Duolingo English Test speaking questions & practice
Sample speaking questions and topics for every DET speaking task — photo description, interactive speaking and the open speaking sample — with a free adaptive speaking section test to practise them under time.
- 15 minutes, 3 task types — not a full hour
- Moves Speaking, Conversation, Production on your report
- A real adaptive engine — difficulty moves with your answers
This section serves only the task types that feed your Speaking subscore, at difficulty that adapts to how you answer — the same engine that runs a full mock, pointed at one skill.
Because Speaking also feeds Conversation and Production, work here moves three of the eight numbers on your report.
Three speaking tests, no shared questions
Each one draws from its own slice of the bank, so sitting all three measures you three times rather than measuring what you remember.
Speaking Test 1
The first slice of the speaking bank, running the full difficulty range so it finds your level wherever it is.
Take test 1Speaking Test 2
A separate set. Nothing here appears in test 1 or test 3, so a second sitting is a fresh measurement rather than a memory test.
Take test 2Speaking Test 3
The third disjoint slice, same difficulty range and same scoring, so all three speaking scores are directly comparable.
Take test 315 minutes each. Free for a limited time.
What is in the speaking section
Speak About the Photo
An image appears and you describe it aloud.
How it is scored → 35 seconds eachInteractive Speaking
A short spoken conversation with an animated character. You hear one question at a time and record a reply to each, and every question builds on what you just said.
How it is scored → 3 minutesSpeaking Sample
An extended spoken response to an open prompt. It is sent to institutions alongside your score.
How it is scored →What happens when you start the speaking test
A short equipment check
Microphone and audio are checked before the clock starts, so a hardware problem surfaces now rather than halfway through a recording.
The engine starts near the middle and moves
Your first item sits around the centre of the scale. From there difficulty tracks your answers — get one right and the next is harder. It is the same item-response engine that runs a full mock, pointed at Speaking alone.
3 task types, 15 minutes
Each task carries its own timer, exactly as it does in the real test. Timers do not pause and there is no going back to a submitted answer.
A score on the same scale
You get a Speaking estimate on the 10–160 scale with a confidence range, not a percentage. Because it is one skill, there is no overall score — that needs all four.
Feedback where a rubric applies
Every written and spoken response comes back with what worked and the one thing to change, graded by model against a rubric.
What speaking is really costing you
Speaking is where the gap between what people know and what they can produce under time pressure is widest. There is no interlocutor to react to you and no second take, so the skill being measured is really sustained, organised delivery on your own — which is trainable, and almost nobody trains it.
Find your pattern, then fix that
Four failure patterns cover most of what goes wrong here. Read down the left column until one describes you — the fix is beside it, and it is usually not the fix people assume.
| If this sounds like you | What to actually do |
|---|---|
| You run dry after about ninety seconds | A structure problem, not a language problem. Deciding a shape during preparation — position, example, close — is what carries the second half of a long answer. |
| You sound hesitant even when you know the words | Record yourself speaking to a timer every day. Speak About the Photo is the easiest task to drill pure delivery on, and ten minutes a day visibly changes phrasing in weeks. |
| You answer a question adjacent to the one asked | That is a listening failure showing up in your Speaking score. Diagnose the halves separately before drilling either. |
| You pause before content words | Vocabulary retrieval, not planning. Building a stock of concrete examples you can describe in detail beats trying to widen vocabulary in the abstract. |
Where speaking shows up
One skill, three numbers. This is why a single weak section costs more than people expect.
Speaking
Measured directly by every task in this section.
Conversation
An integrated subscore built partly from Speaking, so it moves when this does.
Production
An integrated subscore built partly from Speaking, so it moves when this does.
Practice prompts for every DET speaking task
The Duolingo English Test speaking section asks you to speak in three ways: describe a photo, respond in a short interactive exchange, and give an extended open answer. The exact prompts change every time and are not published — anyone selling you “real” DET speaking questions is guessing — but they follow consistent, predictable patterns. Below are practice prompts in the same style for each task, so you can rehearse out loud under time. Do each the way the real task works: little or no preparation, then speak until the timer ends.
Speak About the Photo
A photo appears and you describe what is happening for about 90 seconds, after roughly 20 seconds to look. Practise on any image of a busy, detailed scene — the more people and actions, the more you can say. Try describing photos of:
- A crowded street market with vendors and shoppers
- A family sharing a meal at home
- People working together in a busy office
- A train station or airport at a busy time
- Children playing in a park
- A chef preparing food in a restaurant kitchen
- Tourists taking photographs at a landmark
- A group of friends celebrating outdoors
Name what you see, then add detail: who the people are, what they are doing, where it is, and how it might feel. Full guide: Speak About the Photo.
