Sample speaking-task prompts and fluency scoring criteria for the Duolingo English Test's production speaking section.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is the general format of the DET's speaking tasks?
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Test takers record a short spoken response to a prompt, ranging from describing an image to giving an opinion- What is fluency in the context of speaking assessment?
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The ability to speak smoothly and continuously without excessive pausing or hesitation- What is pronunciation as a speaking scoring criterion?
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How clearly and accurately individual sounds and words are spoken so a listener can understand them- What is grammatical accuracy in a spoken response?
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Correct use of sentence structure and word forms while speaking, similar to what is scored in writing- What is vocabulary range as a speaking scoring criterion?
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The variety and appropriateness of words used in a spoken response- Sample prompt: 'Describe your favorite place to visit.' What should a strong spoken response prioritize?
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Specific, concrete details about the place and clear reasons why it is a favorite- Sample prompt: 'What are the advantages of living in a big city?' What kind of response structure works well here?
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State a clear main point, then give two or three specific supporting reasons or examples- Why is it acceptable to pause briefly while speaking, as long as pauses are not excessive?
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Brief natural pauses are normal in speech; only frequent or lengthy hesitation significantly hurts fluency scoring- What is a filler phrase, such as 'you know' or 'like', and how should it be used in a timed response?
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A phrase used to fill a pause in natural speech; light use is normal, but overuse can reduce clarity and fluency- Why is it helpful to briefly organize your main point mentally before starting to speak?
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A quick plan helps you speak more fluently and avoid rambling or losing track of your point- Sample prompt: 'Describe what is happening in a photo of people at a market.' What should be avoided in this type of response?
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Vague statements like 'there are some people' without specific, observable details- Why does speaking at a natural pace matter, rather than speaking too quickly or too slowly?
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A natural pace supports clear pronunciation and fluency, while extremes in either direction can hurt comprehensibility- What is intonation, and why does it matter in a spoken response?
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The rise and fall of pitch while speaking; natural intonation makes speech sound fluent and helps convey meaning- Sample prompt: 'Do you prefer reading books or watching movies? Why?' What structure fits this comparative prompt?
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State your preference clearly, then give specific reasons that support that choice over the alternative- Why is it useful to give specific examples rather than only general statements in a spoken response?
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Specific examples make a response more developed, concrete, and convincing to a listener
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