Duolingo English Test Writing Guide
Task types, scoring criteria, and strategies to excel in the writing section.
Writing Overview
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency exam taken from home in about 1 hour. It's accepted by thousands of universities (including Harvard, MIT, and Yale) and is significantly cheaper and more convenient than IELTS or TOEFL.
Writing Tasks
Write About the Photo
1-minute written description of an image.
Tips for this task
- ✓Use varied vocabulary: 'In the foreground...', 'The individual appears to be...', 'This suggests...'
- ✓Use present progressive for actions: 'A woman is walking...'
Writing Sample
3–5 minute extended written response to an opinion prompt.
Tips for this task
- ✓Structure: intro → 2 body paragraphs → conclusion
- ✓Demonstrate range: hedging language, linking phrases, formal vocabulary
High-Score Strategies
- 1.Use the official Duolingo practice test at englishtest.duolingo.com — identical format.
- 2.'Read and Select' tests vocabulary breadth — use Quizlet decks for academic word lists.
- 3.For 'Listen and Type', practice by transcribing English podcasts at 1x speed.
- 4.Speaking sections favor natural fluency over perfect grammar — aim for 4–5 complex sentences.
- 5.The video interview affects admissions decisions — prepare 2–3 personal anecdotes in English.
- 6.Score comparison: 110 ≈ IELTS 6.5, 120 ≈ IELTS 7.0, 135 ≈ IELTS 7.5.