The Duolingo English Test Writing Section

Author

Josh MacPherson

Head Instructor at TST Prep

The Duolingo English Test® Writing Section?

All right, all right, you caught me.

There is no “writing section” for the Duolingo English Test like there is for the TOEFL iBT or the IELTS.

However, there are three writing question types on the Duolingo English Test that require you to write for an extended period of time.

Write About the Photo
Interactive Writing
Writing Sample

Even though you are not required to write a full essay for the Duolingo English Test, you still have to showcase your writing.

And even worse, if you follow the directions on the test, you will struggle to score higher than 120 in your production score. Yikes!

But don’t worry…

You will know exactly how to earn a high writing score on test day by the end of this brief article.

How?

We are going to take a look at:

Sample questions for each writing question
Sample responses for Write About the Photo
Provide a step-by-step guide to grading your writing

And more!

Before we start, if you are in a hurry and would like free AI feedback on your DET Writing, make a free account today. No credit card required.

Duolingo English Test Writing Question: A Quick Introduction

Before we dive into the sample answers, let’s take a quick step back and make sure you know what the writing questions will look like on test day.

The Write About the Photo question will present an image and provide you with 60 seconds to write about it. You will have three of these questions on the exam. The directions are always the same, “Write one or more sentences that describe the image.” Aim to write more.

Here is an example image of this particular question type courtesy of Duolingo.

The Interactive Writing question type replaced the Read, then Write question type in May 2024.

There will be only one of this question type on test day and it is divided into two parts. In part one, you will have five minutes to write and in part two you will have three minutes to write.

It begins with a question about your opinion or asks you for a description, which you will write about for five minutes. After that, it will ask you a follow-up question related to the first question, and you will have three minutes to write.

Let’s look at a few examples:

Example #1

Part 1: Describe your favorite teacher. What qualities did you respect most?

Part 2: Do you think you would like to be a teacher in the future? Explain why or why not.

Example #2

Part 1: Choose one of the following inventions: the car, the telephone, or the microwave. Explain some of the ways it has changed people’s lives.

Part 2: Can you provide specific examples of how this invention has had a positive impact on people’s lives?

As you can see, part two often asks to further explain your answer in part one or ask to provide more specific examples.

Don’t worry about the topic. While you may have more to say about some questions than others, the question is usually about something you can relate to and have an opinion on. Here is a list of a few of the most common topics:

Health and wellness
Educational styles
Parenting styles
Technology and the future
Using technology
Traveling
Influential people

Here’s how this question will look on test day:

Writing Sample questions require longer responses. You can think of this question type as a mini-essay. You will have five minutes to write at least 50 words. Even though you only need to write 50 words, aim to have a response of at least 100 words. When you write more, you showcase a broader range of vocabulary and grammar, which will have a positive impact on your score.

Writing Sample questions ask for your opinion on a subject or a description of a topic. These questions may also ask you to share a past experience. Here are a couple of examples:

Opinion (general topic) – “Many parents will take away a child’s phone as punishment for bad behavior. Do you support or oppose this idea? Explain why.”
Describe (general topic) – “Describe current technology used in schools. Which technology is most important in the classroom? Explain with details and examples.”
Describe (personal experience) – “Think about someone who has encouraged you in life. How have they encouraged you? Give specific examples.”

Like the Interactive Writing question, try not to worry about the topic, it will be related to your one personal experience or opinion.

And in case you are wondering, here is how the question will look on the exam.

To help make your life easier (or more difficult, I’m not sure which one), I have laid out the various question types along with some sample questions, typical wording, and popular topics in this one table.

Writing Sample Question Types
Question Types	Typical Wording	Typical Topics	Question Examples
OPINION general topic	Do you support or oppose… Do you agree or disagree… (What) do you think… How do you feel...	Business world Arts and culture Government policy Health and wellness Educational styles Parenting styles Technology and the future	Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents should read their children’s text messages. Provide specific reasons for your opinion. Many parents will take away a child’s phone as punishment for bad behavior. Do you support or oppose this idea? Explain why.
DESCRIBE general topic	Describe… Explain… Discuss… Think/Talk about…	Business world Arts and culture Government policy Health and wellness Educational styles Parenting styles Technology and the future	Describe current technology used in schools. What technology is most important in the classroom? Explain with details and examples. Many people now prefer to get their news on the Internet. Talk about some of the ways this has changed people’s lives.
DESCRIBE personal experience	Describe… Explain… Discuss… Think/Talk about… What…	Education experience Using technology Traveling Health and wellness Parenting styles Influential people	Describe your favorite teacher. What qualities did you respect most? Think about someone who has encouraged you in life. How have they encouraged you? Give specific examples.

Write About the Photo: 2 Sample Questions and Answers

I know, I know, you came here for sample answers and I haven’t delivered yet!

All right, here they are. Let’s start with eight sample questions for Write About the Photo. You might also want to set a timer for 60 seconds and try to write a response for each yourself before looking at the samples.

Ready?

Here we go:

Example #1:

Write one or more sentences that describe the image. You have one minute

Answer:

I see an enormous yellow and brown fish being held by a man in a red shirt. The man is looking at the fish with pride. I think he has just returned from a fishing trip and wanted to take a picture with the fish he caught.

