More and more foreign students are choosing Duolingo’s English test over more established alternatives like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and others as the number of prestigious colleges that recognize the test increases.
Why? For one thing, the exam only lasts an hour instead of two. The fact that the Duolingo English test may be taken at home instead of at a testing facility is another plus.
As we discussed in greater depth in a prior blog, the format and variety of questions that make up the Duolingo exam.
Check out that article if you’re not familiar with the format of the Duolingo exam or the idea of answer-adaptive questions.
With everything out of the way, how should one go about taking the Duolingo English test? What are the most effective ways to be ready for Duolingo? Stop worrying about the test and read on to find out everything you need to know.
Top Ten Tips for Mastering Duolingo for the English Exam
Study a Tutorial for the Duolingo Exam
A great place to begin exploring in order to get your bearings. Watch a short video tutorial on the Duolingo test site to get acquainted with the exam format and format before you start studying.
In only three minutes, you’ll learn the basics of taking the Duolingo mock test, seeing examples of questions, registering, and getting everything ready to go on test day.
Try out a practice exam on Duolingo
You may take an 8-minute, no-cost trial of the Duolingo Exam right there on the homepage. Sample questions and answers, together with a rough assessment of your performance, are provided here for your convenience.
You see, it’s pretty impossible to prepare straight for the questions without working through the sample exam, as no two Duolingo examinations are exactly the same (more on this below).
Learn what Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT) is and how it works
In a word, CAT entails the following steps:
When you get a question right on Duolingo, the difficulty of the next question increases automatically.
If you guess wrongly, though, the following question will be easy. The purpose of Duolingo’s English exam is to provide a more accurate assessment of your current proficiency in the language.
You may have done really well up to that moment if you find a certain issue particularly challenging; thus, try not to panic.
Learn the various Duolingo question formats
Again, the exam website will provide you with a lot more information about the different kinds of questions that will be on the Duolingo test practice, but here’s a little sample to get you started:
Fill in the blanks to form words in a text.
You can pick between “fake” English (in text and/or voice) and “real” English.
Take in a statement and accurately transcribe it into text.
Say some words out loud and record the results.
Describe anything in great depth (in speech or writing).
Respond to prompts with a brief (50-word) written essay.
Respond orally to a written and/or audio prompt for 30 seconds.
Talk for a minute to three minutes without holding back.
Take a topic and write for three to five minutes on it.
Duolingo’s Conversational Practise
As we’ve seen above, the speaking portion of the Duolingo Test will last anywhere from one minute to three minutes. Many people who are fluent in English find this challenging, much alone pupils from other countries.
But don’t panic; it’s simply a matter of getting used to your own voice and learning to swiftly plan out your responses. What steps can you take now to become ready?
Pick absolutely any subject you like! It might be anything at all: a political issue, a TV program, a food you really like, a problem with the environment, or anything else you come across.
Think about what you could say and the problems it would encounter, and then try recording yourself while talking about it.
You may feel clumsy and out of place at first, but after some practice, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to speak fluently in no time!
Download the official Duolingo test guide
Obtaining a copy of the official study guide is something you should do before taking any exam. After all, the individuals who created the exam are in the best position to offer advice and strategy for passing it.
So, tell me, where can I get the Duolingo English Test manual? After signing up for an account, simply go to the website to get the download!
Take practice exams as much as possible!
We’ve discussed the Duolingo demo exam before, but it’s important enough to bring up again. Take a free practice exam once every few days or weeks to gauge your progress.
Don’t put it off till the last minute!
Make sure you have enough time before the exam to study. You should begin studying at least a month before the exam, and preferably six weeks beforehand.
This will provide your brain with the necessary time to process any new knowledge without overwhelming stress or strain. No need to worry if you aren’t 100% prepared just now; the Duolingo mock test may be taken whenever is most convenient for you.
It’s crucial to use everyday English
While there are several options for evaluating your English proficiency before studying abroad, Duolingo stands out as the most realistic and useful.
This is due to the fact that the test’s questions are not very academic, change the responses given, and cannot be memorized in advance.
Therefore, the best way to get ready for the Duolingo English Test is to use the question formats in actual situations. Some advice on how to accomplish it follows:
Look at a photo on Twitter or Tumblr. Spend some time explaining it in words and speech!
Practice your reading and pronouncing skills by reading aloud from articles. (You may try reading this out loud!)
Try taking notes and reciting aloud what you hear by listening to podcasts, music, and videos on YouTube.
Find sample speaking and writing tests online to prepare for the exam.
Study the guidelines for exam day
Since the Duolingo English Test is taken online, there are certain unique guidelines to adhere to. This is a quick review of the rules we discussed in our comprehensive guide to the Duolingo English Test.
How Long Is the Validity of Duolingo English Test Result?
The Duolingo English test is valid for two years, however, you’ll need to take it again to prove that you’ve learned anything. And if English is not your first language, you’ll need to take the test again, no matter how long you’ve been a resident of the United States. The length of time that your results remain valid on the Duolingo English exam depends on a number of criteria, including how hard you studied for the exam, how much your English has improved since then, and whether or not you were able to pass the test the second time around.
Conclusion
The difficulty of the Duolingo test cannot be denied. However, if you study hard for the exam, you should do quite well. Knowing your strengths and limitations, reviewing the wrong courses, familiarising yourself with the exam style, and making use of a bilingual dictionary/micro network are all essential for doing well on the Duolingo test.
However, your total competence may be affected by factors like your age, the language you study, and whether or not you live in the United States. Even though it is not a highly accurate measure of English proficiency, this Duolingo test practice is a great way to get a feel for where you are linguistically. If you give yourself a few minutes to unwind before the Duolingo mock test, you should perform just fine.
To read more blogs please click on: mastering reflective essay tips and tricks
