Duolingo English Test · Speaking

Duolingo English Test Speaking Topics: 30 Practice Questions and Model Answers

The Duolingo English Test has four speaking question types, from a 90-second photo description to a 3-minute Speaking Sample that schools watch. Below: the exact timing for each, 30 original practice prompts grouped by theme, model answer outlines for three of them, and a strategy that works under a ticking timer.

Timings from Duolingo's DET Question Guide (2026), read 3 October 2026. Every prompt here is written by LingoLeap — these are practice questions, not real test items. LingoLeap is not affiliated with Duolingo.

The four DET speaking tasks and their timing

Duolingo English Test speaking question types with preparation and speaking time
Task	Prep	Speak	Number	What happens
Speak About the Photo	20 seconds	90 seconds	1	Describe a real photo of people, animals or objects. You get one chance to record.
Read, Then Speak	20 seconds	90 seconds	1	A written question about your experience or opinion, often with bullet points to cover. It stays on screen.
Interactive Speaking	None	35 seconds per answer	6–8 questions	A Duolingo character asks 3–4 questions on each of two topics. You hear each question once; follow-ups adapt to you.
Speaking Sample	30 seconds	3 minutes	1	A written question about your experience or opinion. A video of your answer is sent to the schools you share results with.

All four count toward your Speaking subscore and are judged on content, discourse coherence, fluency, grammar, lexis and pronunciation (Question Guide pp. 17–21; order in the help center). They appear in the order shown, with the Speaking Sample last; of the four, only Interactive Speaking is adaptive.

30 Duolingo speaking practice questions by theme

Use a timer and record yourself on your phone. Match the official timing: for photo and Read, Then Speak prompts, 20 seconds to plan and 90 to speak; for Interactive Speaking, answer each question in 35 seconds with no planning; for Speaking Sample prompts, 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Photo prompts describe a scene — picture it, or find a similar photo, and describe it as if the listener cannot see it.

School and learning

1.PhotoPicture this: a student asleep at a library desk, surrounded by open books, with a laptop still on and a cup of coffee beside it.
2.Read, Then SpeakDescribe a teacher who changed the way you think about a subject. Say who the teacher was, what they did differently, and how it affected you.
3.Interactive SpeakingTopic: group projects. 1) Tell me about a group project you worked on. 2) What was the hardest part of working with others? 3) Would you rather work alone next time? Why?
4.Speaking SampleSome people say students should choose all of their own courses at university; others think a fixed program is better. Which do you prefer, and why?
5.Read, Then SpeakTalk about a skill you learned outside school. Explain how you learned it, how long it took, and how you use it now.

Work and money

6.PhotoPicture this: a food truck at lunchtime, with a short line of office workers and a cook passing a paper bag through the window.
7.Read, Then SpeakDescribe the first time you earned money. Say what you did, how much effort it took, and what you spent the money on.
8.Interactive SpeakingTopic: part-time jobs. 1) Have you ever had a part-time job? 2) What did it teach you? 3) Should university students work while they study?
9.Speaking SampleIs it better to have a job you love that pays less, or a job you find boring that pays well? Explain your view with examples.
10.Read, Then SpeakTalk about a job you would like to try for one week. Explain why it interests you and what you think would be difficult about it.

Technology and media

11.PhotoPicture this: a family of four at a dinner table, each person looking at a different phone, with the food untouched.
12.Read, Then SpeakDescribe an app or website you use every day. Say what you use it for, how it helps you, and one thing you would change about it.
13.Interactive SpeakingTopic: online learning. 1) Have you taken a class online? 2) How was it different from a classroom? 3) Will universities need classrooms in the future?
14.Speaking SampleShould children under twelve have their own smartphones? Give your opinion and support it with reasons and examples.
15.PhotoPicture this: an older man in a park teaching a young girl to fly a drone, both looking up at the sky.

Places and travel

16.PhotoPicture this: a busy train platform in the rain, with travelers holding umbrellas and a departure board showing delays.
17.Read, Then SpeakDescribe a place in your hometown that you would show a visitor. Say where it is, what people do there, and why you chose it.
18.Interactive SpeakingTopic: travel. 1) Where did you go on your last trip? 2) Do you prefer to plan every detail or be spontaneous? 3) What is the best way to learn about a new culture?
19.Speaking SampleSome people think tourism helps local communities; others think it causes more problems than it solves. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
20.Read, Then SpeakTalk about a time you got lost. Explain where you were, how you felt, and how you found your way.

People and relationships

21.PhotoPicture this: two neighbors carrying a sofa up a narrow staircase, one laughing and one looking worried.
22.Read, Then SpeakDescribe a friend who is very different from you. Say how you met, how you are different, and why the friendship works.
23.Interactive SpeakingTopic: family traditions. 1) What is a tradition your family has? 2) How did it start? 3) Is it important to keep traditions alive? Why?
24.Speaking SampleDo people today have more friends but weaker friendships than in the past? Explain your opinion with examples from your own life.
25.Read, Then SpeakTalk about a time someone helped you when you did not expect it. Explain what happened and what you learned.

