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A few things
before we begin...
Rach Home uni
Host uni / Region
Universitas Padjadjaran
Newcastle University / UK & Ireland
Hi, I'm

el!
Socials
Twitter @acelisasi
Instagram @rachelgejp

Disclaimer
1) I had the privilege to be able to learn English from a very young age. I am aware that this privilege
creates a different starting line compared to others who may not have the same access to the
education and resources I have. However, I believe that everyone has the same chance to achieve a high
score, and I hope that the privilege I have has been utilized well in helping others achieve the same!
2) I am aware that the model of the Duolingo English Test may have undergone changes and/or
additional renewal, and even within the previous model, I will not share tips for all sections as I feel like
some of them don’t have shortcuts and require lots of practice to master instead.
3) Some of my tips might for you and some don’t, so it’s best to always be resourceful and find out the
ways that work best for you in preparing and studying for DET!
Pre-test
Understand the basics!
I feel like this is frequently overlooked but equally
important.

When you go on the Duolingo English Test official website,

head over to the Test Info section.

Here, you can access the preparation materials that inform

you about what Duolingo English Test is, how to learn the
test, the technicalities, rules and scoring matrix, as well as
other basic and essential information you will need to know
about DET before taking the test itself.

Why is this important?

No matter how good your English is, if you do not
understand what fits into what DET requires and what
doesn’t, you’ll not be able to tell what you still lack
throughout your practice!
Know where you need to start
Where is my starting line?
After I had understood the basic
information of DET, I measured how
aligned are my English language
competencies with the model of the test.
This sets the starting line that will
determine how much I have to work on to To practice, you can head over to
DETReady or the short mock test on DET’s
get the desired score. official website. Keep in mind that these
mock tests are purposed for practice and
You can align this to the requirements of are not proctored. The score given is only
an estimate and does not reflect the fully
your host university, or a certain target of accurate score that you may achieve.
your own! Set the mindset to score as
high as possible.
Don’t be afraid to expand your learning methods
and resources!
Learning and practicing are not only limited to doing mock tests. If you feel like you
are lacking in a certain area, expand your resources and ways to learn and perfect
it and create action steps that add up to your main goal. These methods and
resources should not necessarily always be in the context of DET--remember, the
main objective is to still learn English, not just to learn for an English test!

For example, I realized I lacked speaking skills and wanted to improve this (main
goal). Here’s what I did:

I decided to... (action steps)

Practice DET speaking prompts with friends
Talk to myself or with others in English more often (about anything I can
describe or talk about!)
Build the habit of not saying filler words (words such as “um..” or “like...”) when I
talk and replacing them with a short break or repeating my previous statement
to show that I am restating the sentence to strengthen my point)
Read and Select
This section tests your literacy, comprehension, and
vocabulary. You are required to select the real English
words in the list. There are two approaches I took for
this:
Long-term
Read a lot. Be it comics, novels, or even the descriptions of the packaging of your favorite
chocolate bar. It helps you become familiar with certain words. Some words in this list are
misspelled to make you uncertain whether it is a real English word or not. If you are familiar with
words and their spellings, you won’t fall for this trap!

Short-term
Whenever you practice this section, write down the words that you selected wrong, then find out
the real spelling or form of the word it should take. Whenever you encounter a new word through
DET or when you’re reading other things, take note of the different forms and the spelling of
those forms. You can also write down the meaning of the word if you haven’t known its meaning so
that the memory of both the word and its meaning sticks in your mind.

e.g. I learned about the word ‘employ’.

Verb: employ Antonym: unemployment
Noun: employment, employee, employer
Adverb: - Root word: employ
Adjective: employable, employed
Read Aloud
This section tests your comprehension and
conversation skills. You are required to speak the
sentence you see on screen into the microphone of
your device.
I would recommend you practice a lot for this since there are no shortcuts.
However, here are some things you can take note of:

