Duolingo English Test Speaking Sample — Practice and Examples
You get a longer question, a little preparation time, and then speak for an extended answer.
What it tests
Sustained speaking: keeping a clear line of thought for a few minutes without running out of things to say.
Worked example
Prompt: Describe a job you have watched someone do that you would not want to do yourself. Explain what the work involves and why it would not suit you.
Model answer
I would not want to do my uncle's job. He drives a long-distance lorry between Baku and Tbilisi, usually twice a week. The driving itself is only part of it: he loads and checks the cargo, deals with the paperwork at the border, and often waits four or five hours there with nothing to do. He sleeps in the cab when the crossing is slow, and he eats whatever is sold at the roadside. The money is reasonable and he likes being his own boss during the day, so I understand why he does it. It would not suit me for two reasons. The first is the loneliness. He can go two days without a real conversation, and I get restless if I am on my own for a whole afternoon. The second is that the job never really stops. If the truck breaks down at midnight, that is his problem, not somebody else's. I would rather have work that ends when I close the door behind me, even if it pays less.
How to do well
- Plan a beginning, a middle with one story or example, and a clear end.
- A personal example gives you far more to say than a general opinion.
- Signpost as you go — "the main reason is…", "what surprised me was…" — it keeps you on track.
Practice at three levels
Our practice for this task comes in three levels you choose yourself: Foundation teaches the format, Standard is 12 sessions plus 12 full tests at the level most candidates aim for, and Hard is another 12 + 12 with academic topics and tighter wording. Progress is kept per level, so you can move up when the current one feels easy.
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