through every query. 

Know How to Start Preparing for Duolingo!

You can share this post!

Admission Open 2024

University of Brighton

Brighton, United Kingdom

University of Nottingham

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Related Articles

Aug 18, 2023 04:28 PM IST

How to Apply for Masters in USA?

Aug 03, 2023 01:18 PM IST

Documents Required for TOEFL

Our Study Abroad Offerings

Popular Universities to StudyAbroad

Planning to study abroad?

Interested in Studying Overseas?

Connect with us and kickstart your learning journey for a rewarding experience!

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekhoAbroad Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.