Duolingo English Test Speaking Cheatsheet
Templates and phrases for the Duolingo English Test speaking tasks: describe the photo, read then speak, listen then speak, so you never freeze.
The DET gives you seconds to start talking, so having a frame ready keeps you from freezing. Learn these, say them out loud, and adapt them to whatever comes up.
Speak about the photo
| Stage | Say something like |
|---|---|
| Open | This is a picture of… / In this photo I can see… |
| Who / where | There are … people. It looks like they're in… |
| Detail | In the background / On the left, there's… |
| Guess | It seems like they're … / They might be… |
Read, then speak / Listen, then speak
| Stage | Say something like |
|---|---|
| Answer directly | I think… / In my experience… |
| Give a reason | The main reason is… |
| Add an example | For example, … |
| Round off | So that's why… / All in all, … |
Buy a moment (don't go silent)
| Instead of a pause | Say |
|---|---|
| … | That's a good question. |
| … | Let me think for a second. |
| … | There are a few things to say about this. |
Fill the time, clearly
The DET scores you on speaking continuously and understandably. A steady, organized answer beats a perfect sentence followed by silence.
See the full breakdown in the Duolingo English Test speaking guide, or practise speaking out loud with an AI tutor.
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