Health, environment and daily life

26.PhotoPicture this: volunteers in matching gloves picking up plastic bottles on a beach early in the morning.
27.Read, Then SpeakDescribe a healthy habit you started recently. Say what it is, why you began, and how hard it has been to keep it.
28.Interactive SpeakingTopic: cities and nature. 1) Is there a park near where you live? 2) How often do you go there? 3) Should cities replace parking lots with green space?
29.Speaking SampleShould governments make public transportation free? Give your opinion and explain who would benefit and who would pay.
30.Speaking SampleDescribe a change you would like to see in your community in the next five years, and explain how ordinary people could help make it happen.

Model answer outlines for three prompts

These are outlines, not scripts to memorize — a memorized answer sounds unnatural and may not fit the real question.

Speak About the Photo (90 s)

A busy train platform in the rain, travelers with umbrellas, a departure board showing delays.

Big picture (10 s): "This photo shows a crowded train platform on a rainy day."
Foreground, using position words (30 s): "In the front, a woman in a yellow raincoat is holding an umbrella and checking her phone. To her left, two men are standing next to their suitcases."
Background and details (25 s): "Behind them there is a large departure board, and several trains are marked as delayed. The ground looks wet and reflects the lights."
Reasonable guess (20 s): "It might be early evening, because the lights are on. The people seem tired, so maybe they are commuting home and their train is late."
Close if time remains (5 s): "Overall, it looks like a frustrating end to the day."

Read, Then Speak (90 s)

Describe a place in your hometown that you would show a visitor. Say where it is, what people do there, and why you chose it.

Answer the question in one sentence: "I would take a visitor to the night market near the old river bridge."
Where it is (15 s): location plus one concrete detail you can picture.
What people do there (30 s): two activities with a specific example — the food you would order, the stall you always visit.
Why you chose it (30 s): one reason about the visitor (they see real local life) and one personal reason (a memory).
Wrap up (5–10 s): "So if you only have one evening, that is where I would go."

Speaking Sample (3 min)

Should governments make public transportation free? Give your opinion and explain who would benefit and who would pay.

Position in the first 15 seconds: "I think public transportation should be free for students and older people, but not for everyone."
Reason 1 with an example (50 s): who benefits — fewer cars, cheaper commuting, an example from your city.
Reason 2 with an example (50 s): who pays — taxes or fares from other riders; why a full free system could be hard to fund.
The other side (30 s): "Some people argue that free transport for all would cut traffic even more. That may be true, but..."
Conclusion (15–20 s): restate the position in different words. Keep talking about the topic until near the 3-minute mark — schools watch this video.

Speaking strategy for the Duolingo English Test

Use all the time. Duolingo's own tip for the photo task is to say as much as you can; stopping at 40 seconds of a 90-second answer leaves points behind.
Plan two points, not a script. In 20 seconds, note a first sentence and two ideas. For Read, Then Speak, cover each bullet point in order.
Describe photos with position words: in the foreground, on the left, behind, next to. If you do not know a word, describe what the thing looks like or does instead of skipping it.
In Interactive Speaking, listen for the question word. You hear it once and the timer starts when the character stops. If you miss part of it, say something relevant to the topic rather than staying silent.
Fill pauses naturally. Phrases like "Let me think about that" or "Another example is..." keep you fluent while you plan.
Treat the Speaking Sample like an interview. Schools receive the video, so look at the camera, speak clearly and keep a clear structure: opinion, two reasons, other side, conclusion.

Get scored practice

Duolingo's free practice test includes all four speaking tasks and gives an estimated score range. More DET practice: listening exercises · fill in the blanks · full DET guide. Preparing for TOEFL or IELTS speaking instead? LingoLeap gives AI feedback on TOEFL speaking.

Official free DET practice test

FAQ

What are the speaking questions on the Duolingo English Test?

There are four speaking question types: Speak About the Photo (20 seconds to prepare, 90 seconds to speak), Read, Then Speak (20 seconds, 90 seconds), Interactive Speaking (6–8 questions on two topics, 35 seconds per answer) and the Speaking Sample (30 seconds, 3 minutes). All count toward your Speaking subscore.

What topics come up in Duolingo English Test speaking?

Duolingo does not publish a topic list. The Read, Then Speak and Speaking Sample questions ask about your own experiences or opinions, and the photos show people, animals or objects in everyday situations, so practice everyday themes: school, work, technology, travel, relationships and daily life.

How is DET speaking scored?

On content, discourse coherence, fluency, grammar, lexis (vocabulary) and pronunciation, according to Duolingo's Question Guide.

Can I re-record a Duolingo speaking answer?

No. For Speak About the Photo the Question Guide says you only get one chance, and in Interactive Speaking you hear each question only once.

Do schools see my Speaking Sample?

Yes. A video of your Speaking Sample is sent to the schools you share your results with, and they only see the sample from the test you send them.

Does the DET still have Listen Then Speak or Read Aloud?

Neither appears in Duolingo's current question list (2026). The current list has Interactive Speaking, a short conversation with a Duolingo character.

Sources

DET Question Guide (2026), PDF — speaking question types, timing and criteria
DET help center: Test Structure
Duolingo English Test: free practice test (account required)