DET task guide
Duolingo Writing Sample: prompts and model answers
Practise a Duolingo Writing Sample by answering the full prompt, developing a specific example, and checking that each sentence supports your main point. This page provides six original prompts with model responses and a browser-saved draft editor. The models demonstrate organization and development; they are not official scored answers.
The Writing Sample is an open response near the end of the Duolingo English Test. The practice below helps you develop an original answer with a clear point and relevant details. Check the official practice test for the current instructions and timing.
Current official terminology: Writing Sample. See Duolingo’s guidance and the official practice test for current task instructions.
A practical method
- Identify what the prompt asks you to explain, describe, or argue.
- Write a direct opening answer, then develop it with one specific example.
- Finish by checking whether each sentence supports your main point and whether your grammar is clear.
Original practice examples
Try each prompt before reading the answer and explanation.
1. Practice prompt: Describe a place in your community that is important to you. Explain why.
Answer: The public library is an important place in my community because it gives everyone a quiet space to learn. I often visit after work to borrow books and use the study tables. Last year, the library also started free weekend workshops, which helped many residents learn practical skills. It matters to me because people can use these resources regardless of their income.
Why: The answer names a specific place, explains its importance, and supports the point with concrete details. It avoids a memorized template.
2. Practice prompt: Do you think students learn more effectively alone or with others? Give a reason and an example.
Answer: Write your own response first.
Why: After writing, check whether you stated a preference, explained one reason, and gave an example. There is no single correct opinion.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing a generic answer that does not address the prompt.
- Listing several ideas without developing any of them.
- Using memorized paragraphs that sound unrelated to the question.
Write your own sample
Choose an original prompt, write a response, then use the checklist to review it. Your drafts and checklist are saved in this browser for your next visit. The word count is a writing aid, not an official DET requirement.
Describe a place in your community that is important to you. Explain why.
0 words
Compare with an example response
Model response: The public library is important to me because it gives everyone a quiet place to learn. I often visit after work to borrow books and use the study tables. Last year, it began offering free weekend workshops, and I learned how to make a simple budget there. The library matters because its resources are open to people regardless of their income.
Why it works: The opening names the place and gives a clear reason. A personal workshop example makes the answer specific, and the final sentence explains its wider value.
This is one possible response, not a script to memorize or an official scored answer.
Continue practising
Compare a model with your draft
Write before opening the model. Then compare the opening answer, the example, and the explanation linking the example to the point. Keep your own ideas and revise the weakest connection. A useful revision improves what the reader understands rather than simply adding length or copying more complex phrases.
Frequently asked questions
- Are my writing drafts saved?
- Drafts are saved locally in this browser for each prompt. They are not an account backup and may disappear if browser storage is cleared.
- Is there one correct answer to each writing prompt?
- No. Different opinions and examples can answer an open prompt successfully. Use the checklist to review relevance, development, organization, and language clarity.
Learning material by TypoGrammar. Updated . Consult the official DET site for current test instructions and requirements.