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Describe a person who has had a strong influence on your life.

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 person who has had a strong influence on your life. Explain who they are, what they did, and why their influence matters to you.
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Score 160 model answer

The person who shaped me most was my secondary school chemistry teacher, Mrs. Adebayo. She had a rule that changed how I think: you were never allowed to say 'I don't understand' without naming exactly where the understanding stopped. At first this felt strict, but it taught me that confusion has an address, and once you find the address the problem is half solved. Years later, in jobs that have nothing to do with chemistry, I still debug problems, and myself, using her rule. Her influence matters to me because she did not hand me knowledge; she handed me a method, and methods outlive facts. I have forgotten most of the periodic table, but I use her question every single week.

Why this answer earns score 160

  1. Focuses on one vivid, specific habit instead of listing generic virtues.
  2. 'Confusion has an address' shows the kind of fresh phrasing that lifts production scores.
  3. The final sentence ties influence to the present, answering 'why it matters' explicitly.

Do not memorise model answers; raters recognise recycled essays instantly. Study the moves, then make them with your own ideas, and check where you stand with a scored practice.

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 121 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.

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