Duolingo English Test Speaking: Read, Then Speak (100 Questions)

Hi Teacher Luke here,

On the Duolingo English Test (DET) there are four speaking tasks that you need to be ready for:

1. Read, Then Speak
2. Interactive Speaking
3. Speak About the Photo
4. Speaking Sample

Today, we’re focusing on the Read, Then Speak question. I'll cover the main points, common topics, and 100 speaking questions.

Read, Then Speak looks like this on the test 👇

Key Things to Know: Read, Then Speak Task

Preparation Time
You have 20 seconds to read the question and prepare.

Speaking Time
You have up to 90 seconds to speak. Aim for 90 seconds to boost your score.

Question Frequency
You’ll only get one Read, Then Speak question on the DET.

Only One Chance
You can only record your answer once—so stay focused and answer carefully from start to finish.

Learn how to give great answers to the Read, Then Speak Question here 👇

10 DET Common Speaking Topics

On the Duolingo English Test, the Read, Then Speak question can cover many everyday topics. Here are 10 common themes to help you prepare. Use them to practice sharing your ideas clearly and confidently.

1. Personal Experiences
Includes questions about memories, achievements, challenges, decisions, and daily habits.

2. Education & Learning
Covers school subjects, teachers, study habits, online learning, and what should be taught in school.

3. Work, School & Productivity
Includes workplace rules, teamwork, time management, part-time jobs, and career goals.

4. Hobbies & Free Time
Covers leisure activities, favorite games, weekend routines, music, books, and entertainment.

5. Technology & Modern Life
Focuses on the impact of apps, devices, online shopping, social media, and AI on daily routines.

6. Family & Relationships
Includes questions about mentors, friends, parents, role models, and people who influence your life.

7. Society & Culture
Covers festivals, traditions, cultural differences, community service, and societal changes.

8. Travel & Places
Includes vacations, dream destinations, peaceful places, landmarks, and cities or countries.

9. Environment & Lifestyle
Focuses on healthy habits, stress reduction, environmental issues, and lifestyle changes.

10. Opinions & Abstract Ideas
Covers creativity, patience, decision-making, motivation, goal setting, and the value of reading or helping others.

100 DET Speaking Question: Read, Then Speak

These are practice questions to help you prepare for the Read, Then Speak task. (They will not be on the official test, but they follow the same style.)

Use them to practice speaking clearly and confidently.

1. Describe a memorable vacation or trip you took.

• Where did you go?
• Who were you with?
• What made the trip special?
• Would you go there again?

2. Talk about a person who has influenced your life.

• Who is this person?
• How do you know them?
• What did they do that inspired or impacted you?

3. Describe your ideal work environment.

• What kind of place is it?
• What are the people like?
• Why do you think you would be productive there?

4. Explain the benefits of learning a second language.

• How can it improve your life?
• What are some challenges of learning one?
• Have you studied another language?

5. Discuss the role of technology in education.

• How has it changed the way people learn?
• What are the pros and cons of using tech in the classroom?

6. Describe a book that changed your perspective.

• What was the book about?
• Why did it affect you?
• Would you recommend it to others?

7. Talk about a time you overcame a challenge.

• What was the challenge?
• How did you handle it?
• What did you learn from the experience?

8. Describe your daily routine on a typical weekday.

• What time do you start your day?
• What do you do during the day?
• How do you unwind?

9. Explain why it’s important to help others.

• How can helping others improve society?
• Have you ever volunteered or helped someone in need?

10. Talk about a special celebration in your culture.

• What is the celebration?
• How is it observed?
• Why is it meaningful?

11. Describe your dream job.

• What would you do every day?
• What skills are needed?
• Why does it appeal to you?

12. Discuss the importance of physical exercise.

• How does it affect your health?
• What kinds of exercise do you enjoy?

13. Talk about a team project you participated in.

• What was your role?
• How did the team work together?
• What was the outcome?

14. Describe your favorite season of the year.

• What’s the weather like?
• What activities do you do?
• Why do you enjoy it?

15. Talk about a useful app or website you use.

• What does it do?
• How often do you use it?
• How has it helped you?

16. Discuss how social media affects relationships.

• Can it help people stay connected?
• Are there any negative effects?

17. Describe a time you learned something new.

• What did you learn?
• Why did you learn it?
• How did it feel to succeed?

18. Talk about a historical event you find interesting.

• What happened?
• Why is it important?
• How has it shaped today’s world?

19. Explain the value of time management.

• How can it improve performance?
• What are some ways to manage time effectively?

20. Describe your favorite place to relax.

• Where is it?
• What makes it relaxing?
• Do you go there often?

21. Talk about a favorite childhood memory.

• How old were you?
• What happened?
• Why do you still remember it?

