Onterra TutorDo you prefer planned trips or travelling without a fixed plan?
Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with a full model answer and notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.
The question
Some people prefer to plan every detail of a trip in advance, while others prefer to travel without a fixed plan. Which do you prefer, and why? Explain your reasons with examples.
Model answer
I prefer travelling without a fixed plan, and one afternoon in Ghana convinced me permanently. I had booked only my first night in Accra, and a taxi driver mentioned a fishing village that appeared in no guidebook. I spent the whole day there watching boats being painted and eating fish whose name I never learned. A planned trip protects you from problems, but it also protects you from surprises, and surprises are the reason I travel at all. That said, I am not reckless: I always plan my budget and my journey home, because freedom works best inside a small frame of safety. Everything between those two fixed points, I leave open on purpose.
Why this answer scores
- Answers the question in the first sentence, which matters on a timed test.
- One specific story does the work of ten general claims.
- The closing contrast (freedom inside a frame) adds a thoughtful nuance in few words.
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.
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