Duolingo English Test Writing and Speaking Tips (With Sample Answers)

October 2026  ·  7 min read

On the Duolingo English Test, the writing and speaking tasks are where preparation pays off most. The reading and listening questions reward vocabulary you build over months, but the production tasks reward structure, and structure can be learned in days. This guide lists the current writing and speaking tasks, gives a simple template for each with a sample answer, and covers timing and the mistakes that cost the most points.

1. The Current Writing and Speaking Tasks

The task list changed in July 2025. Read Aloud and Listen, Then Speak were removed and Interactive Speaking was added. Read, Then Write no longer appears on the current test either; its role is covered by Interactive Writing. If a prep book or video shows those older tasks, skip them.

Timings below are approximate, based on the official test-taker guidance and current task screens. The on-screen timer on test day is what counts, and since July 2025 most production tasks no longer force you to keep going for a minimum time.

The Writing Sample and Speaking Sample come at the end of the test and are sent to institutions along with your results, so admissions staff may read your text and watch your video. Treat them like part of your application.

2. Writing Tasks: Structures and Sample Answers

Write About the Photo

Structure: one sentence for the main scene, one for a detail, one for an inference or reason. Three accurate sentences beat five rushed ones.

Sample (photo of a market stall): "A man is selling fresh fruit at an outdoor market stall. Behind him, several wooden crates are stacked with oranges and apples. It looks like early morning, because the street is still fairly quiet."

Notice the range: present continuous, a prepositional phrase ("behind him"), a passive-style description ("are stacked") and a reason clause ("because"). That variety is what moves you above a basic score.

Interactive Writing

Part 1 structure (about 5 minutes): answer the question in your first sentence, give two reasons, support each with a specific example, and finish with a one-sentence conclusion. Aim for roughly 100 to 150 words.

Part 2 structure (follow-up): the test asks a related question that builds on your first answer. Respond directly in the first sentence, add one new reason or example, and do not repeat Part 1.

Sample opening for "Should students have part-time jobs?": "I believe a part-time job is valuable for most university students, as long as it is limited to around ten hours a week. First, it teaches time management..."

Writing Sample

This uses the same plan as Interactive Writing Part 1: position, two reasons, examples, conclusion. Spend the preparation time choosing your two reasons, not writing a draft. Leave 30 seconds at the end to reread for missing words and verb endings.

Summarize the Conversation

Structure: who was talking, what the problem or topic was, what they decided. Two or three sentences in the past tense.

Sample: "A student asked her professor for an extension on her essay because she had been ill. The professor agreed to give her three extra days but asked her to send a doctor's note by Friday."

3. Speaking Tasks: Structures and Sample Answers

Speak About the Photo

Structure: overview, three details moving from front to back, then an opinion or guess. Talking for 45 to 60 seconds with good control usually works better than filling the full time with hesitation.

Sample (photo of a family picnic): "This photo shows a family having a picnic in a park on a sunny day. In the foreground, there is a blanket with sandwiches and a bowl of strawberries. Two children are playing with a ball on the left, and further back you can see some tall trees. I think they are celebrating something, perhaps a birthday, because everyone looks relaxed and happy."

Read, Then Speak

You read a prompt with a few guiding questions. Structure: answer each guiding question in order, giving one sentence of answer and one sentence of detail for each. The questions are your outline, so use them.

Sample for "Describe a skill you would like to learn": "One skill I'd really like to learn is cooking properly. At the moment I can only make a few simple dishes. I want to learn it because it would save money and I'd eat more healthily..."

Interactive Speaking

You hear a series of questions in a short conversation and answer each one aloud, with no preparation and each question played only once. Structure: answer in your first sentence, then add one reason and one example. About 3 to 4 sentences fits 35 seconds.

Sample for "What do you usually do at weekends?": "I usually spend Saturday mornings at the gym, and in the afternoon I meet friends in the city centre. Sundays are quieter, because I prepare for the week ahead. Last weekend, for example, I cooked for the whole week."

If you miss part of a question, answer the part you understood. Silence scores nothing.

Speaking Sample

The longest speaking task, and recorded on video. Use the same shape as the Writing Sample: position, first reason with example, second reason with example, short conclusion. Two minutes of clear, organised speech is a strong answer; you do not have to use all three minutes.

4. Time Management

• Use preparation time to choose ideas, not sentences. Two reasons and two examples, written as single words on your notes, is enough.
• Write About the Photo: start typing within 5 seconds. Leave the last 10 seconds to check verb forms.
• Interactive Writing Part 1: about 30 seconds planning, 3.5 to 4 minutes writing, 30 seconds checking.
• Speaking tasks: stop when your answer is complete. Ending cleanly at 60 seconds is better than repeating yourself to reach 90.
• Practise with a real timer. Most students write about half as fast under test conditions as they expect.

5. Common Mistakes That Cost Points

The fastest way to find your own mistakes is to record five responses, transcribe them and mark every repeated error. For speaking practice ideas, see how to practise speaking a language alone, and for vocabulary range, the best way to learn vocabulary.

6. A 7-Day Practice Routine

• Days 1 to 2: three Write About the Photo responses and one Speak About the Photo a day.
• Days 3 to 4: one Interactive Writing (both parts) and one Read, Then Speak a day.
• Day 5: Interactive Speaking practice: have someone (or an app) read you six questions; answer each in 35 seconds.
• Day 6: one full Writing Sample and one Speaking Sample under exact timing.
• Day 7: review your recordings and texts, list your top three errors and rewrite one answer without them.

If you are still working out how much time you need overall, our guide on how long to prepare for the Duolingo English Test has 1, 2 and 4-week plans. Derstina's DET course includes timed task drills and a full mock test, so you can practise these structures under the same pressure as the real thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the writing tasks on the Duolingo English Test?

The current writing tasks are Write About the Photo, Interactive Writing (an extended answer plus a follow-up), the Writing Sample at the end of the test, and Summarize the Conversation, which follows each Interactive Listening set. Read, Then Write no longer appears on the current test.

What are the speaking tasks on the Duolingo English Test?

The current speaking tasks are Speak About the Photo, Read, Then Speak, Interactive Speaking and the Speaking Sample. Read Aloud and Listen, Then Speak were removed in July 2025, when Interactive Speaking was added.

How many words should I write for the DET Writing Sample?

There is no official word count, but around 100 to 150 well-organised words in about 5 minutes is a realistic target. A clear position, two reasons with examples and a short conclusion matter more than length.

Do I need to speak for the full time on DET speaking tasks?

No. Since July 2025 most speaking tasks no longer require a minimum speaking time. A complete, well-organised answer of 45 to 60 seconds for the photo task is better than filling the time with repetition or long pauses.

Can universities see my DET Writing Sample and Speaking Sample?

Yes. Both samples are shared with the institutions that receive your results, and the Speaking Sample is shared as a video. Treat them as part of your application and answer them carefully.