IELTS / Duolingo Test
If you're thinking of taking the IELTS or the Duolingo English Test (DET) — or just want to build confidence — here's a practical starter pack covering both tests' format, scoring, and how to prepare for Speaking.
Explained
Whether you're targeting IELTS (paper-based, ~3 hours) or Duolingo English Test (online, ~1 hour), the underlying skills are the same: fluency, range of vocabulary, grammar control, and pronunciation. This starter pack covers test format, common Speaking topics, and ready-to-use answer structures.
Useful phrases
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| IELTS Speaking Part 1: short questions about familiar topics (work, hobbies, family). About 4–5 minutes. | IELTS Speaking Part 1: रोज़ की बातों पर short सवाल — काम, hobbies, family। |
| IELTS Speaking Part 2: 2-minute talk on a cue card. Prep: 1 minute. Time is everything. | IELTS Speaking Part 2: एक cue card पर 2 मिनट का talk। तैयारी: 1 मिनट। |
| IELTS Speaking Part 3: abstract discussion linked to Part 2 topic. Show opinions + reasoning. | IELTS Speaking Part 3: Part 2 topic से जुड़ी abstract बातें। |
| Duolingo Test: AI-graded, 60 minutes, mix of writing, speaking, listening. Take anywhere with a webcam. | Duolingo Test: AI से जाँच, 60 मिनट, mixed sections। |
| I'd like to talk about my older brother, who has been a big influence on me. Strong Part 2 opener (cue: 'a person who influenced you'). | मैं अपने बड़े भाई के बारे में बात करना चाहूँगा, जिनका मुझ पर बहुत असर रहा है। |
| I particularly remember the time when… Bridges to a specific anecdote — examiners love specifics. | मुझे ख़ास तौर पर वो समय याद है जब… |
| On one hand, …; on the other hand, … Show balanced thinking in Part 3. | एक तरफ़, …; दूसरी तरफ़, … |
| I'd argue that … Confident opinion phrase. | मैं तर्क दूँगा कि … |
| It's hard to say, but if I had to choose, I'd say … Buys you thinking time without sounding lost. | कहना मुश्किल है, पर अगर choose करना पड़े तो मैं कहूँगा कि … |
| That's a thought-provoking question. Pause-buyer that sounds confident. | ये एक सोचने वाला सवाल है। |
| Compared to ten years ago, … Useful for Part 3 trend questions. | 10 साल पहले से तुलना करूँ तो, … |
| Practice speaking out loud daily, even for 5 minutes. Single biggest tip for test-takers. | रोज़ ज़ोर से अभ्यास करो, चाहे 5 मिनट ही हो। |
Sample conversation
| A | Examiner: Now, I'd like you to talk about a person who has influenced you. You have 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. Examiner: अब, मैं चाहूँगा कि आप एक ऐसे व्यक्ति के बारे में बात करें जिसने आप पर प्रभाव डाला हो। तैयारी के लिए 1 मिनट, बोलने के लिए 2 मिनट। |
| B | I'd like to talk about my older sister, who has had a huge influence on me. She's six years older and the first in our family to go to college. मैं अपनी बड़ी बहन के बारे में बात करना चाहूँगा, जिनका मुझ पर बहुत असर रहा है। वो मुझसे छह साल बड़ी हैं और हमारे परिवार में पहली कॉलेज जाने वाली। |
| B | I particularly remember when I was 14 and struggling with maths. She sat with me every night for three months and helped me understand the basics, until I scored well in my exams. मुझे ख़ास तौर पर वो समय याद है जब मैं 14 साल का था और maths में परेशान। उन्होंने तीन महीने रोज़ रात मेरे साथ बैठकर basics समझाए, जब तक exam में अच्छा score नहीं आ गया। |
| B | What I learned from her was the value of patience — and that hard work compounds. To this day, when I face something difficult, I think of her. मैंने उनसे patience का महत्व सीखा — और ये कि मेहनत धीरे-धीरे बढ़ती जाती है। आज भी, जब कुछ मुश्किल आता है, उनकी याद आती है। |
Practise
1. IELTS Speaking Part 2 length?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
Show the answer
2 minutes
2. Duolingo English Test (DET) is…
- paper-based, 3 hours
- AI-graded, 60 minutes
- panel interview, 30 minutes
- phone-based, 2 hours
Show the answer
AI-graded, 60 minutes
3. Strong opener for Part 2?
- I will talk now.
- I'd like to talk about my older sister, who has had a huge influence on me.
- Person I know.
- OK, starting…
Show the answer
I'd like to talk about my older sister, who has had a huge influence on me.
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