Describe a dish from your country that you would cook for a visitor.

A score 160 model answer to a real Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.

The question

Describe a dish from your country that you would cook for a visitor. What is it, and why would you choose that one?

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Score 160 model answer

I would cook jollof rice, and I would cook it slowly, because the whole point is the smoky layer at the bottom of the pot. It appears at every wedding and every naming ceremony I have been to, so serving it tells a visitor how we celebrate rather than simply what we eat. There is a second reason I would choose it. Everybody argues about jollof: which country makes it best, whose mother makes it properly, whether rinsing the rice is a crime. That argument is far more welcoming than it sounds, because by the time my guest has taken a side they have stopped being a guest. Food that starts a debate is food that starts a friendship.

Why this answer earns score 160

Chooses one dish and commits, instead of describing three dishes shallowly.
The sensory detail (the smoky layer, rinsing the rice) proves first-hand knowledge in very few words.
Answers both halves of the prompt, what and why, and the why is unusual rather than generic.

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Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to score 160, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.

How long should my answer be?

This model answer is 119 words, and the task asks for at least 50.

What is the most common mistake with a model answer?

Memorising it. Raters recognise recycled answers instantly, so study the moves, then make them with your own ideas.