Duolingo English Writing Test 2023 - Check sample questions & How to answer

Duolingo Writing Test

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is one of the more unique language proficiency tests that are accepted by universities and institutions worldwide, allowing aspiring students to apply to their dream universities by satisfying the language requirements at those institutions.

To meet those requirements, Duolingo English Test uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and expert human raters to evaluate a test-taker as the test continues in the different language parameters, i.e. Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Among the more important sections in Duolingo is the Writing questions that test-takers will have to attempt to the best of their ability to ace the tests this year.

Types of Duolingo Writing Test Questions

As stated above, the Duolingo English Test has been structured and designed unlike any other language proficiency test and assesses a candidate’s language proficiency, constantly changing the difficulty level of the questions as and when the test-taker completes one question.

To accommodate this feature, test-takers will not see defined sections in Duolingo English Test, but rather a mix of Reading, Writing, Listening and Writing questions. Moreover, candidates will be asked to attempt 2 DET writing question types, as outlined below:

• Write About the Photo

• Read, Then Write

In addition to this, candidates will also be required to answer a “Writing Sample” question, where they will be required to write on any one of the given topics. Here, candidates will be given 30 seconds to choose between the given topics and give their responses within 3-5 minutes.

Tips to Answer DET Write About the Photo

The ‘Write about the Photo’ questions in DET are some of the simple questions, wherein you will be required to present your idea, thought or opinion on the action or information being presented in a given photograph.

Let us first understand the question:

• Each ‘Write about the Photo’ question in Duolingo will come with directions to attempt the question in a specific manner.

• Be sure to understand what the prompt is asking you to do when answering the question.

• Candidates will be given around 1 minute to respond to the question, therefore, be quick on your feet and give the best response you can think of.

• Here, candidates are expected to provide a response of 50 words, however, it is advisable to extend the word limit slightly and provide additional interpretations of the given photograph to highlight your production and literacy skills.

Now that you have a brief idea of what the question requires you to do, let us now focus on how you can answer the Duolingo write about the photo questions.

• Sentence Starters: As the response is supposed to be short and simple, candidates must present a good sentence starter, such as:

  • This picture depicts…

  • The photo shows…

  • In this photograph,...; etc

• Concise and Descriptive: The short duration of the question will force you to be descriptive and concise with your response. Use verbs, adverbs and adjectives to structure your sentences, while describing the photo.

• Interpretations: In most cases, the photo provided in the question will be vague and left for the reader to interpret. Therefore, use the opportunity to interpret the picture and provide your thoughts, opinions and ideas along with the description of the photograph.

Last but not the least, set aside some time to review your answer to ensure that your response is as grammatically and structurally sound. As stated above, the question prompt will ask the test-taker to provide their answer in one sentence. However, it is advisable to present your answer in more than one. Additionally, it is important to keep track of the time limit for the ‘write about the photo’ question in Duolingo English Test.

Tips to Answer DET Read, Then Write Questions

In the Duolingo Read and Then Write question types, candidates will be given a prompt on a specific theme or topic. Here, candidates will be asked to present their thoughts, ideas or opinions, substantiating them with examples and evidence. Here are some tips to answer the DET Read, then Write questions.

Let us first understand what we are expected to do out of Read, Then Write questions in Duolingo English Tests.

• Candidates will be given a prompt, wherein, they will have to structure their responses and present them within 3-5 minutes.

• They will be required to write their response in at least 50 words, however, more would lead to a positive result.

Depending on what you have been asked to do with regard to the task/question, i.e., describe, argue or recount a given topic, you should structure your response accordingly. Check out these tips to answer the Read then Write questions in Duolingo English Test.

• Recognise the type of response expected, as this will dictate your response to the question posed in the prompt.

• Structure your response: It is crucial to structure your response in a manner that highlights and combines the issue and your thoughts regarding the same. Popularly, study abroad experts suggest discussing your thoughts regarding the given topic concisely, then providing examples and evidence to back your claims and finishing it off with a concluding sentence.

• Keep your tenses in check: Some questions may require you to maintain a past tense while others may require a continuous present tense and others, future tense.

Register and connect with our team of experienced study abroad counsellors to build a DET preparation strategy that works for you!

How to Improve Your Writing Skills for Duolingo English Test?

Being a fast-paced standardised test, a good preparation strategy and techniques will help immensely in acing the tests. However, to improve your English language skills, one of the best techniques you can adopt is to practise communicating in English more and more, in both social and formal situations.

Here, we will focus specifically on writing and typing in English for the Duolingo English Test:

• Consume English Content: Whether you are reading books or consuming online content, make sure you do so in English. This will help you expand your vocabulary, thus, allowing you to improve your scores.

• Practise Writing/Typing in English: A key skill to instil is to type in English. Being a computer-based test, candidates will be required to type, without making errors. You can do so by;

  • Practising Sample DET Tests: Attempt sample DET tests that can be found online and even on the official website of Duolingo.

  • Practise Writing Essays: Especially for the Write about the Photo, Read then Write and Writing sample questions in Duolingo, where you will receive anywhere between 1-5 minutes to jot down your thoughts in grammatically and structurally correct sentences.

• Learn How to Edit: Being a fast-paced test, you are bound to make mistakes you would need to rectify. While you can enhance your skills enough to not make those mistakes in the first place, it is important to instil editing skills as well.

• Learn Time Management: As stated above, Duolingo is a fast-paced test, therefore you will need to ensure your time management skills are on-point. You will need to attempt to read the questions, structure your answers, and type and edit them in the given box within a short time period.

• Manage Your Vocabulary: While it may be tempting to use fancy complicated words, it is still advisable to use comparatively simple words, terms and phrases and create a meaningful sentence. A jargon-filled sentence may not be as beneficial as one may think.

• Keep a Keen eye on Your Grammar: Fancy words, terms and phrases will all be useless if your grammar, structure and sentence usage are theoretically and practically incorrect. Be sure to create sentences that abide by the rules of English grammar when formulating your answers.

Register now and connect with highly experienced study abroad professionals who will help you build a unique study plan and preparation strategy to ace the Duolingo English Test this year.