22. Describe a meal you recently enjoyed.

• What did you eat?
• Where were you?
• What made it enjoyable?

23. Explain the importance of setting goals.

• How do goals help with success?
• What goals have you set for yourself recently?

24. Talk about a teacher or mentor who supported you.

• Who were they?
• What did they do to help?
• How did you benefit?

25. Describe a change you made to improve your lifestyle.

• What was the change?
• Why did you make it?
• How has it helped?

26. Talk about a piece of news that caught your attention.

• What was it about?
• Where did you hear it?
• Why did it interest you?

27. Explain the role of education in shaping the future.

• How does education influence society?
• What changes would you make to improve it?

28. Describe a time when you helped someone.

• What did you do?
• Who did you help?
• How did it feel?

29. Talk about a skill you would like to learn.

• What is the skill?
• Why is it useful or interesting?
• How would you go about learning it?

30. Explain how people can stay motivated when facing difficulties.

• What keeps people going during tough times?
• What strategies have helped you stay motivated?

31. Talk about your favorite subject in school.

• What is it and why do you like it?
• How has it helped you in other areas of your life?

32. Describe a place you would like to visit in the future.

• Where is it?
• What would you like to do there?
• Why does it interest you?

33. Discuss the advantages of studying online.

• How does it compare to studying in a classroom?
• What are the benefits and possible drawbacks?

34. Describe a time when you worked under pressure.

• What was the situation?
• How did you handle the pressure?
• What was the result?

35. Talk about a book or movie that taught you a lesson.

• What was the lesson?
• How did it affect your thinking or behavior?

36. Explain the importance of having good friends.

• What qualities make someone a good friend?
• How have your friends supported you?

37. Describe an environmental issue in your country.

• What is the problem?
• What are the causes and effects?
• What can be done?

38. Talk about a time you received useful advice.

• Who gave you the advice?
• What did you learn from it?
• How did it help you?

39. Explain the benefits of having part-time work as a student.

• What can students learn from working?
• Are there any disadvantages?

40. Describe an achievement you are proud of.

• What did you do?
• Why was it meaningful to you?
• How did others react?

41. Talk about the impact of advertising on people’s choices.

• Do you think ads are helpful or harmful?
• Can you give an example?

42. Explain why teamwork is important in school or work.

• How does working with others lead to better results?
• What are some challenges of teamwork?

43. Describe a tradition or holiday in your culture.

• What do people do to celebrate it?
• Why is it important?

44. Talk about a teacher who made learning enjoyable.

• What subject did they teach?
• How did they make the class interesting?

45. Explain why people enjoy listening to music.

• What effect does music have on emotions or focus?
• What kind of music do you like?

46. Describe a technology that has changed your daily life.

• What is it?
• How do you use it?
• What are the pros and cons?

47. Talk about a goal you have for the next year.

• What is the goal?
• Why is it important to you?
• How will you achieve it?

48. Explain the importance of learning from mistakes.

• Can you describe a mistake you learned from?
• How did it change you?

49. Describe your favorite way to relax after a busy day.

• What do you do to unwind?
• Why does it help you feel better?
• How often do you do it?

50. Talk about the role of parents in a child's education.

• How can parents support learning?
• Should schools involve parents more?

51. Describe a person you admire and respect.

• Who are they?
• What makes them admirable?
• How have they influenced you?

52. Explain why people should read every day.

• How does reading benefit the mind?
• What do you like to read?
• How often do you read?

53. Talk about a local business you like to support.

• What does the business do?
• Why do you prefer it over others?

54. Describe an invention that you think changed the world.

• What is the invention?
• Why is it so important?

55. Discuss how traveling can help people grow.

• What do people learn from visiting other places?
• Can travel change someone’s perspective?

56. Talk about a subject or skill that should be taught in school but isn’t.

• What is it?
• Why is it important for students to learn?
• How can it help improve students' education?

57. Describe your favorite time of the day.

• Why do you like it?
• What do you usually do at that time?
• Why do you enjoy it?

58. Explain why people should volunteer in their community.

• What are the benefits to others and to yourself?
• How can more people be encouraged to volunteer?

59. Talk about how people can reduce their stress.

• What strategies are effective?
• What do you do when you feel stressed?

60. Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision.

• What was the situation?
• What choice did you make?
• Was it the right decision?

61. Talk about a change you would like to see in your school or workplace.

• What is the change?
• Why is it necessary?
• How would it improve the environment?

62. Describe a piece of advice you gave someone.

• Who did you give it to?
• What was the situation?
• How did it turn out?

63. Explain the advantages of living in a big city.

• What opportunities does it offer?
• Are there any downsides?

64. Talk about a difficult subject you studied.

• Why was it difficult?
• How did you overcome the challenge?

65. Describe a time when you tried something new.

• What did you try?
• Why did you try it?
• What did you learn?

