The Duolingo writing task is a significant component of the Duolingo English Test, alongside the speaking section. Here’s how it breaks down:

Timing:

• Initial Response: You have 5 minutes to write your initial response to the prompt given.
• Follow-up Session: After a brief pause, you have an additional 3 minutes to write a follow-up response related to the initial prompt.

Criteria for Assessment:

To achieve a top band score, your writing is evaluated on four main criteria:

1. Task Achievement: This assesses how well you address the prompt. It’s crucial to understand the task and provide a relevant response that fulfills all aspects of the prompt.
2. Grammatical Accuracy and Range: This criterion evaluates your ability to use grammar correctly and effectively. It includes using a variety of grammatical structures appropriately.
3. Coherence and Cohesion: Your writing should be well-organized and logically structured. Cohesion refers to how well your ideas are connected within and between sentences and paragraphs.
4. Vocabulary: The richness and appropriateness of your vocabulary usage are assessed. This includes using precise and varied vocabulary to express ideas effectively.

Additional Tips:

• Typing Speed: Typing speed plays a crucial role because you need to compose your responses within a limited time frame. Aim for a typing speed of at least 40 words per minute (wpm) to ensure you can complete your responses comfortably within the allocated time.
• Practice: Regular practice is key to improving your writing skills for the Duolingo test. Focus on practicing with prompts similar to those used in the test to familiarize yourself with the format and improve your response efficiency.

By understanding these aspects and practicing regularly, you can enhance your performance in the Duolingo writing task and work towards achieving a top band score.

Access various types of Duolingo writing tasks and model answers:

1. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays: Discuss the pros and cons of a particular topic or issue.

2. Outweigh Essays: Evaluate whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

3. Opinion Essays: Present your viewpoint on a specific statement or question.

4. Discussion Essays: Analyze a topic from multiple perspectives and provide a well-balanced argument.

5. Problem and Solution Essays: Identify a problem and propose solutions for it.

6. Cause and Solution Essays: Identify a cause and suggest solutions for it.

7. Causes and Effects Essays: Examine the causes and consequences of a specific problem or situation.

8. Double Question Essays: Address two related questions within a single essay.

9. Direct Questions: Answer specific questions regarding a particular issue or topic.

10. Mixed Essays: Combine two or more of the above essay types in a single question.