O R T H E
D E F
GUI
L I N G O
DU O
H T E S T
G L I S
EN
@PROJETOBRADUCA
written and created by Alexia Pereira
Question Types
1. Complete the text (3 minutes)
What's asking? Fill the gaps according to the context.
Resolution: Firstly complete those gaps in which you are sure of the answer. Avoid
pausing on words you don’t know. Then, come back and read the whole text,
completing by context those words you left blank.
Practice: Seach C1 texts and delete some words, and then, try to complete. (This
exercise should be done in pairs) + Read an article or a book totally in English every
day (30 min after studying)
2. Select the real English words | reading (1 min) and listening (1:30 min)
Resolution: Select the words you are sure of, and then, take a few seconds to check
which could be an English word by looking at the construction of the word, or using it in
a sentence.
Example: Beforehand (before + hand) = de antemão.
Practice: Read an article or a book totally in English every day (30 minutes after
studying) + Listen to Ted Talks and try to write the words they are saying.
3. Record yourself saying the statement below (20 seconds)
Resolution: First keep calm. Then, say once (without recording) the words you have
some doubt in saying fast like: properly. After that record yourself.
Practice: Watch Youtube practice videos. Thus, a great practice is with music in karaoke.
For this practice, you must listen to the song before (to observe the pronunciation) then
you sing along with the singer, and finally, only in the karaoke.
@PROJETOBRADUCA
4. Describe the image below | Speaking and Writing (1:30 min)
Resolution: Try to say 4-5 sentences. According to English teachers on the internet,
this is what students with a score of 130+ say.
1st sentence: What is in the picture.
Explanation: Try to develop a short sentence. You should say what you first see in the
picture.
Ex: In this picture, I can see a family.
2nd sentence: ING
Explanation: Use properly a ING sentence, to complete the one you said previously.
Ex: They are having fun on the beach.
3rd sentence: Details.
Explanation: Now is time to be specific. Try to choose one thing to describe deeper
(the clothes they are wearing, the weather, or their expressions)
Ex: The family is composed of a couple, two girls and a little boy. The girls are wearing
pink and yellow bikinis and the little boy is wearing blue trunks.
4th sentence: Prediction.
Explanation: Finish your description by using a prediction. Something that seems to be
happening but there is no sure about it. It will show your critical side and can help you
to get more points.
Ex: They look like they have just gotten out of the sea.
Practice: There are a lot of Youtube videos for it.
@PROJETOBRADUCA
Extended Speaking + Say the answer to the question you hear (1:30)
5.
Now, you will have to give your opinion about a random subject. It is actually pretty
random. They can ask you about anything.
Resolution: During the Duolingo English Test you can not use notes at any time, so try to
use your hand as a “note”. I know it sounds crazy but if we think, we have 5 fingers, and
every response we give to anybody, has 5 moments.
1st finger: What is our opinion: Pretend someone is asking us "Which proficiency test you
will be doing?"
Our first answer is “I will be doing the Duolingo English Test”. That is our ‘opinion’ or point of
view, choice.
2nd finger: Why we hold that opinion
Then, we will explain to our friends why we are going to do DET instead of Toefl or IELTS.
“We will be doing the Duolingo English Test because it is the cheaper exam, and my dream
school accepts it”
3rd finger: When we developed that opinion
“I will be doing the Duolingo English Test because it is the cheaper exam, and my dream
school accepts it. I started the year studying for TOEFL but the dollar has increased
significantly since the beginning of quarantine, so I changed my mind”
4th finger: (examples)
“I will be doing the Duolingo English Test because it is the cheaper exam, and my dream
school accepts it. I started the year studying for TOEFL but the dollar has increased
significantly since the beginning of quarantine, so I changed my mind. I have this friend,
Sarah. She got a full-ride at Columbia University and she made Duolingo 4 times. Yet, it
wasn’t even close to the price of a single TOEFL exam. So I hope I will get a great score as she
did”
5th finger: Restate our opinion at the end.
“I will be doing the Duolingo English Test because it is the cheaper exam, and my dream
school accepts it. I started the year studying for TOEFL but the dollar has increased
significantly since the beginning of quarantine, so I changed my mind. . I have this friend,
Sarah. She got a full-ride at Columbia University and she made Duolingo 4 times. Yet, it
wasn’t even close to the price of a single TOEFL exam. So I hope I will get a great score as she
did. To sum up, I will be doing the Duolingo English Test this year”
Practice: Practice with YT videos, and if you can and, look at the independent tasks of TOEFL.
It will help you with random topics. Practice more on topics you are not familiar with.
@PROJETOBRADUCA
6. Write at least 50 words (5 min)
The resolution and practice method is the same as the previously mentioned. But
know, try to do a sentence introduction before your opinion.
7. Say the image that appears (3 secs)
Personally speaking, this task is the most complicated for me.
Even if you do not know the name, ALWAYS say the category.
If appears an eggplant (real experience ‘-‘) and you do not remember the name, say the
category “vegetable”, and that is enough. It is not as good as knowing the principal
name, but it is better than nothing.
Practice: YT videos.
8. Type the statement you hear (1 min)
You will have three chances to hear the statement. First, listen to it and write every
word you can. Then, listen again and pay more attention to the beginning of the
phrase. And the last chance, you listen again and verify the whole phrase.
OBS: For the essay and the interview, I will post more about it in the future (next week).
@PROJETOBRADUCA
