Read, Then Speak
A written topic, twenty seconds to read it, and up to ninety seconds to talk. The prompt stays on screen, so this is not a memory test: it is whether you answer all of it, fluently.
- 90 sec on the clock, Once per full test
- Feeds your Speaking subscore
- Built for the current July 2025 DET format, including the new Interactive Speaking task
Read, Then Speak shows you a written topic, usually with a few questions under it, and asks you to "Speak about the topic below for 90 seconds." You get twenty seconds to read before the recording screen, and the prompt stays visible while you speak.
The name causes confusion. It is not Read Aloud, the retired task where you read a sentence into the microphone. Here you read a question and then answer it in your own words, like a short spoken answer in an interview.
Ninety seconds is long enough to run out of things to say and short enough to waste. The people who do well use the twenty seconds to pick one answer for every part of the prompt, then talk through them in order.
What you actually see
A topic, a few questions, a twenty-second read, then a record button and a ninety-second timer.
- A written topic, such as "Talk about a skill you would like to learn", often with two or three questions under it.
- The directions appear for 20 seconds before the timer starts.
- A Record now button (Enter works too) and a 90-second recording.
- The prompt stays on screen the whole time you speak.
- One appearance in a full test.
Ninety seconds, planned in twenty
Prompt (written for this guide): "Talk about a skill you would like to learn." What is the skill? Why do you want to learn it? How would you learn it?
The twenty-second plan: cooking · save money, eat better, cook for family · online videos plus one class a week with my aunt.
The answer, about 80 seconds spoken:
"A skill I'd really like to learn is cooking properly, not just making instant noodles. There are three reasons. First, I'd save a lot of money, because at the moment I eat out almost every day. Second, I'd eat better, since I'd know exactly what goes into my food. And third, I'd like to cook for my family when I visit them. As for how I'd learn, I think I'd start with short online videos for the basics, and then ask my aunt to teach me two or three of her dishes, because she's the best cook I know. If I practised once a week, I think I could cook a proper meal in about three months."
Every question on the screen is answered, in order, each with a reason or a detail. The linking words (first, as for, because) carry the listener through it, and the last sentence closes it rather than trailing off.
How Read, Then Speak is scored
Read, Then Speak feeds Speaking, Conversation and Production, the subscores Duolingo lists for it.
It is an open response, rated by Duolingo's grading engine. For spoken answers, the help centre lists content (relevance, development and effect on the listener), fluency (speed, natural pauses, and how much you rely on fillers, repetition and starting again) and pronunciation (how easy you are to understand, individual sounds, word and sentence stress, and intonation).
Duolingo's own tips for this task are to speak naturally and clearly, use varied words and structures, and make sure you answer all the parts of the question.
| What the scorer looks at | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Answering every part | Each question under the topic, in turn. A missed part is missing content. |
| Development | A reason, an example or a detail for each point. |
| Fluency | A steady pace with natural pauses. Fewer fillers and fewer restarts. |
| Pronunciation | Clear words, stress on the important ones, and intonation that sounds like speech, not reading. |
| Range | Varied words and structures rather than the same sentence pattern repeated. |
| Using the time | Enough speech to judge. Most well-planned answers fill most of the 90 seconds. |
The mistakes that cost the most
The usual losses are structural, not grammatical: an answer that skips part of the prompt, or one that says everything in thirty seconds and then stops.
Do this
- Read every question under the topic during the twenty seconds and pick one answer for each.
- Answer them in the order they appear on screen.
- Give each answer a reason, an example or a detail.
- Use simple linking words to move on: first, also, as for, so.
- Finish with one closing sentence before the timer ends.
Not this
- Do not read the prompt aloud as your answer. It shows nothing about your English.
- Do not start again after a small mistake. Correct it in passing and keep going; restarts cost fluency.
- Do not stop at 30 seconds because you have "answered". Add the reasons and examples.
- Do not memorise a long answer for a topic you hope will come up. It shows when the prompt is different.
- Do not speak so fast that words run together. Clear and steady beats fast.
How to actually get better at Read, Then Speak
This is one of the easiest tasks to practise alone: a topic, a phone timer and a recording.
Make a stack of prompts
Write ten everyday topics, each with three questions under it: a place, a habit, a skill, a decision, a person.
Plan in twenty seconds
Set a timer. One answer per question, in a few words. Then record.
Record and listen back
Did you answer every question? Count the fillers and the restarts.
Repeat the same prompt once
Record it again straight away. The second take shows what better planning sounds like.
Move to the full test
Practise it in the speaking section, where it sits between Speak About the Photo and Interactive Speaking.
