Want to boost your Duolingo English Test score? Here's your complete guide—with strategies, tips, and techniques to help you prepare smarter and score higher.
🧭 Table of Contents
- Know Your Starting Point
- Master Every Question Type
- Focus on Writing and Speaking
- Improve Picture Description
- Avoid Basic Grammar Mistakes
- Use Advanced Vocabulary
- Learn Connecting Words
- Organize Your Responses
- Speak Clearly and Confidently
- Build a Daily English Habit
1. Know Your Starting Point
Already taken the test? Use your score breakdown to identify weak areas.
Haven’t taken it yet? Start with a mock test to estimate your current level.
- The official Duolingo practice test is free and 45 minutes long.
- It gives a general score, but no subscores.
You can supplement it with more comprehensive mock tests or practice tools that provide detailed feedback.
2. Master Every Question Type
The DET includes 19 different question types. Learn to recognize them and understand what’s expected.
✅ Don’t spend time reading instructions during the test.
✅ Familiarity builds confidence and speed.
👉 Start by reviewing all question types and watching walkthroughs to learn how each works.
3. Focus on Writing and Speaking
Writing and speaking are the fastest areas to improve. Why?
- You can prepare reusable phrases, templates, and advanced vocabulary.
- Improvements here often carry over to your reading and listening scores.
Comprehension-based skills take longer to improve—focus on production first.
4. Improve Picture Description
This task appears 4 times on the DET: 3 writing, 1 speaking.
Most students give vague or simple responses that don’t score well.
📌 Use a structured template.
📌 Include relevant details and strong vocabulary.
Practicing this task alone can significantly raise your overall score.
5. Avoid Basic Grammar Mistakes
Don’t lose easy points. Common issues include:
- Spelling errors
- Capitalization problems
- Missing articles
- Singular/plural mistakes
These are “basic” mistakes, and even one or two can lower your score. Master the fundamentals before moving on to complex structures.
6. Use Advanced Vocabulary (Correctly)
If you want a score above 120, strong vocabulary is a must.
❌ Don’t throw in “fancy” words without knowing how to use them.
✅ Focus on precision and appropriateness.
Instead of “good,” say “enjoyable” or “memorable.”
Instead of “bad,” say “disappointing” or “unpleasant.”
If you use an advanced word incorrectly, it may lower your score instead of helping.
7. Learn Connecting Words
Connectors help your ideas flow logically.
Words like “however,” “as a result,” “in contrast” improve both:
- Vocabulary score
- Discourse coherence
They help the reader or listener follow your ideas. Just make sure you’re using them accurately.
8. Organize Your Responses
A messy or disorganized answer—even with good grammar—can lower your score.
✅ Begin with a topic sentence
✅ Use logical progression
✅ Stick to 1 main idea per paragraph
✅ For speaking, plan your ideas before starting
Clear structure improves both writing and speaking performance.
9. Speak Clearly and Confidently
DET is a recorded test, not a conversation. You need to sound confident and easy to understand.
📌 Speak slowly and clearly
📌 Pretend you’re giving a presentation
📌 Avoid mumbling or rushing
Slowing down gives you more time to think and results in better pronunciation.
10. Build a Daily English Habit
You can’t cram for a language test. Real improvement comes from regular exposure.
Try this daily routine:
- 🎧 Watch 1 hour of English-language TV (with subtitles)
- 📖 Read news for 30 minutes (BBC is a great option)
Even 7 days of consistent practice will show results.
Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Preparation for the DET is about more than just test-taking strategies. It's about building fluency, improving accuracy, and learning how to present your best English.
Start practicing today, build a study routine, and focus on high-impact improvements like grammar, vocabulary, and structure.
Good luck!
