Writing sample strategy to boost your DET scores

Writing sample is a scored question in the Duolingo English Test. It contributes to the Production and Literacy sub-scores, the same as Read then Write. 

Something you need to know about this question type:

• Requirement: You write from 03 to 05 minutes to answer the given question
• Timer: 05 minutes
• Sub-scores: Production, Literacy  
• Appearance times: Only 01 

According to sample questions from the Official Guide for Test takers, there is a wide range of topics, including things, plants, animals, and people. Hence, we strongly suggest you practice as much as possible to be ready for any challenges.

Some examples below you will find in the Official Guide for Test takers from Duolingo English Test. 

• Talk about things

What is one thing you like about your personality? How has this quality helped you succeed or be a good friend to others? Is this a quality that everyone should have? 

• Talk about plants or animals

Choose a plant or animal that you think is interesting. Describe some of the threats or challenges it faces and explain how it overcomes those threats or challenges. 

• Talk about people

Name a person from history you admire. Why do you admire that person? What do you think we can learn from them? 

Even though the topics are diverse, there is one thing every question has in common.

From 02 to 03 small questions. 

As a result, we have three vital steps to help you deliver the best answer to this question type. Please bear in mind that it’s a step-by-step strategy, so you should follow it in the beginning.

Besides, we also share how to manage your time properly based on a total of 05 minutes which we have to complete the task. We know you only need to write at least 03 minutes regardless of the total number of words. But, your recipients will see and review this Writing sample; therefore, we believe optimizing all 05 minutes is the best. 

Are you ready to explore? 

1. Read and Brainstorm ideas

What will you do after seeing the question? Do you write your answer right away, or what should you do? 

Let’s follow our two steps in the beginning to deliver the best answer.

a. Step one: Read the question carefully 

Please read the question carefully cause this’s an essential task. Even if you have to spend around 30 seconds, you still have to understand it completely. Otherwise, your answer is going to be NOT RELEVANT, of which you will pay a high price. 

Time management: You have about 15 seconds to read the question carefully; please try to save time as much as possible as you still have lots of challenges ahead of you. But again, in case you’re not able to completely understand it, it’s okay to use a few more seconds. 

b. Step two: Brainstorm your ideas

Brainstorming your ideas is truly imperative, so you should know what to share in particular. Every question has 02 to 03 more minor questions that you need to respond to. Let’s practice for all question examples.

• Talk about things

What is one thing you like about your personality? How has this quality helped you succeed or be a good friend to others? Is this a quality that everyone should have? 

Some small questions we have:

• Question 1: What is one thing you like about your personality?
• Answer 1: Conscientiousness 
  
  
• Question 2: How has this quality helped you succeed or be a good friend to others?
• Answer 2: It helps me focus on details to take good care of my work and friends
  
  
• Question 3: Is this a quality that everyone should have?
• Answer 3: Yes, because… 
  

• Talk about plants or animals
  

Choose a plant or animal that you think is interesting. Describe some of the threats or challenges it faces and explain how it overcomes those threats or challenges. 

Some small questions we have:

• Question 1: Choose a plant or animal that you think is interesting?
• Answer 1: A leopard 
  
  
• Question 2: Describe some of the threats or challenges it faces?
• Answer 2: Awful living environment, the face of extinction 
  
  
• Question 3: Explain how it overcomes those threats or challenges?
• Answer 3: Government imposes new laws, special care

• Talk about people

Name a person from history you admire. Why do you admire that person? What do you think we can learn from them? 

Some small questions we have:

• Question 1: Name a person from history you admire?
• Answer 1: Albert Einstein 
  
  
• Question 2: Why do you admire that person?
• Answer 2: He created the electric bulbs and other amazing inventions
  
  
• Question 3: What do you think we can learn from them?
• Answer 3: Being curious about everything 

We brainstorm from our above examples to find out our key answers and concentrate on expanding them in the next step.

You only need to come up with short but precise answers in this step, which is a prerequisite to expanding your following paragraphs successfully. 