Articulation, tone, and intonation

Make sure you have good articulation--speak clearly and just loud enough, and don’t mumble your words. Say each
word with the correct pronunciation. Identify the tone needed to say the sentence by identifying what kind of
sentence it is:
Exclamatory sentences: to express sudden and strong emotions, and usually end with an exclamation mark (!) -
identify whether the emotions are joy, anger, or sorrow to set the tone and intonation (e.g. You are such a liar!)
Declarative sentences: to state facts, opinions, or thoughts, and usually end with a full stop (.) -- the tone and
intonation used are rather falling or flat (e.g. The shops close at five o’clock every day.)
Interrogative sentences: to ask questions, interrogate, or do some inquiry, and usually end with a question mark
(?) -- the tone and intonation used are rising, like asking a question (e.g. When can I get my results back?)
Imperative sentences: to give command, order and request, and usually end with an exclamation mark (!) or a
full stop (.) -- the tone and intonation used are falling-rising (e.g. Exit the building right now!; Bring me some
water.
Read Aloud
This section tests your comprehension and
conversation skills. You are required to speak the
sentence you see on screen into the microphone of
your device.
Pace
Pace is the speed at which you speak. Adjust the pace based on the tone and intonation of the
sentence. and remember: don’t rush! It will affect your articulation and pronunciation, and might even
cause you to mispronounce or leave out some words.

Here’s what you can do to practice:

Speak to yourself! I do this a lot when I’m bored and alone just to practice my English and improve
my fluency. The way I usually do this is to get my phone and record myself talking about anything I
want. After I’m done, I’ll play the recording and listen to point out which words I still struggle to
pronounce and examine the articulation, pronunciation, and intonation of how I speak.
When you watch a movie, series, or TV show, try to repeat some of the words the characters said.
This helps you get familiar with the tone and intonation people use when talking in real life and will
prevent you from sounding monotone or rigid.
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.

Break down the elements that make up the photo

By the time the photo shows up on the screen, you will already
have identified what objects or elements are in the photo. How
you will describe these elements later on should also be
structured: starting from the biggest or main element that is
most noticeable, up to the complementary or smaller ones.
Remember, it is okay to not describe all objects in the picture
since you have a limited time!
e.g. Elements in the photo: a woman, a dog, a lake, a cloudy sky
with sunlight shining through it, grass
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.

General Summary
Introduce your answer with a general overview of the photo that
sums up the main or most noticeable element of the photo - this
is called “seeing the bigger picture”. You can use the following
starters:
This is a picture of...
In this photo, ...
This picture shows...
The image depicts...
e.g. The image shows a lady sitting with her dog on the edge of a
lake.
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.

Go into the details

Describe the elements you have identified by their actions,
appearances, or position. Don’t be afraid to be specific and use describing
adjectives and prepositions as Duolingo wants to see how far the action
your vocabulary ranges and how you can use them! describing
e.g. the position
The large dog, which has white and brown spots on its fur, is
sitting beside its owner, who is wearing a black puffer jacket that describing the
appearance
contrasts with her reddish-brown hair. Both of their backs are
turned as they gaze silently at the view outstretched ahead, adjective
which is a small lake with crystal blue waters. The skies above are
heavily clouded, but the sunlight still manages to shine through. preposition
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.

Go into the details

Describe the elements you have identified by their actions,
appearances, or position. Don’t be afraid to be specific and use describing
adjectives and prepositions as Duolingo wants to see how far the action
your vocabulary ranges and how you can use them! describing
e.g. the position
The large dog, which has white and brown spots on its fur, is
sitting beside its owner, who is wearing a black puffer jacket that describing the
appearance
contrasts with her reddish-brown hair. Both of their backs are
turned as they gaze silently at the view outstretched ahead, adjective
which is a small lake with crystal blue waters. The skies above are
heavily clouded, but the sunlight still manages to shine through. preposition
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.

Make a speculation
This serves as a closing or summary of your description. Since it is a
speculation, you do not need to know if the statement is true or not.
However, you do need to base it on what is seen in the photo. You can
use phrases such as “it seems...”, “perhaps...”, “might be...”, etc.
e.g.
The dog’s fur and the owner’s hair are brown, which matches the grass
they are sitting on. The grass looks dry with no leaves or trees visible
around them, which indicates that it is probably autumn where they are
at.
or
It seems that the owner trusts her dog very much as she does not put a
leash on it as they sit together.
Write/Speak About the Photo
This section tests your literacy, production, and conversation skills. You are required to
describe the photo shown on screen by writing it down in one minute or speak about it in
90 seconds.
The most important thing is to remember the structure to organize how you describe the photo.
What if I do not know how an object is called?
This is a challenge I encountered several times because I sometimes forget or do not
know the term or name of a certain object. It is okay if you encounter this as well since
some objects may not be frequently seen or may be called differently in several
countries.

I was confused about what this is - do I call it an MRT? A subway? A metro?

To tackle this, you do not need to recall its exact terminology or name as it might cause
you to lose time and fumble over your words. Instead, you can describe it in detail the
features that closely symbolizes the real object.

e.g. The picture shows the inner view of what seems to be a modern underground train
with no one inside.

