Duolingo English Test Writing Samples 2023 - Check sample questions and tips to score high

Duolingo English Test Writing Sample

The Duolingo English Test includes 12 assets. The four subscores that are derived from the performance of these assets are conversation, literacy, comprehension and production. Artificial Intelligence (AI) with “people in loop”. It means that there is human involvement in every aspect of the test like automated scoring of answers, security measures and proctoring. 

Before February 2022, the “Writing Sample” task response was to be submitted to the admission committee without grades. Now all three sections are graded and contribute to the overall score besides production and literacy subscores. This decision was taken to measure reliability while keeping the duration of the test constant. 

Types of Duolingo Writing Sample Questions

There are three subtasks in Duolingo writing sample questions. They include “ Write About the Photo”, “Read then Write” and “Writing Sample”. In the first task, candidates have to describe an image while the rest two include reading a prompt and responding in writing. The whole text of the Writing Sample is delivered to the university admission committee where the test-taker wishes to take admission. Given below are the details of three types of Duolingo writing sample questions:

• Write About the Photo (Adaptive Question)

It is a picture description task where test takers are asked to describe a photo. The images are made of open-source photographs of real-world scenes with some in black or white and some coloured. There are no graphical representations like clip art or line drawings. Test-takers must write the description of the image in the box given.

• Read then Write (Adaptive Question)

For this task, test-takers get five minutes to write as much as they want but at least 50 words have to be written. Only after entering 50 words, they can move on to the next part of the test. 

They have to write about the following topics that have cues like

• To describe, discuss and explain

• To make argument

• To recollect the past incident

Writing Sample

The last section of the Duolingo English Test is the writing sample. Two or three minutes will be given to answer each of the written prompts. A lot has to be written on the topic and candidates will get 30 seconds to figure out which topic has to be written. 

The computer does not grade this portion. The video footage and answers are directly sent to the institutions for them to analyse.

Typical Topics for Duolingo Writing Sample

For the Duolingo Writing Sample section, at least 50 words must be written in the allotted five minutes. Attempt to have a response of at least 100 words, even if you only need to write 50 words. Writing more will allow you to use a wider range of vocabulary, which will improve your grade. Make sure whatever you write carries no grammatical mistakes. The following are the typical topics for Duolingo Writing Sample:

• Arts and culture

• Business world

• Government policy

• Educational styles

• Health and wellness

• Parenting styles

• Education experience

• Technology and the future

• Using technology

• Parenting styles

• Travelling

• Influential people

Popular Topics for ‘Read Then Write’ Question Types

Read Then Write questions require a longer response and ask for your opinion on a subject or a description of a topic. The question may also ask you to share a past experience, personal experience, opinion or description. The table below shows the various question types along with some typical wording, question types as well as question examples:

Most Common Question Types for DET Writing Sample

The following are some areas that can be useful in the Duolingo English test. Begin crafting your own responses to the questions listed below by timing yourself. This way, you will have no difficulty to deal the variety of questions asked in the actual DET Writing Sample.

Argumentative

The following are the sample argumentative questions provided to help you get prepared for the Duolingo Writing Sample:

• Many important building structures are being demolished or replaced. What may be the reasons for this?

• These days, more and more kids are being taught to use innovative technologies. What are the benefits of this novel approach?

• In addition to saving money, public transportation reduces pollution from private vehicles. Why do you prefer it?

• Some people argue that teens no longer possess moral principles. What do you think?

• Finding a good job only requires a degree from a renowned university. Do you agree?

• Some people believe that the government should fund space exploration, while others believe that hospitals should be built. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

• Some claim that radio has no future because of the growth of the Internet and social media. Do you agree?

Descriptive

As the name suggests, you have to describe the question presented to you. The following are the sample descriptive questions provided to help you get prepared for the Duolingo Writing Sample:

• Describe your home

• Describe an occasion when you felt happy. What actually happened?

• Describe the environment in which you live.

• Describe the workouts you perform every day.

• Describe an event when someone cheated on you.

• Describe a special event when you went on a trip.

• Describe a skill you would like to acquire. Why?

• Describe the car you drive.

• Describe the actor you admire. Why?

Recount

The following are some sample questions on recount provided to help you get prepared for the Duolingo Writing Sample:

• Write about the workplace of your dreams. Why do you desire that position?

• Write a review of your preferred book.

• Which delicacy is your favourite? How does it get made?

• Describe your best friend in words. When did you first meet her/him?

Duolingo Test Sample Questions and Answers

As discussed, the DET asks you to write a 50-word mini-essay in the form of the questions asked. We have provided some examples below which will give you an idea about how to write impressive 50-word answers in the timeframe given. 

Q. Modern education increasingly makes use of new technology. What are the benefits of this novel technique?

There are several benefits to using technology to teach students, like fostering a more engaging environment, enhancing teamwork, having more opportunities to connect with international students, etc. Using engaging images to explain complex theories and concepts is another way that technology helps students learn and understand more. For this, utilising technology in the classroom benefits both the students and the teaching approach.

Q. Many old structures are being demolished or replaced. What might be the possible reasons for this?

The lack of land availability is one of the main causes of historic structures being demolished. More land is required to accommodate houses for the growing population as the world's population is rising. Furthermore, urbanisation is replacing a lot of old buildings. Numerous businesses have been able to annex historic structures in the name of development due to the rapid spread of urbanisation. As a result, as people become oblivious to the changes occurring around them, the value of ancient structures is steadily declining.

Q. How would you describe your home?

My home is an apartment, not a house. It is a ten-story structure with five apartments on each floor and a total of forty apartments. It is situated in a city and on a very crowded street. I have lived here all my life, and this flat is where I met most of my friends and did group study. We all went to the same elementary school and have maintained close relationships over the years. I have some of the most lovely moments in my life with this house and the little things I used to decorate it. 

Q. Compared to private transportation, public transportation reduces pollution and costs. Which one do you prefer and why?

Personally, I agree entirely with this assertion. The cost of public transportation is lower than that of private transportation. Personally, I make use of it every day. However, even though they reduce pollution compared to private transportation, there is no denying the convenience and comfort of having a private vehicle. Owning a private vehicle is an absolute luxury and privilege. However, for large groups of people, public transportation is unquestionably the superior choice.

Q. While some people contend that the government should fund space technology, others claim that the government should construct hospitals. Which stance do you agree with?

In my opinion, government expenditure on hospitals should always take precedence over funding for space technology. I think there is much potential for human civilisation in space research. It is a luxury, though, for a growing nation like ours. Building quality hospitals is one of the key elements to achieving the improved healthcare systems that our nation so desperately needs. Although it is perfectly acceptable for the government to invest money in space exploration, it is not acceptable for it to do so at the price of the well-being of its people.