How much this one task moves your score
One appearance per test, feeding Speaking, Conversation and Production.
It is a single answer, but it is ninety seconds of speech, which gives the grading engine a good sample of your fluency and pronunciation. It is also the most coachable speaking task: the structure is printed on the screen, so better planning shows quickly in the result.
Read, Then Speak: questions people ask
What is Read, Then Speak on the Duolingo English Test?
It is a speaking task. A written topic appears, usually with a few questions under it, and you speak about it for up to 90 seconds after 20 seconds of reading time. It is one of the 13 current question types and feeds the Speaking, Conversation and Production subscores.
Is Read, Then Speak the same as Read Aloud?
No. Read Aloud asked you to read a sentence into the microphone, and it was removed from the test in July 2025. In Read, Then Speak you read a question and answer it in your own words, so it measures speaking, not reading aloud.
How long do I get for Read, Then Speak?
Twenty seconds to read the prompt before the recording screen, then up to 90 seconds to speak. The prompt stays on screen while you talk, so you can check you have covered every part.
What should I say in Read, Then Speak?
Answer every question under the topic, in order, with a reason or an example for each, then finish with one closing sentence. That shape usually fills most of the 90 seconds without running out of things to say.
How is Read, Then Speak different from the Speaking Sample?
The Speaking Sample comes at the end of the test, allows a longer answer and is shared with institutions as a recording. Read, Then Speak comes earlier, in the speaking part, with a 90-second limit. Both are rated by the grading engine.
Can I see the prompt while I speak in Read, Then Speak?
Yes. Duolingo says the question stays visible while you speak, so you can follow the questions under the topic as your outline and check you have answered all of them.
Which subscores does Read, Then Speak affect?
Speaking, Conversation and Production. It sits with Speak About the Photo, Interactive Speaking and the Speaking Sample as one of the spoken tasks on the test.
Do I have to speak for the full 90 seconds?
No, but a very short answer gives the grading engine little to judge. If you answer each question with a reason or an example, you will usually speak for most of the time. Stop with a clear closing sentence rather than trailing off.
What if I make a mistake in Read, Then Speak?
Correct it in passing and keep going. Duolingo lists reliance on repetition and starting again among the fluency points it rates, so restarting the whole answer costs more than a small slip.
How do I start the recording in Read, Then Speak?
When the reading time ends, press Record now, or press Enter. When you have finished, press Continue, or Enter again, to move on.
What topics come up in Read, Then Speak?
Everyday topics you can answer from your own life: a skill, a habit, a place, a decision, a person who influenced you. The questions under the topic tell you what to cover.
Can I practise Read, Then Speak on this site?
Yes. The practice task gives you the same 20 seconds to read and 90 seconds to speak, and every full mock test includes it in the speaking section. Your answer is transcribed and graded, with feedback.
Where Read, Then Speak sits in a full test
No task on the DET is scored in isolation. The adaptive engine is building one picture of your English out of every response, so it helps to know how much of the hour this particular task accounts for and which of the others are drawing on the same ability.
The table below is the whole test. Your current page is highlighted.
| Question type | Time | How often | Subscores it feeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read & Complete | 3 minutes | 3–6 times | Reading, Writing |
| Read & Select | 5 seconds | 15–18 times | Reading |
| Fill in the Blanks | 20 seconds | 6–9 times | Reading, Writing |
| Listen & Type | 1 minute | 6–9 times | Listening, Writing |
| Speak About the Photo | 90 seconds | once | Speaking |
| Read, Then Speak — you are here | 90 seconds | once | Speaking |
| Interactive Speaking | 35 seconds each | 6–8 questions | Speaking, Listening |
| Write About the Photo | 1 minute | 3 times | Writing |
| Interactive Writing | 5 min + 3 min | 1 set of 2 | Writing |
| Interactive Reading | 7 minutes | 2 sets | Reading |
| Interactive Listening | 7 min 45 s | 2 sets | Listening, Writing |
| Speaking Sample | 3 minutes | once | Speaking |
| Writing Sample | 5 minutes | once | Writing |
Two things are worth reading off that table. The first is that the tasks feeding Speaking are not only this one — improvement transfers, so time spent here shows up elsewhere. The second is that the tasks taking the largest share of the hour are not the ones most people practise most.
Question types that use the same muscles
Speaking Sample
An extended spoken response to an open prompt. It is sent to institutions alongside your score.
Read the guide → SpeakingSpeak About the Photo
An image appears and you describe it aloud.
Read the guide → Speaking + ListeningInteractive 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.
Read the guide →Start a practice test
An hour under real conditions, all eight subscores, and feedback on every written and spoken answer.
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