I used the term “ modern underground train” because it looks like a modern train and
shows no light or view through the windows, which means that it is may be an
underground one.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.

The prompt or question you will encounter might be in the form of

a personal experience-based or an opinion-based one. Let’s see
how you can structure your answers for both types.

Talking about your personal experience

Understand the questions given

Before you start, understand the questions that the prompt
contains. Your answer should answer all these questions, whether
directly or indirectly. This will help you structure your answer as
well.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.

Begin with a general statement

A general statement is the opening to you answer and will answer
the first question in the prompt. The statement you make should be
a general overview containing the main idea of what your answer is
about.

You can directly answer the question or state it through a more

narrative way.
e.g.
A person I know who inspires me is definitely my friend Ruby.
or
All my life, I look up to my friend Ruby as my inspiration for my self-
development.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Elaborate the background of your main statement
After your general statement, the background should explain the reasoning or back
story behind it and answer the next few questions. You can use the Past-Present-
Future technique (source: Teacher Luke) where you describe an experience or
anything related to the topic that happened in your past, present, and future times.

e.g. Ruby and I are childhood friends as we have known each other for about ten years.
We first met when our parents introduced us at a gathering that they attended. Soon
enough, we clicked because of the similarities we had with each other, and we became
best friends throughout our school years, where we had plenty of sleepovers and
shared most of our belongings. There is a lot to say about Ruby, but what inspires me
the most about her is her heart of gold. When we were in high school, she was always
eager to stand up against the bullies who made fun of others. In addition to that, she is
a trustworthy listener when I need someone to talk to. Whatever problem I had, I would
always share it with her and she would respond with the best advice. Without a doubt,
she is the person who inspires me to take the Psychology course that I am doing at
university right now, and the reason why I aspire to pursue Educational Psychology in
my future career.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Wrap up with a concluding statement
To end your answer, a concluding statement should conclude all the
points that you have delivered. You should wrap it up when you feel like
you have answered all the questions given in the prompt. Some
phrases that you can use to indicate that your statement is a
concluding one is:
To sum up, ...
Lastly, ...
To wrap up, ...
Last but not least, ...
In the end, ...
e.g. To conclude, Ruby has always been my ultimate inspiration in life
and has helped me become the person I am now.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Talking about your arguments and
opinion on a certain issue
Begin with a general statement
The way you start your answer for this type of question is a little different
compared to the previous type, but the objective is the same: to give an
overview of what you are going to talk about, and to state your opinion on the
issue (whether you agree or disagree). This will create a clear and strong start so
that proctors can immediately identify your stance towards the issue. You can
start the sentence with “I believe that...” or “In my opinion...”.

e.g.
I believe that schools should be banned from serving fast food to their students.
In my opinion, I do agree that schools should be banned from serving fast food to
their students.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Lay out your first opinion/argument
After you have stated your stance through the general statement, you can start laying out the
first argument that can support your stance. Phrases you can use to indicate this is:
Firstly, ... / First, ...
To begin with, ... / To start with, ...
First of all, ...

e.g. First of all, fast food lacks nutritious values that are essential to children’s health as they
are made up of processed food that contain excessive amounts of sugar, fat, and
preservatives.

After this, provide an example that strengthens your first argument even more. Phrases you
can use are:
For instance, ...
An example of this is ...
To illustrate, ...
For example, ...

e.g. For instance, burgers we normally eat in fast food restaurants are actually made up of
processed meat that contain a low amount of protein and higher amounts of preservatives
instead.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Proceed with your second opinion/argument
If you have stated your first argument and its examples, you can proceed to
your second opinion. The structure is similar to the first argument where you
need to state the argument and provide an example for it, but to begin your
second argument, you can use linking phrases such as:
In addition, ...
Furthermore, ...
Additionally, ...
Other than that, ...
Moreover, ....
Then give an example, the same way you did for the first argument!

e.g. Additionally, schools are subject to providing students with services that
contribute positive impacts to children’s health, such as serving nutritious food
that supply all the health benefits that children in their growth.
Speak/write about a prompt
The open response questions that require you to speak or write on a certain prompt come
in the form of speaking or reading about a certain question or prompt. This is also similar to
the parts where you describe a photo: you need to remember the structure that
organizes your arguments or opinions.
Wrap it up with a concluding statement
You can give as many arguments as you want with the same structures given
previously, but pay attention to the time left! When you feel like you have given
all your arguments on the issue, close your answer with a concluding
statement. Restate your stance and base it on the reasons that you have
provided. Phrases you can use are:
To sum up, ...
Lastly, ...
To wrap up, ...
To conclude, ...
In summary, ...
In short, ...