Time management: You should utilize roughly 15 seconds to come up with short but precise answers in this step, which is prerequisite to expanding your following paragraphs successfully. 

2. Lay out your structure

Let’s take the below example into practice. 

“What is one thing you like about your personality? How has this quality helped you succeed or be a good friend to others? Is this a quality that everyone should have?”

a. Give a general answer – Opening

At first, you need to share your general answer to the question. Usually, we will answer the first small question as you already identified, which is about your personality.  

There is a bunch of ways to start your writing. 

• As far as I’m concerned…
• In the age of…
• Speaking of…
• Regarding…
• From my point of view…
• In my humble position…
• When it comes to…
• Frankly speaking…

And lots of other flexible ways to begin your essay. However, if you are not confident in using English fluently, it’s completely okay to apply one of the above suggestions.

Regarding our example, we should start as:

• What is one thing you like about your personality?

Frankly speaking, I’m held in high esteem by my colleagues, family members, and friends because of my personality, including conscientiousness. It has helped me succeed in my professional career and be a valuable friend to others.

• It’s your turn: What is one thing you like about your personality? 

b. Provide detailed information – Body

We have two minor questions left, so you need to organize your points and answer each question within one paragraph. 

We strongly suggest you deliver your ideas in different paragraphs because it helps you arrange your points coherently and effectively. It also assisted our members in getting a 140 Production sub-score. 

Here are two small questions left: 

Question 1: How has this quality helped you succeed or be a good friend to others?

Answer 1: To commence with, I’m currently working as a product development manager. Hence, I always pay close attention to all details, including minor things, in order to create the best product to serve our consumers. I have dedicated myself to being conscientious for the last several years, which has advanced my career significantly. Additionally, whenever my friends, colleagues, or family members need my help for any reason. I am often there to lend a helping hand with my conscientiousness. As a result, I’m held in high esteem by all of them. 

Question 2: Is this a quality that everyone should have?

Answer 2: Apparently, it is a personality that everyone should have. If you gain yourself with conscientiousness, you will perform at work or support your friends better. It has stimulated my career path and relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends. Furthermore, you will see a significant impact in the years to come if only you commit yourself to the detail of every single job you handle. 

However, how do you make your points sound engaging and inviting? 

The simplest but most efficient way is to use linking words and collocations to connect your bullet points with bullet points, and sentences with sentences. 

We have a total of 16 types of linking words, hundreds of collocations, and idioms. Please visit them here.

Note: They are only available for Premium accounts!

It’s not easy to expand your above answer from your points. It requires vocabulary bank, knowledge, writing skills, and much more to achieve a high score. Nevertheless, you can still achieve it in a short time if you follow our tips to improve your performance and strategies to enhance your score.

In case you want to learn how to expand your answers, there are three major ways to do so, including Elaborate answers, Share opinions, and Give examples. Check everything in detail in this article, “Read then Speak strategy to help you aim for a high score”.

c. Deliver a conclusion – Ending

Last but not least, you need to close your writing task with a concise conclusion by paraphrasing your answers to all small questions.  

And how do you often do it? Please try to write a conclusion before checking our suggestions.

…

If you want to deliver an ending, you must learn how to start it. Some ways you could use to get the ball rolling are: 

• All in all,
• To conclude this,
• To encapsulate,
• To recapitulate,
• In conclusion,
• In summary,
• In the light of the above discussion, 

Would you mind trying to paraphrase your perspective by applying one of the starting ways above? 

If we were you, we would write something like “To recapitulate, I take great pride in my conscientiousness, as it has encouraged me to achieve amazing dreams so far. Hence, I strongly recommend you give it a try as soon as possible.”

3. Double-check your essay and use appropriate punctuation 

a. Use appropriate punctuation 

If you check our strategy for the Write about The Photo question type, you will see the same points below. 

We all know how critical punctuation is in our writing. It helps you deliver the right impression to your reader. We use the comma “ , “ and full stop “ . “ very frequently compared to others. Thus, we will share how to use it effectively in our writing. 

