The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an increasingly popular exam for students and professionals who want to prove their English proficiency for university admissions and immigration. Unlike traditional tests, Duolingo assesses speaking skills through AI-driven questions, requiring clarity, fluency, and pronunciation for a high score.
If you're struggling with English speaking, don’t worry! This guide will provide expert-backed strategies, AI-driven solutions, and practical exercises to help you improve your speaking skills for the Duolingo English Test.
1. Understand the Speaking Section of the Duolingo Test
Before you improve, you need to know what to expect in the test. The Duolingo Speaking section includes:
✅ Read Aloud – You’ll read a sentence displayed on the screen.
✅ Describe Image – You’ll describe an image in detail.
✅ Speak About a Given Topic – You’ll answer a question in a recorded response.
✅ Listen & Speak – You’ll hear a sentence and repeat it accurately.
💡 Tip: Since AI scores your speaking, focus on pronunciation, fluency, and grammar accuracy rather than trying to sound like a native speaker.
2. Practice Speaking Every Day
The key to improving any skill is consistent practice. Here’s how you can make speaking English a daily habit:
📌 Talk to Yourself – Describe your day, your thoughts, or even what you see around you.
📌 Use Shadowing Technique – Listen to native English speakers and repeat after them.
📌 Record Yourself – Play it back to identify pronunciation mistakes.
📌 Engage in Conversations – Speak with friends, tutors, or language partners in English.
🔹 Pro Tip: Use AI-powered platforms like Gurully to get instant score on fluency, pronunciation, and clarity.
3. Improve Pronunciation with AI-Based Tools
Pronunciation plays a crucial role in your Duolingo speaking score. AI-powered tools can help you refine your speech by highlighting mistakes and offering suggestions.
✔ Use Gurully’s AI-powered Speaking Practice – It provides real-time scoring.
✔ Try Speech Recognition Apps like Elsa Speak or Forvo for pronunciation improvement.
✔ Watch English Movies & Imitate – Observe how words are pronounced and try to copy them.
📌 Example: "Through" vs. "Throw" – Many learners confuse these sounds. Practice them by listening and repeating aloud.
4. Work on Fluency and Avoid Hesitation
Fluency is not about speaking fast, but speaking smoothly and naturally. Here’s how to develop fluency:
✅ Think in English – Avoid translating from your native language.
✅ Expand Your Vocabulary – Learn phrases instead of just words.
✅ Use Fillers Smartly – Instead of “umm,” use natural pauses and connectors like "Well," "Actually," "Let me think…".
🔹 Fluency Hack: Choose a random topic and speak for 1-2 minutes without stopping. Even if you make mistakes, keep going to build confidence!
5. Master Read-Aloud & Describe Image Questions
Two common Duolingo speaking tasks involve reading aloud and describing images. Use these techniques to ace them:
📌 For Read-Aloud:
✔ Break the sentence into chunks and focus on intonation.
✔ Avoid monotone speaking—add natural rises and falls in tone.
✔ Pronounce all syllables clearly.
📌 For Describe Image:
✔ Start with an introduction: "This image shows..."
✔ Include key details: "I can see a man walking in the park..."
✔ End with a summary: "Overall, this image represents a peaceful outdoor scene."
🎯 Pro Tip: Practicing with AI-scored exercises on Gurully can significantly improve your clarity and delivery.
6. Improve Your Listening Skills to Boost Speaking
Listening and speaking go hand in hand. If you can’t understand spoken English properly, it affects your speaking ability too.
✔ Listen to Podcasts & Audiobooks – Choose slow, clear narration (e.g., BBC Learning English).
✔ Watch English News & YouTube Channels – Focus on pronunciation and expressions.
✔ Practice Dictation – Write what you hear and repeat it aloud.
📌 Challenge: Watch a TED Talk and try to summarize it in your own words—this enhances both listening and speaking skills!
7. Expand Your Vocabulary for Spontaneous Speaking
If you often struggle to find the right words, expanding your vocabulary is crucial.
✅ Learn Phrases, Not Just Words – "I completely agree" instead of just "agree."
✅ Use Synonyms – Instead of “good,” try “excellent,” “amazing,” or “remarkable.”
✅ Practice Word Games – Apps like Quizlet and Word Up can help.
💡 Pro Tip: Make flashcards of common Duolingo topics like technology, travel, education, and daily life to prepare for spoken responses.
8. Stay Calm & Confident During the Test
Nervousness can negatively impact your speaking performance. Follow these tips to stay calm:
✔ Take Deep Breaths – Before speaking, pause and collect your thoughts.
✔ Maintain a Steady Pace – Don’t rush your words. Speak naturally.
✔ Smile While Speaking – It improves your tone and pronunciation.
✔ Use Hand Gestures – Even if you’re alone, moving your hands helps your speech flow better.
📌 Fact: Research shows that speaking slowly and clearly improves listener comprehension by 35%.
How Gurully Helps You Ace the Duolingo Speaking Test?
At Gurully, we provide an AI-powered practice platform for Duolingo to boost your speaking skills for the Duolingo English Test.
✅ AI-Based Speaking TEST – Get scoring on fluency, pronunciation, and clarity.
✅ Duolingo Practice Tests – Simulate real exam conditions with timed speaking exercises.
✅ Topic-Based Speaking Practice – Improve structured responses for common Duolingo topics.
🔥 Ready to improve your speaking skills? Start practicing today at Gurully.com!
Conclusion
Improving English speaking skills for the Duolingo Test takes daily practice, smart strategies, and AI-powered feedback. Focus on pronunciation, fluency, and structured responses, and use platforms like Gurully to track and enhance your performance.
🚀 Start preparing today and ace your Duolingo English Test with confidence!
Also Read:
- Duolingo Read And Select Made Easy: Tips to Score High With Sample Question & Answer
- Duolingo Read and Complete Question Tips and Tricks To Score High
- Your Guide to Duolingo English Test Fee – 2025
- PTE Reading Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer – High Scoring Tips & Sample Questions with Answers
- Best Books for Duolingo English Test Preparation
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