Duolingo: Be Test Wise
Be Test Wise
This exam will introduce many different tasks that are unique to the Duolingo exam over the traditional exams. For example, a 1 to 3-minute Sample video, a Speaking task, and a 3-to-5-minute Sample Writing task that go ungraded but are passed along to university, college, or employer administrations. These two ‘sample’ parts can really help your application because it gives the college, university, or even a potential employer a glimpse of the test-taker using their productive skills – speaking and writing.
Generally, the exam tasks require you to:
- Record your spoken responses to a spoken question (Listen to a Question)
- Selecting ‘Real’ words from a list of ‘real’ and ‘made up’ words
- Likewise, listening to spoken words and deciding if they are ‘real’ or ‘made up’ words
- Filling in missing letters for words in a text
- Typing a statement or question that you hear (Listen and Type)
- Look at a picture and describe it in spoken words; describe it in written words
- Writing a minimum of 50 words in response to the written question
- Record yourself reading a written sentence
| Frequency of Duolingo Tasks
|
Task Maximum on Exam |
| 1. Read and Complete | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 2. Read and Select | 3 times – 3 levels (15 words) |
| 3. Listen and Select | 3 times – 3 levels (9 words) |
| 4. Listen and Type | 4 -5 times |
| 5. Read Aloud | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 6. Write About the Photo | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 7. Speak About the Photo | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 8. Read, Then Write | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 9. Read, Then Speak | 3 times – 3 levels |
| 10. Listen, Then Speak | 3 times – 3 levels (9 words) |
| 11. Complete the Sentences | 3-6 times – 3 levels |
| 12. Complete the Passage | 3-6 times |
| 13. Highlight the Answer | 3-6 times |
| 14. Identify the Idea | 3-6 times |
| 15.Title the Passage | 3-6 times |
| 16. Speaking Sample (not scored) | Maximum 1 |
| 17. Writing Sample (not scored) | Maximum 1 |
Note*: The algorithm (grading engine) with stop individual tasks when it has reached a ‘confidence’ in a grade, so a test-taker may not complete 4, 5, or 6 rotations on an individual task.
GENERAL TIPS
- Answer every question.
- Use all the time allotted (if you finish a task early, you can rest!)
- Leave time to check your answers where necessary.