• The comma “ ,”

The comma “ , “ is used to pause within or separate parts of sentences, making your thesis clearer and more attractive. Yes, there are three rules you can learn and apply using punctuation. 

Rule 1: Use a comma to separate a series of nouns, adjectives, or verbs.

Let’s retake a look at our example!

Example: Due to our curiosity that we never stop pursuing things that we have not done before, such as going surfing, climbing mountains, sky diving, or even jumping from a high cliff.

Rule 2: Put a comma before a FANBOYS when connecting two independent clauses.

First of all, you need to know that FANBOYS stands for “For And Nor But Or Yet So”. If you need to connect two independent clauses, please use an appropriate FANBOYS and put a comma before it.

Example: For instance, I have a friend who works like a dog on a daily basis, but he also spends time pursuing unprecedented challenges on a weekly basis.

Rule 3: Put a comma after adverbs.

Adverbs are deeply imperative in terms of connecting sentences and sentences or emphasizing some points after them. 

Example: Therefore, what is the point of devoting your time to working so hard but not treating yourself properly with something different?

Note: We only shared the top common rules that test-takers can use most in their English proficiency tests. If you want to know more about how to use commas accurately, please go search it on Google.

• The full stop “ .”

The full stop “ . “ is used to pause longer between sentences, show when a point is made, and end suggestions or commands. 

You should always bear in mind to make not-too-long sentences, so you stand a better chance to lure others’ attention. 

Let’s practice together; when you see a paragraph below, where should you add commas, full stops, or other punctuation, if any?

moreover it is a well-known fact that We Only Live Once therefore what is the point of devoting your time to working so hard but not treating yourself properly with something different for instance I have a friend who works like a dog on a daily basis but he also spends time playing pretty much on weekends. 

Your answer should be like this: 

Moreover, it is a well-known fact that We Only Live Once. Therefore, what is the point of devoting your time to working so hard but not treating yourself properly with something different? For instance, I have a friend who works like a dog on a daily basis, but he also spends time playing pretty much on weekends. 

b. Check errors 

It’s quite hard to check errors for Write about The Photo questions as it only gives you 01 minute per image. Contrastingly, we believe you definitely can check errors for the Writing sample if you follow our strategies and time management.

Once you focus on checking your mistakes, what should you concentrate on? 

• Spelling

This is the easiest one as sometimes we type too fast, which turns out to be the wrong words. You simply need to pay close attention to your written words and fix it while going over the whole answer.

• Grammar

This aspect will impact your score enormously. Hence, it’s better to check it carefully; you need to use the same tense that the question asks for your answer. Apart from that, you also need to check other grammatical points, such as passive voices, conditional clauses, and so on.

• Punctuation 

As you already know, punctuation’s clearly crucial to help you have an organized and coherent answer. By that, I mean you should practice our tips as much as you can to use them effectively. 

Admittedly, it will be stressful on your test day!

Most of us will struggle to check or correct our mistakes when our time is about to end. As a result, we build correcting systems to assist you in detecting almost every error. Since you can note down and practice again to avoid similar mistakes on your test day.

*Practice makes perfect!

Live-interactive DET Practice Website

Bruce Lee once said: “Practice makes perfect. After a long time of practicing, our work will become natural, skillful, swift, and steady.” We strongly believe in your ability to strive and obtain your desired scores through repetitive practice day after day. In order to support your preparation, we developed the DET Practice Website offering thousands of practice questions, instantly detailed feedback, 1-hour mock tests, and so many other benefits to boost your scores.

Regarding instantly detailed feedback, if students practice a Writing Sample question, they will immediately receive the following feedback.

Specifically, the DET Practice Website will assess your performance based on the same grading aspects that the Duolingo English Test uses to evaluate test-takers' skills including Coherence, Lexical Sophistication, Lexical Diversity, Grammatical Complexity, Grammatical Accuracy and Content.

Let’s take a look at this sample feedback to gain a better understanding.

Go to Duolingo Practice Test Platform, create your FREE account and boost your scores today.