66. Explain the importance of learning about other cultures.

• How does it affect relationships and understanding?
• Have you ever experienced cultural differences?

67. Talk about your favorite way to spend a weekend.

• What do you usually do?
• Why do you enjoy it?

68. Describe a public figure you admire.

• Who are they?
• What have they done?
• Why do you look up to them?

69. Explain the benefits of keeping a daily journal.

• What can people learn about themselves?
• Have you ever kept a journal?

70. Talk about a restaurant or café you enjoy going to.

• What kind of food does it serve?
• What makes it special?

71. Describe a time when you had to make a group decision.

• What was the decision about?
• How did the group come to an agreement?
• Was it successful?

72. Explain how weather can affect your mood or productivity.

• What kind of weather helps you focus?
• What kind makes you feel lazy or distracted?

73. Talk about a subject you used to dislike but now enjoy.

• Why did your opinion change?
• How did you become more interested?

74. Describe a skill someone in your family taught you.

• What was the skill?
• Who taught you and how?
• Do you still use it?

75. Explain why financial education is important.

• What should people learn about money?
• Should it be taught in schools?

76. Talk about a form of entertainment you enjoy.

• Is it a sport, show, or hobby?
• How often do you enjoy it?
• Why do you like it?

77. Describe your favorite childhood toy or game.

• What was it?
• Why did you love it?
• Do you still remember it fondly?

78. Explain how people can build better habits.

• What steps are involved?
• Can you share a habit you've built successfully?

79. Talk about a time when you received unexpected good news.

• What was the news?
• How did it make you feel?
• What did you do afterward?

80. Describe a place where you feel at peace.

• Where is it?
• What do you do there?
• Why does it help you relax?

81. Explain how people can reduce their environmental impact.

• What daily actions can help?
• What changes have you made?

82. Talk about a famous landmark in your country.

• What is its history or meaning?
• Have you visited it?

83. Describe a time you helped solve a problem.

• What was the issue?
• What did you do?
• What was the outcome?

84. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.

• How has it changed the way people buy things?
• Do you prefer it over traditional shopping?

85. Talk about a language you would like to learn.

• Why does it interest you?
• How would you go about learning it?

86. Describe a memory that makes you smile.

• What happened?
• Who was involved?
• Why do you remember it fondly?

87. Explain why people move to other countries.

• What are some common reasons?
• What challenges do they face?

88. Talk about a healthy habit you have developed.

• What is it?
• How has it helped you?
• How did you start?

89. Describe a song or piece of music that has meaning to you.

• What is it about?
• When did you first hear it?
• Why does it stand out?

90. Explain the value of patience in everyday life.

• When is patience important?
• Can you give an example from your life?
• 91. Describe a daily habit that improves your life.
• What is the habit?

92. Talk about your favorite book or novel.

• What is it about?
• Who is your favorite character and why?
• What did you learn from reading it?
• Would you read it again?

93. Describe a person in your life who always makes you laugh.

• Who is this person?
• What kind of humor do they have?
• How does their personality affect your mood?
• Why do you value their presence?

94. Talk about a difficult decision you had to make.

• What were your options?
• How did you make your choice?
• Were you happy with the result?
• What did you learn from the situation?

95. Describe a goal you’ve achieved recently.

• What was the goal?
• What steps did you take to achieve it?
• Did you face any obstacles?
• How did it feel to succeed?

96. Explain why creativity is important in modern life.

• In what areas is creativity most valuable?
• How do you express creativity in your daily routine?
• Can creativity be taught?

97. Talk about a festival or event you enjoy attending.

• What is the event and when does it happen?
• What do people usually do there?
• Would you recommend it to visitors?

98. Describe a useful piece of advice someone gave you.

• Who gave you the advice?
• How did the advice help you?
• Do you still follow it today?

99. Explain the benefits of having a mentor or role model.

• What can people learn from mentors?
• Do you have a mentor in your life?
• How can someone find a good mentor?

100. Talk about something you’ve learned outside of school or work.

• What did you learn and why?
• How did you learn it (online, from someone, etc.)?
• How has this knowledge helped you?
• Do you want to keep learning more about it?

Conclusion: Practice for DET Speaking Questions

The Read, Then Speak task is your chance to show clear, organized, and fluent English on the Duolingo English Test.

These DET Speaking Questions are designed to help you build confidence, improve structure, and prepare for real test conditions.

🗣️ Practice daily.
⏱️ Time your responses.
🎯 Aim for full, thoughtful answers.

The more you prepare now, the better you'll perform on test day. Good luck with your Duolingo English Test preparation!

Here are some YouTube videos covering Read, Then Speak on DET to help you 👇

Thanks for reading,

Teacher Luke
DET Ready | Helping 1,000+ students pass the DET every month