Different tasks and questions in the test:

● C-test​ : It tests your reading and vocabulary ability ( missing letters in the middle
sentences ).

● Yes/No vocabulary​: it tests vocab through ​reading​ and ​listening​.

● Dictation​: it tests your listening and writing skills .

● Read aloud​: it tests reading, speaking and pronunciation.

● Extended speaking​: it tests your overall speaking skills ​(4)

-Describing a picture ​(1)
-Independent speaking tasks ( responding to a prompt) ​(4)

● Extended writing tasks: ​it tests your overall writing skills ( 4)

- Describing a picture ( 3)
- Independent writing tasks ( 1)

● Speaking task : * Describing a picture:

- How is this task scored ?
● Content: ​How well you describe the image.
- Don’t just label the image ( saying this is a woman, this is a
building etc )
- Vocabulary range and precision
- Grammatical range and accuracy

● Fluency: ​How smoothly you describe the image.

- Speed, smoothness, phrasing.
- Avoid too many hesitations. ( avoid hmm / pause )
- Avoid repeating your sentences.

● Pronunciation: ​How clearly you describe the image

- High score = native-like pronunciation
- Can a native speaker understand you easily ?
- Pronunciation of the phonemes, connected speech, intonation etc.
● Method:​ (​ Show off your English​!!!)

0: ​Planning​:​ ​( 5_15 s)
( Don’t speak),
- You should be analysing the picture: What is in the picture?
- What is happening in the picture ?
- Usually when there are people in the image, they are going to be the most
important thing.

1: General summary:
​( ​What’s the most important thing in the image? ) ( Include details )
- Try to do this in 1 or 2 sentences: This picture shows …. / In this picture, There
is- are ….
- Use a little bit of detail.
- Present simple/ continuous Grammar.

Example: ​This image shows a man and a woman sitting ​next to each other​ on a
bench in a park and ​they look upset about something​.

2: Describe the location:

​(​ What is in the image and where is it positioned ?​ ) ( Describe the image )

- Three ways to do this:

1​.Left to right / right to left.
2​.Top to bottom / bottom to top.
3​. Far to near / Near to far.

- Use adverbs of place.

- Use adjectives to describe the objects.

3: Add detail: ( ​Add details to the important parts of the image )

4 : Speculate: ​( If you have enough time)

- You’re going to guess ​what is happening​ or ​already happened.

- Don’t speculate about everything
- Why is something happening now? Modal verbs / probably / suppose / Maybe
etc: ​Ex: ​They could be arguing / She probably wants to...
 - Why did something happen in the past ? Past modal verbs ( might have/ must
have..) : ​Ex​: They must have discussed, They might have…

 
 
Here is a sample 'describe an image' answer for the speaking task on the Duolingo English Test: 
 
"This image shows a man and a woman sitting next to each other on a bench in a park and they look 
upset about something. 
 
There is a tall white building that looks like a church, which is in the background in the top right-hand 
corner. There are some people waiting outside that building. In front of that building, there is a 
narrow path, which leads to another building on the left. That building is under construction. There is 
also a small park in front of the white building, which has several trees and lots of autumn leaves 
covering the grass. The two young adults are sitting on a brown bench in the foreground of this 
image. 
 
The two people both look irritated and they’re not talking to each other. The man is holding his 
forehead with both hands and staring down at the pavement, while the woman has her head in her 
right hand and is looking in the opposite direction to the man.  
 
They might have just broken up with each other because their body language looks extremely tense." 
 
 
*​Speaking for 90seconds : 
- Extended speaking :​ asked with written prompt:  
- You can speak up to 90 seconds. It is recommended to speak at least 80 seconds.  
- Extended speaking : asked with Oral prompt:   
- You have to listen and answer the question correctly. You have 90 seconds and you can 
replay the questions up to 3 times.  
 
 
Tips : 
 
● Answer the prompts ( answer the asked questions 
while speaking) 
● Answer​ the questions and then e​ xpand​ your 
answers ( Show off your English!), elaborate, 
opinion and examples. 
 
 For instance, in my opinion, as far as I’m concerned , 
in my point of view ,   
 
● Use transition words :  
- Turning to the next question ,  
- moving on to question three 
- As for question three, 
- Firstly, moreover, furthermore, finally, one more thing 
I’d like to talk about … 
 
● Question triggers : 
- How did you first hear …? 
- Will you read a …? ( future simple, going to etc) 
- How long have you been doing sth ? ( I have been 
doing …) 
- Would you recommend …? I would recommend, If 
I was asked … 
- Why do you like this kind of book ? I like.. 
- What did you like or dislike about ? ( these 2 are 
opinion questions ) : In my opinion, As far as I’m 
concerned, From my point of view ... 
Question types :  
● Fill in the blanks  
● Yes/ No vocabulary  
● Identify the image  
● Dictation 
● Read-aloud 
● Speaking : Describe a picture 
 ● Speaking : Answer questions  
● Writing : Describe a picture 
● Writing : Answer questions 
● Interview 
 
● Dictation : Tips: 
- Use all replays. 3 times in total, 1 automatic and 2 
replays. 
- Listen out for connected speech ( reduced forms , 
contractions etc ) 
- Practice on Youtube  
- Spelling and punctuation 
● Read-aloud : tips : 
- Not too slow, not too fast ( your natural intonation) 
- Pronounce the syllables clearly ( ed and -s at the end) 
- Use the punctuation to know where to stop and 
pause. 
- Don’t leave out or change words 
● Yes/ No Vocabulary :  
- Read and listen  
- Study useful vocab lists 
- Only select the words you know 
 
● C-test : tips : 
- Read so much.  
- Read the first and last line first to understand the 
topic. ( they stay intact)  
- Be careful will spelling 
 - Make your own examples 
 
● Describe an image by writing : tips: 
   
- Make sure you write one full sentence and if you have 
time you can write more. 
- Imagine you’re describing the picture to someone who 
can not see it, be as descriptive as you can. 
- Use introductory statements :​ This picture shows , 
This image depicts, this is a photograph of … 
- Be descriptive : use adjectives and adverbs , complex 
sentences. 
- Spelling and punctuation. 
- Make a guess or prediction : it seems like , it looks like 
, I guess that , I think , modal verbs ( might , may , 
must, could)  
- Punctuation and spelling : ​simple punctuation rules ( 
comma) : FANBOYS ( for , and, nor, but , or, yet , so ). - 
Put a comma before the FANBOYS when they are 
connecting two independent clauses / Independent 
clauses often have their own subjects. 
- Leave time to check errors 
 
 
● Identify the image : tips : 
- Be as precise as possible 
- You don’t need to speak in a full sentence - just say 
the word. 
 - If you don’t know , guess or use words like : Object, 
item, equipment. 
 
● Extended speaking and extended writing :