Interactive Speaking
You are given a topic to read and listen to, then asked to respond — first with short answers, then a longer spoken turn. Practise forming a clear opinion fast and backing it with one reason and one example. Sample prompts in this style:
- Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? Why?
- Should young people travel before they start work?
- Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?
- Has social media improved the way people communicate?
- Should students be allowed to use phones in class?
- Is it more important to enjoy your job or to earn a high salary?
Full guide: Interactive Speaking.
Speaking Sample (open response)
The speaking sample gives you an open prompt and up to three minutes to speak. This is where topic practice matters most. Rehearse these common open topics until you can talk for the full time with a clear beginning, middle and end:
- Describe a person who has had a strong influence on your life.
- Talk about a place you would like to visit and explain why.
- Describe a skill you would like to learn.
- Talk about a memorable event from your childhood.
- Describe your ideal job and what would make it satisfying.
- Do you think technology has made life better? Explain your view.
- Describe a book, film or show that made an impression on you.
- Talk about a challenge you have faced and how you dealt with it.
- Describe a tradition or festival that matters in your culture.
- Should everyone learn a second language? Give your opinion.
- Describe a place in your hometown you would recommend to a visitor.
- Talk about how you most like to spend your free time.
Full guide: Speaking Sample.
Duolingo English Test speaking questions
What kind of questions are on the Duolingo English Test speaking section?
Three kinds: you describe a photo (Speak About the Photo), respond in a short interactive spoken exchange (Interactive Speaking), and give an extended open answer to a prompt (the Speaking Sample). All three are recorded and graded by the scoring model — there is no live examiner.
What topics come up in DET speaking?
Everyday, general topics that need no special knowledge — your experiences, opinions, plans, and descriptions of people, places and situations. You never need technical or academic subject knowledge; the test measures your English, not what you know.
Are the Duolingo English Test speaking questions the same every time?
No. The format and timing are fixed, but the specific prompts change with every sitting and adapt to your level. There is no fixed list to memorise.
Can I find the real DET speaking questions?
No, and be wary of anyone claiming to sell them. Duolingo does not publish live questions, and because the test is adaptive no two people get the same set. Practising prompts in the same style — like those above — is the honest and effective way to prepare.
How long do I get to speak on each task?
Roughly 90 seconds to describe the photo and up to three minutes for the open speaking sample, with short preparation time before each. Interactive Speaking mixes brief answers with one longer turn. Each task shows its own timer.
How much preparation time do I get before speaking?
A short window — around 20 seconds for the photo task — then the recording starts and does not stop. Part of the skill is planning a rough shape quickly, then speaking to fill the time.
How do I practise Duolingo English Test speaking questions?
Use practice prompts in the exam’s style (above), record yourself against a timer, and review for pauses and repeated vocabulary. Then take the adaptive speaking section for a scored estimate. Little and often beats occasional long sessions.
What is “Speak About the Photo”?
A task where a photo appears and you describe what is happening for about 90 seconds. See the full guide — it is the easiest speaking task to drill pure delivery on.
What is the speaking sample?
An open-ended spoken response of up to three minutes, given at the end of the test on a general prompt. It is sent to institutions alongside your score as a real sample of your spoken English. See the guide.
Is there a human examiner for DET speaking?
No. You speak to your computer, and responses are graded by Duolingo’s scoring model; the raw recordings can also be reviewed by institutions. There is no interview and no interlocutor to react to you, which is why sustained solo delivery is the skill to train.
How is the Duolingo English Test speaking section scored?
Your spoken responses feed the Speaking subscore and the Conversation and Production areas, all on the 10–160 scale. Fluency, range, accuracy and how well you address the prompt all count. See how the DET is scored.
What makes a good DET speaking answer?
A clear structure (a position, an example, a close), a steady pace without long pauses, varied vocabulary and grammar, and staying on the prompt. Speaking for the full time with a real example beats a short, hesitant answer.
How can I improve my DET speaking score quickly?
Drill delivery daily: pick a prompt, speak for the full time on a timer, and record it. Most people lose marks to hesitation and running dry, both of which improve fast with a rehearsed structure and a stock of concrete examples. Ten focused minutes a day changes phrasing within weeks.
Do I need a microphone for the speaking section?
Yes. A working microphone and a quiet room are required, and the setup check tests your audio before the graded section begins. Practise on the same device you will use for the real test.
Can I practise just the speaking section on its own?
Yes. This speaking section test runs only the speaking tasks in about 15 minutes and returns a Speaking estimate on the 10–160 scale, so you can train the skill without sitting a full hour.
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