Duolingo English Test - Writing Sample 1

01

Warm-Up

5 min

"People write for various reasons and in many different situations. What motivates people to write, and what do they find enjoyable or challenging about it? Include specific details in your answer."

Talk about it

What was the last thing you wrote in English this week?
Do you enjoy writing, or does it feel stressful?
If you had 5 minutes to write about anything, what would you pick?

02

The Chunk Toolbox

10 min

Six building blocks you can use to answer any Writing Sample prompt.

Opening

"People do this for a number of reasons."
"There are several reasons why..."
"One of the main reasons ___ is..."

Giving a Reason

"One reason is that..."
"Another reason is..."
"This is mainly because..."

Specific Example

"For example,"
"A good example of this is..."
"This happened to me when..."

Personal Connection

"Speaking from personal experience,"
"In my own experience,"
"I remember a time when..."

Contrast / Balance

"On the other hand,"
"That said,"
"At the same time,"

Closing

"Overall,"
"All things considered,"
"In short,"

Power-word swaps

"I think" → "In my opinion," / "From my point of view,"
"very hard" → "quite challenging" / "demanding"
"a lot of" → "a wide range of" / "a number of"
"good" → "rewarding" / "valuable" / "beneficial"

      People write for a wide range of reasons, and the experience can be both rewarding and demanding.
      One of the main reasons people write is to express their thoughts clearly, especially when a conversation isn't possible.
      For example, I often write messages to my family back home because it helps me organize my ideas before I speak.
      Another reason people enjoy writing is that it gives them creative freedom — they can take their time choosing the right words.
      On the other hand, many people find writing challenging because putting feelings into words takes more effort than simply talking.
      Speaking from personal experience, I sometimes struggle to find the right chunk of language to sound natural in English.
      Overall, writing can be enjoyable when there's no pressure, but it becomes challenging when time is limited — which is exactly why practicing under real test conditions matters so much.
    

Underlined chunks from the toolbox above

03

Chunk Drill

10 min

Read aloud · repeat 3 times

Press "Start" to begin

Match the chunk to its job

"___ , I remember writing my first job application in English."

"___ , some people write because it helps them relax."

"___ , writing by hand takes more time than typing."

"___ , writing is a skill that improves with regular practice."

04

Write for Real

12–15 min

How it works

Open the official practice test in a new tab.
30 seconds: read the prompt, silently pick 1 opening + 2 reasons + 1 example chunk.
5 minutes: write your answer, using chunks — no translating from Spanish.
Share your answer when the timer ends.

Full practice test 15-min quick practice

Timer

05:00

05

Takeaway

5 min

Finish these sentences

"The chunk I will use on test day is: ___"
"This week, I will practice this chunk by: ___"

06

Self-Check

5–10 min

Look back at what you wrote in Phase 4 and ask yourself:

ContentDid I include a specific example or personal detail — not just a general idea?

CoherenceDo my chunks connect smoothly — opening → reason → example → closing?

GrammarDid I use at least one chunk exactly as practiced today?

LexisDid I use a power-word swap instead of a basic word?

DET Writing Sample