Teacher Feedback: The length of the response is good and there are no grammatical errors or typos. Some of the vocabulary is repeated, like the word “fish” and various colors. This response would be stronger with a wider vocabulary.

Example #2:

Write one or more sentences that describe the image. You have one minute

Answer:

In this picture, I see a woman wearing black clothing sitting on a blanket with what appears to be bags that she made herself. I think she is trying to sell some of her bags to the man sitting in front of her.

Teacher Feedback: Good use of making an inference here with the phrase “I think”. Also, I like that the writer began with the phrase “in this picture” since it sounds natural and also provides the opportunity to include a comma.

One extra note before I move on to the next question type:

All of these answers are long.

Do not worry if you can not write this much in 60 seconds. These are examples of the ideal amount to write. Rest assured, you can still score well while writing less.

Interactive Writing: 1 Sample Question and Answer

Now let’s take a look at an example of the Interactive Writing question.

Example #1

Part 1: Choose one of the following inventions: the car, the telephone, or the microwave. Explain some of the ways it has changed people’s lives.

Nowadays, most people agree that the telephone has had a tremendous impact on our lives. First of all, phones have evolved over time, and now almost every person on Earth carries one wherever they go. This new technology has totally transformed the work environment because most jobs require employees to be on call outside the office. Additionally, interactions between friends and family members have changed. Most people can not sustain a long conversation without checking the notifications on their phone every minute. While the car and microwave have impacted our world today, no other invention can quite match the massive effect the telephone has had on our lives.

Part 2: Can you provide specific examples of how this invention has had a positive impact on people’s lives?

One specific way the telephone has had a positive impact on people’s lives is by allowing them to connect with friends and loved ones around the world, no matter where they are located. One particular example that comes to mind is from my own personal experience. I am from America, but I currently live in Japan and rely on the telephone to stay in touch with the people I love back in the States.

Teacher Feedback: This response is excellent. The test-taker went way beyond the minimum word count and answered every part of the question. She stayed on topic and had a limited number of grammar or spelling mistakes. The personal example about living in Japan whole being from America worked well, providing her response with a clear structure that had a beginning, middle, and end. This is a near-perfect example.

Writing Sample: 1 Sample Question and Answer

Writing is exciting, right?

No?

I know, I know. We are almost done.

Let’s just take a quick look at a sample question and answer for the Writing Sample question, the last question on the test.

Example #1

Describe your favorite teacher. What qualities did you respect most?

Over the years, I have attended many classes and had different types of teachers. One teacher who stands out in my mind as the best teacher I have ever had was my high school history teacher. He was extremely compassionate and would hold study sessions before tests to help students who may have been struggling during a unit. His lectures were engaging, and he kept the students gripped with intrigue as he taught. Furthermore, he always made sure that there were hands-on projects to help us further understand the material. I remember one time we were learning about the House of Representatives and the Senate, so he turned the classroom into Congress to help us understand how it worked. I still think about that project every time I hear about politics in America today. He was so dedicated to making sure his students found success.

Teacher Feedback: This is another excellent response with a bunch of advanced vocabulary. Phrases like “House of Representatives,” “extremely compassionate,” and “gripped with intrigue” showcase intricate understanding of the English language. This example is also well-formatted with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

DET Writing Section Summary

You know by now that the Duolingo English Test does not have a writing section, but it does have a couple of specific questions that require you to write.

Write About the Photo
Interactive Writing
Writing Sample

Besides learning about the questions, you have also read a few examples of high-scoring responses so you know exactly what to do on the day of the exam.

Now it is time for you to actually practice writing your own responses. Use the grading rubric tables below to help you start and check your own writing today. Sign up for your free account with more example questions and answers.

Write About the Photo Self-Grading Rubric
Questions	Notes
1. Did I write at least 30 words?
2. Did I start by describing the picture in general?
3. Did I provide additional details or inferences to expand on my response?
4. Did I include at least two descriptive adjectives?
5. Did I include at least four words at a B1 CEFR level or higher? (CEFR checker site)
6. Did I have at least 10 seconds to edit my response?
7. Did I have less than two grammar, spelling, or formatting mistakes?
8. Did I include at least one comma?
9. What can I do next time to improve my confidence level score?

Interactive Writing Checklist
Questions	Notes
1. Did I write at least 160 words?
2. Did my introduction restate the main idea of the question?
3. Did I expand on my point(s) with additional details or a personal example?
4. Did I have enough time to include a short conclusion?
5. Did I include at least ten words at a B1 CEFR level or higher? (CEFR checker site)
6. Did I have at least 30 seconds to edit my response?
7. Did I have less than three grammar, spelling, or formatting mistakes?
8. Did I include at least two commas?
9. What can I do next time to improve my confidence level score?

Cue the applause.

Seriously, there are a million other things you could be doing besides preparing for the DET, so be proud of yourself and keep it up.

Don’t forget to sign up for your free account today at TST Prep and gain access to over 400 additional free practice questions for the Duolingo English Test.

Thanks again for reading and drop a comment below if you have any follow-up questions.

Keep studying

9 Comments

Jackson Bakari Onderi
November 27, 2024 at 2:35 AM

This is a good set of tests and very accessible at a suitable time of choice. It is very helpful.

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Sussan
July 22, 2024 at 5:54 AM

Thank you, I appreciate it, it was really helpful.

Reply