Duolingo English Test — Practice & Strategy

Lesson 3 · Speaking & Fluency Booster

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Fluency First

On this test, never stopping matters more than being perfect. A speaker who keeps going with a small mistake scores higher than a speaker who freezes to search for the “right” word. Your main job in every speaking task is simple: keep the sound coming.
Three habits that build fluency:
1Speak in short chunks. Instead of building one long, perfect sentence in your head, say a short piece as soon as it's ready — then add the next piece.
2Link your ideas. Join chunks with simple connectors — and, but, because, so, then — so your speech flows as one continuous stream, not separate sentences with gaps between them.
3Avoid long silent pauses. A short pause to breathe is fine. A long silent pause while you search for a word is what costs you points — fill it with sound instead.
Your buy-time phrases — use these the instant you feel a gap coming, so you never go silent:
  • “Well…”
  • “That's a good question…”
  • “Let me think…”
  • “What I mean is…”
Warm up (60 seconds)

Talk about your morning today — what you did, in order — without stopping until the timer ends. If you feel stuck, use one of the buy-time phrases above and keep going.

01:00

Read Aloud

Read each sentence aloud clearly and at a natural, steady pace — not too fast, not word-by-word. Focus on sounding like a real conversation, not a robot reading a list.
READ ALOUD
Could you turn the volume down a little, please?
READ ALOUD
The bakery on the corner sells the best bread in town.
READ ALOUD
I usually check my emails before I have breakfast.
READ ALOUD
She's been working at the hospital for almost ten years.
READ ALOUD
Make sure you save the file before you close the program.
READ ALOUD
We're planning to go camping next weekend if the weather stays fine.
Fluency lap (45 seconds)

Read all six sentences aloud, one after another, without stopping between them. If you trip on a word, keep going — don't go back and restart.

00:45
Common trip points in these sentences:
  • Could you turn — the words link together smoothly: “could-you-turn,” not four separate words.
  • bakery / hospital — stress the first syllable: BAK-er-y, HOS-pi-tal.
  • She's been working — say the contraction as one sound, “she'z,” not “she is.”
  • -ing / -ed endings — don't drop them: working, planning need the final sound.
  • if the weather — the small words (if, the) are said quickly and lightly; don't stress them.

Describe the Photo

Use the frame from earlier lessons: general → details → a guess. Start with what the picture shows overall, add specific details, then guess something about the situation or the people.
An elderly couple holding hands on a park bench in autumn, surrounded by fallen leaves, with pigeons nearby

First, write it (2 minutes)

Now say it out loud (90 seconds)

Look at the photo for a moment, then speak for the full 90 seconds without stopping.

01:30
One good version: “This is an elderly couple sitting together on a wooden bench in a park. It looks like autumn — the ground is covered in orange and yellow leaves, and the trees behind them have golden foliage. They are holding hands and smiling gently, looking relaxed and content. A few pigeons are walking on the ground in front of the bench. It feels warm, peaceful and full of affection — they have probably been together for many years.”

Speak on a Topic

Use the frame: your answer → two reasons → one example. Give your opinion straight away, then support it — don't wait until the end to say what you think.
SPEAK · 90s
Describe a skill you would like to learn, and explain why.
SPEAK · 90s
Do you prefer shopping online or in physical stores? Explain your view.
SPEAK · 90s
Talk about a piece of technology you use every day.
SPEAK · 90s
Describe a memorable meal you have had recently.
SPEAK · 90s
Do you think it is important to learn a foreign language? Why or why not?
SPEAK · 90s
Describe a place you would like to visit, and explain why.
Pick one, plan for 20 seconds, then speak for 90
01:30
Keep these ready: “Personally, I believe…” · “There are a couple of reasons for this…” · “For instance…” · “That said…” · “To sum up…” If a word won't come, say “what I mean is…” and explain it a different way instead of stopping.

Interactive Listening

A short phone call. Your teacher reads the other person's lines aloud; for each one, choose the reply that is polite, clear and moves the conversation forward. Then sum up the whole call in your own words.
The situation: you are calling a dental clinic to change the time of an appointment.
Receptionist: “Hello, this is Bright Smile Dental. How may I assist you today?”
Your best reply:
Receptionist: “No problem at all. What day were you originally booked for?”
Your best reply:
Receptionist: “I can offer you Monday at two in the afternoon instead. Does that work for you?”
Your best reply:
Now sum it up (60 seconds)

In your own words, say what the phone call was about, what you asked for, and how it ended. Full sentences, no stopping.

01:00

Keep Improving

Fluency is a habit, not a talent — it builds with practice. Use this check after any speaking practice, including everything in this lesson.

Speaking self-check

I can…

Fluency wins more points than perfection. Keep the sound coming, use your buy-time phrases, and never freeze into silence.