Duolingo English Test · Item-type guide 5 · 5 min read

Duolingo English Test speaking questions and the speaking sample

The speaking tasks on the Duolingo English Test: Read Aloud, Speak About the Photo, Read, Then Speak, Listen, Then Speak and the speaking sample.

How speaking is tested

On the Duolingo English Test, you speak into your computer's microphone and your answers are recorded. There is no live examiner to talk to, so you need to be comfortable speaking to a screen. Most speaking tasks give you a short time to prepare, then a set time to speak, with a timer shown on screen.

The test is adaptive, so prompts may become more demanding as you go. Check englishtest.duolingo.com for the current list of tasks and time limits.

Read Aloud

A sentence appears on screen, and you read it aloud. This task focuses on pronunciation: clear sounds, correct word stress and natural rhythm.

An invented example: "The museum will be closed on Monday for repairs."

Read at a natural pace. Rushing makes sounds unclear; reading word by word sounds unnatural. Group words into phrases, such as "The museum / will be closed / on Monday / for repairs."

Exam tip: read the sentence silently once before you start recording, if time allows. Spot any hard words so they do not surprise you halfway through.

Speak About the Photo

You see a photo and describe it aloud. After a short preparation time, you speak until the timer ends or you finish.

An invented example. The photo shows a family cooking together in a kitchen. You might talk about who is in the photo, what each person is doing, the setting and the mood, then add a sentence about what might happen next.

A simple order keeps you talking:

1. The overall scene.
2. The people and what they are doing.
3. Details of the setting.
4. Your impression or a guess about the situation.

Read, Then Speak

You read a prompt on screen and then speak your answer. The prompt often asks you to describe an experience, explain a preference or give an opinion. It may include a few points to cover.

An invented example: "Talk about a teacher who influenced you. Describe who they were, what they taught and why they mattered to you."

Cover every point. Use the preparation time to decide the order you will speak in and one example for each point.

Listen, Then Speak

This works like Read, Then Speak, but you hear the prompt instead of reading it. You must catch the question by ear before you plan your answer. See our listening guide for more on understanding audio prompts.

The speaking sample

Near the end of the test, you give a longer open spoken response to a prompt. This is the speaking sample. It is shared with the institutions that receive your results, so admissions staff can hear you speak. The official site explains how the samples are used.

Because a real person may watch or listen to this response, think of it as a short interview answer:

• Answer the prompt directly in your first sentence.
• Give two or three reasons or examples.
• Finish with a short closing sentence rather than stopping mid-thought.
• Look at the screen and speak clearly.

What makes a strong spoken answer

• Keep going. Long silences give little to assess. Short natural pauses are fine.
• Develop your points. Give a reason and an example for each idea.
• Use a range of language. Mix simple and complex sentences, and try to use precise vocabulary.
• Speak clearly. Your accent does not need to be any particular kind; what matters is being easy to understand.
• Use the whole time. Stopping early leaves less evidence of your ability.

Exam tip: if you lose your train of thought, use a natural filler and continue, such as "Another thing I'd add is ..." rather than going silent.

Technical points

• Test your microphone before the test and check that your voice is clear and not too quiet.
• Sit at a steady distance from the microphone.
• Background noise can affect your recording and may break the testing rules. Choose a quiet room.
• Headphones and earphones are not allowed, so your speakers must work properly.

Common mistakes

• Not answering every part of the prompt.
• Reading from notes. Written notes are not allowed during the test.
• Speaking too fast when nervous, which makes words run together.
• Memorized answers that do not fit the actual prompt.
• Long silences while thinking of the perfect word. Use a simpler word and keep going.

For current task details, check englishtest.duolingo.com.

Check yourself

1. What does the Read Aloud task mainly test?
2. What is the difference between Read, Then Speak and Listen, Then Speak?
3. Who can hear your speaking sample?
4. Are written notes allowed during speaking tasks?
5. What should you do if you lose your train of thought?

More guides are on the Duolingo hub.