Onterra Tutor

Duolingo English Test Read, Then Speak: practice prompt 4

One real-format Read, Then Speak prompt with a model spoken answer and notes on why it scores. You get 20 seconds to prepare, then speak about the prompt for at least 30 seconds and up to 90. Keep going until the time is nearly up.

The prompt

Talk about a time you helped someone with something you were good at. What did you do, and how did it turn out?

20 seconds to prepare, up to 90 seconds to speak.

Hear a strong answer

One way this question can be answered well, spoken at the pace and length the task expects. Listen for where the pauses fall, then try it again in your own words and with your own examples.

Last year a neighbour asked me to help her fix the accounts for her tailoring business, because she knew I studied accounting. She had two years of sales written across three notebooks and no idea whether she was making money. We spent four evenings putting it into one simple spreadsheet, and I taught her to enter the day's takings herself rather than doing it for her, which took longer but mattered more. It turned out she was profitable, just slowly, and that one particular fabric she loved was losing money every single time she used it. She stopped ordering it. Six months later she told me she had put money aside for a second machine. I was more pleased about that than about anything I did at university that year.

Why this earns score 160

  1. Says what they did and how it turned out, which is exactly the two part structure the prompt asks for.
  2. Numbers and specifics keep it credible without slowing the delivery down.
  3. The final sentence adds a reflection, which is the easiest way to fill the last ten seconds well.

Questions about this answer

What score is this model answer?

It is written to earn the top of the Duolingo English Test scale, score 160, and the notes under it say why.

How long do I get for this prompt?

20 seconds to prepare and up to 90 seconds to speak.

What should I watch for in my own answer?

Says what they did and how it turned out, which is exactly the two part structure the prompt asks for.

Answer it yourself, then see your score

Record your own answer and get a score with your transcript in about a minute. Your first test is free, no sign-up.

Record my answer

More Duolingo English Test Read, Then Speak prompts

Talk about something you own that would be difficult to replace. Describe it and explain w... Some people say the best way to know a city is to walk it. Do you agree? Describe how you ... Describe a meal that means something to you. Who made it, when do you eat it, and what mak... Some people work better in the morning and others late at night. When do you do your best ... Duolingo English Test writing questions with model answers →

Onterra Tutor is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duolingo, which owns the Duolingo English Test trademark.