Duolingo Writing Topics: Common Topics, Samples & Tips

Introduction to Duolingo Writing Section

Over time, the Duolingo English Test (DET) has become a popular way for individuals to demonstrate their English proficiency. While students prepare for DET, it is crucial to emphasize the writing section. Practicing for the writing section is beneficial because it helps secure good grades while improving language proficiency. So, let's look at some crucial insights about the Duolingo writing section.

This is how your writing section of DET looks, and you have to prepare well to ensure scoring good in this section. Further, to help you practice your writing, let's look at common topics in Duolingo writing.

Common Duolingo Writing Topics

The writing section in DET requires thorough practice considering the various types of writing topics that come in the form of prompts. However, there are some topics that appear often in DET. So, let’s have a closer look at these topics.

These are the common topics that often appear in the writing section. So, practice regularly through Duolingo writing topics with answers to ace this section.

Types of Questions in Duolingo Writing Topics

The writing section of the Duolingo English Test includes two types of questions that can appear in distinct forms. So, let's have a closer look at these types for better understanding.

1. Write About the Photo

In this type, the task shows students a random image and requires them to write a small description in a few sentences. The response must be detailed and relevant to the image.

Tips for the Task:

• Response using the present continuous tense
• Focus on small details like colour, things and activities.
• Write what is actually happening in the image.

2. Read, Then Write

In this type, a short text with a relevant prompt is provided to students. They have to read the prompt thoroughly and provide a response. It can be in the form of personal views, description or an outline.

Tips for the Task:

• Understand the main idea of the prompt rapidly.
• Respond using your own words and don't include the original text.
• Use linking and transitional words in your response to maintain the flow.

These are the two crucial types of questions in the DET writing section. These questions require consistent practice to ensure that you are well-prepared on the test day. Further, to help you with the practice session, let's look at the Duolingo English test writing sample questions on different topics.

Duolingo Writing Topics: Sample Questions and Answers

Till now, you have understood the overview of the writing section, question types & popular topics. So, here to enhance your knowledge and understanding go through the following Duolingo writing topics with answers. It will help you understand the way of answering the writing tasks.

1. Write About the Photo Practice Sample 1

Answer for Sample 1

A pair of Buddhist monks seems to be strolling inside a green space while wearing standard orange and yellow costumes and footwear. Their calm manner implies the pair is not in a hurry to reach their final stop. Instead, they may be returning to the monastery at a relaxed pace. The Buddhist monk on the right has his eyes staring towards the other monk, suggesting that his close attention, this indicates that they are chatting. It's probably the beginning of summer because it's shining outside and all the leaves are lush green.

2. Write About the Photo Practice Sample 2

Answer for Sample 2

The image shows a woman resting on her bed with her eyes closed. Her appearance tells that she might be ill or having a rest day. Further, the quantity of light from the outdoors in the room also adds to this, meaning that the woman has fallen asleep while it is daylight. Given that the head rests on the palm of her hand, she might just have gone to bed and simply closed her eyes to sleep. Lastly, her mattresses and bedding look perfect white, demonstrating the care with which the woman maintains her residence.

3. Write About the Photo Practice Sample 3

Answer for Sample 3

A sophisticated man wearing a black suit and tie examines his watch. The man is most probably an entrepreneur, on his way to the office wearing his professional clothing and briefcase. The worried expressions of the man indicate he has been running behind schedule. It can be due to the train behind him is not running on time. It's a morning time, as indicated by the tightly held coffee, copious amounts of sunlight, and shades; however, the collapsed, leafless trees indicate that it's currently the cold season.

4. Read, Then Write Practice Sample 1

With the commercialisation of social media platforms, we can witness a wide range of advantages and disadvantages.

Firstly, since most users post pictures or videos of themselves on their best days, the society goes on incessantly comparing itself with this angelic perfection. The particularities of such an unusual and near-impossible arrangement for young individuals can be highly inimical to the building of one's self-esteem.

Another negative aspect of social media is that it reduces our attention span. We have an excess of content available now at our fingertips. Due to this, the society has become somewhat addicted to mindless scrolling. Not only that wastes time, but it, like any other addiction, makes it much harder to go for a significant amount of time without one's phone.However, social media does allow individuals to find and join communities of like-minded individuals, supporting niche interests and hobbies. For example, there are plenty of accounts willing to support new dilettantes in learning arts and crafts skills and those users can provide a lot of support flourishing artists, it has personally benefitted me.

One other advantage social media can offer is awareness creation for various social, political, and environmental issues. This is helpful not only to educate society, but also to reach people in mass numbers with an urge to take a step.

In conclusion, it is fair to say social media is a great tool for learning a new skill or uniting support for a benevolent cause. However, users should remain diligent of how it impacts their mental and cognitive health.

5. Read, Then Write Practice Sample 2

With the bustling and chaotic pace of daily lives, music can be a great source of stress-free vibes and relaxation. Consuming music everyday while working at my job, at the gym, or relaxing is type of escape for me. The influence of music on people is not possible to be easily defined in words. The different genres of the music can help individuals to deal with everyday situations with more enthusiasm.

It is fair to say that, through music, you can control your emotions and deal with the negativity in more effective manner. I always carry my ear pods with me so that if I am stressed at work, I can balance my emotions. Further, if I am at the gym lifting weights, Hip-Hop music help me with the adrenaline rush that motivates me for a good workout session.Above all, music has the energy to make a person feel very differently in any specific moment while cutting out the negative feelings and providing a sense of positivity.