e.g. In summary, the aforementioned reasons are essential factors that support
my belief in why schools should stop serving fast food to their students.
Speak/write about a prompt
Here are the Do’s and Don’ts for this part:
Do’s
Understand when it is better to use formal or informal phrases
The difference between speaking and writing is the formal and informal nuance each
of them holds. In speaking, you are expected to show fluency, hence the informal
notion that it tolerates. On the other hand, writing parts expect you to use more
formal and academic language. Several phrases are considered informal and less
academic, which makes them more suitable when speaking. You can research about
these phrases (search “academic phrasebank” for sources, such as the Academic
Phrasebank from the University of Manchester) and take note of which one is more
suitable to be used when speaking or writing.

An example of this is the concluding phrase “All in all, ...”. When speaking, it is okay to
use this, while in academic writing, you may need to use more formal phrases such as
“To conclude...” or “In summary...”.
Speak/write about a prompt
Take time to read the question and think about your answer
It is completely okay to feel nervous and anxious during the test - I do, too! However, don’t let it
induce panic and make you rush over things. Although the questions are bounded by the time
given (and the countdown ticking may make you nervous, I feel you), remain calm and take time
to process what the question means, then sort out the answer in your head. Don’t take too long
though - take around fifteen to twenty seconds for this and immediately start. Your ideas may
flow as you go, and in writing sections, you can always go back and re-read your answer to add
more ideas or arguments that you have just thought of.

Use an extensive range of vocabulary

This affects your scoring as they want to see the range of vocabulary that you know and how
you can use it in building sentences. Collect a list of synonyms for basic words you tend to use.
For example, avoid using “very” for adjectives and verbs. Replace them with their synonyms
instead (e.g. very quick→ →
swift, rapid; very big enormous, gigantic).

In forming sentences, try to form complex ones by using connectors and linking phrases.
(e.g. Some jobs are considered tough. Women should be given the same chances in these jobs.
→ While certain jobs in society may be considered tough, women should be given the same
chances as men to take on these jobs.)
Speak/write about a prompt
Don’ts
Be ambiguous about your answer
This especially applies to questions that ask if you agree or disagree on a certain issue. You
do not need to present arguments from all perspectives, but rather the stance you have
picked and arguments that support it instead. Your arguments should not create a gray
area that does not clarify which side you have picked but should strengthen that side
instead. Be consistent with your stance.

Pause and/or use filler words too much

You might often think, what if my mind goes blank mid-answering? Well, in DET or other
times when I need to speak upon a certain thing, I usually re-state the previous sentence as
if I am strengthening the argument and to prevent myself from mumbling filler words such
as “um...”. Other than that, I also use transitional phrases that link to the next idea.
e.g. Fast food contains processed foods that are bad for children’s health. Indeed, they are
bad for children’s health, for instance...
Artists should be appreciated as much as scientists as they work in a sector that is just as
important. Moving on, I think that another important factor to note is...
Additional Tips to Learn English
Familiarize yourself with tenses!
Although this does not play a very big deal, especially in verbal English, you will need to know
which tenses to use when answering questions in sections such as Complete the Passage.

Train yourself to read in English

It might be hard to comprehend words and sentences in a foreign language, not only to
understand their meaning but to maintain the attention span in doing so! Get used to reading in
English frequently because it helps you attain the memory and habit that you’ll find useful!

Practice a lot, and find others who are willing to practice too!
When I prepared for DET, I practiced with my friends, too. By having friends to practice with, you
can gain input on areas you still lack from different perspectives - sharing and mutual feedback
are the keys!

Learn anywhere and anytime

Learning a language can be done in any way you like! I find ways to keep myself fluent, even as
silly as pretending that I am a celebrity being interviewed in a talkshow and my dog is the
audience :D What matters is that you are experimental in finding out which ways suit you the
best, and that you keep track and celebrate your progress!
 Lastly, don’t doubt yourself!

Whatever result you may receive, know that it is because

you’ve tried your best, and that’s all that matters.

One day, your hard work will pay off, one way or another.

If you have any questions or want to stay in touch, feel free to reach out to me through
the social media accounts I have attached in earlier pages!

Good luck, future awardees! I’m rooting for you <3