6. Read, Then Write Practice Sample 3

It is beneficial to participate in team sports because they are very social. Young kids who play team sports are likely to develop collaboration and teamwork skills which they could not acquire from playing individual sports.

Being on a team for your sport of choice is also extremely motivating because you have others who simultaneously rely on and inspire you. By contrast, in individual sports, all motivation must come from within. However, a favourable aspect of individual sports, and why I personally prefer it, is that you can train for competitions based on your schedule and needs.

A sense of self-confidence and strength of mind are also necessary for individual sports. You will eventually find yourself working more diligently while taking unsuccessful attempts more seriously since you cannot depend on other people to "carry" you. A person may likely become naturally motivated and mentally tough while involved in individual sports.

Therefore, individual sports promote mental resilience and fitness that can be customised according to a person's choices, requirements, and schedules, even though team sports are naturally more social and motivating. Above all, I will prefer taking part in an individual sport rather than being involved in a team sport.

These are a few Duolingo writing topics with answers to help practice effectively. Read these samples twice to get a better understanding of each type of task in the writing section. Further, you can practice using our Duolingo writing topics with answers PDF attached at the end of this blog.

Scoring Pattern for Duolingo Writing Section

The writing section of DET is evaluated using an all-inclusive pattern under which you have to take care of various crucial areas. So, let's look at the clear explanation of the DET Writing scoring pattern.

1. Grammar and Syntax: Your writing section must include accurate grammar with well-structured sentences that can help you achieve a good score.
2. Coherence in Writing: Maintaining coherence while writing is crucial as it helps showcase a sound connection among words.
3. Spelling & Other Elements: In the writing section, one of the most common mistakes that is often noticed is wrong spellings and improper use of other elements like punctuation and capitalization.
4. Refined Vocabulary: One crucial area to consider is the use of evolved and refined vocabulary. Try to avoid repetition and use new words to showcase your knowledge of varied vocabulary.
5. Relevance to Task: Sustaining relevance to the task is quite crucial for the writing section because accurate grammar, coherence in writing, vocabulary and other elements can go in vain if your responses are not relevant to the task.

This is the scoring pattern used to evaluate your writing section of DET. So, make sure to follow and adhere to this pattern. Further, continue reading to discover some common mistakes you must avoid in DET.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The duration for the Duolingo writing section is shorter which increases the likelihood that you might make some common mistakes that can impact your overall score. So, let's look at a few common errors you must avoid to ace your writing section.

• Writing Off-Topic: One of the most common blunders is students starting to write an off-topic response. You must make sure to read the prompt twice and provide a sound response.
• Using General Vocabulary: In your writing test, avoid using basic vocabulary and learn synonyms that can make your writing more compelling.
• Redundant Sentence Structuring: Make sure to avoid repetition in the sentences you write. This redundant structuring of the sentence indicates limited vocabulary and less use of new words.
• Grammatical Errors: In the writing section, it is common that many students lose marks because of grammatical errors. So, make sure to keep in mind common grammatical errors and avoid them during DET.
• Short or Incomplete Responses: While attempting your writing section, make sure to properly utilize your time and provide a response to the prompt or image in detail. Short or Incomplete responses are not accepted and you can lose marks.

Now that you have learned about the common mistakes to avoid in DET, go ahead and prepare well to achieve your desired score on the test. Above all, there are some preparation tips in the next section that may help you during the practice phase

Duolingo Writing Topics Preparation Tips

Performing well in DET writing topics is crucial for an overall good score. So, here are some tips that can add value to your preparation.

1. Practice consistently and set aside 30 minutes twice daily to write short responses based on practice prompts.
2. Try to extract practice prompts from English blogs, articles and pieces of writing to enhance practice.
3. The describe image task in the writing section is surprising. So, explore online sites, pick random photos and describe them to enhance your preparation for the task.
4. Try reading short articles and then write a 50 to100-word summary. In this, your focus must be on clarity and highlighting major issues.
5. There are various online tools like Grammarly that can help you spot issues in real-time and improve the overall readability of your text.
6. One of the most effective tips is to expand your word bank. For this, you can plan to learn a few new words daily.

Final Thoughts on Duolingo Writing

To sum up, grasping Duolingo writing topics is not just about preparing for the test, it helps you build strong grammar knowledge with language skills. This blog covers all the crucial details you require for the preparation. Further, you can enhance your practice with the help of Duolingo English test writing sample questions in the blog. Your strong preparation for the writing revolves around your approach, clear structure and self-trust built with consistent practice. So, go ahead, practice with real prompts and note your mistakes to improve over time.

FAQs

What are the writing criteria for Duolingo?

In Duolingo, the writing criteria focus on multiple elements that make it a complex section to attempt. Some of these elements include grammar, vocabulary, relevance to the task, clearness, consistency and spelling. The response from students must answer the question using correct English.

How do I prepare for Duolingo writing?

Some of the tips that can be helpful for Duolingo writing are:

• Consistent practice with common topics
• Consuming English content and writing summaries
• Taking the help of vocabulary resources to expand the word bank.
• Asking for feedback from peers, tutors or online tools.

How many writing tasks are on the Duolingo English Test?

In the Duolingo English test, there are 2-3 writing tasks that include "Write About a Photo" and "Read, Then Write". Each of these tasks is designed to assess different aspects of writing skills.

What is the time limit for Duolingo Writing Topics?

Each writing task has a time limit of 5 minutes:

• Write About a Photo: 1 Minute
• Read, Then Write: 5 Minutes

What is a good score for Duolingo writing topics?

A good score in DET depends on individual study goals. However, a literacy or production score above 120 is viewed as good. Multiple colleges have a requirement of 115+.