How to Score 120 In the Duolingo English Test Easily
Figuring out how to score 120 on the Duolingo English Test can feel like a big leap, but guess what?
It’s not out of reach!
In fact, LUME has helped thousands of learners go from “Where do I even start?” to “I hit my goal!”
In this guide, we will introduce 10 practical, beginner-friendly tips designed to help you build real skills rather than just test tricks.
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Want to ACE the Duolingo English Test And Reach Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ THOUSANDS of PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
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You don’t need a speaking partner, a tutor, or an expensive app to improve your speaking.
You just need your own voice!
One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to improve your fluency is to talk to yourself in English every day.
It might feel weird at first, but it works.
Start simple: narrate your day out loud (“I’m brushing my teeth,” “I’m making breakfast”).
Then, try something a bit more structured — describe a photo in detail or summarize an article you just read in your own words.
The goal isn’t to sound perfect but to get your brand used to forming sentences quickly and naturally.
Writing under pressure isn’t fun.
However, the Duolingo English Test gives you a limited time for writing tasks, so it’s something you need to get used to.
Set a timer (use your phone!) and give yourself 5 minutes for short-answer prompts and 10-15 minutes for longer responses.
Try to stimulate the test environment — no distractions, no grammar checker, just you and the timer.
Focus on organizing your ideas quickly: a short intro, clear body points, and a brief conclusion.
Keep your grammar clean and your vocabulary natural; don’t try to impress with overly complex words you’re not comfortable with.
After each writing session, read your response and ask:
This strategy will train your brain to write faster and better and give you a big confidence boost on test day.
Although practice is important, getting feedback is where the real growth happens.
Luckily, you don’t need a teacher hovering over your shoulder.
Tools like Grammarly, Arno, or LUME’s AI-powered scoring can provide instant, detailed feedback on your writing and speaking.
It’s like taking a mini version of the real test, with personalized suggestions to help you improve.
This type of real-time review is a game-changer if you strive to study smart, not just hard.
To know how you really sound when speaking English, simply hit record.
Pick a prompt (e.g., “Describe your favorite food”) and record yourself speaking for 30 to 90 seconds.
Then, listen back; it is usually awkward at first (no one likes hearing their own voice), but this step is gold!
Pay attention to your pacing, pronunciation, and organization, then write down what needs improvement and try the same prompt again.
You’ll be surprised how quickly you can identify and correct small habits that could cost you points on the DET.
Instead of just cramming definitions, consider how new words are used in context.
Let’s say you read: “She was thrilled with the results.”
Look up “thrilled,” then explore its synonyms (excited, overjoyed, ecstatic) and write down sentences using each one in slightly different ways.
That helps you not only remember the word but actually use it naturally.
You can keep a running list or vocabulary journal with words, meanings, example sentences, and synonyms.
Also, try weaving a few of those words into your daily writing or speaking practice!
If you want to sound more fluent without memorizing boring phrases, try the shadowing technique!
It’s fun, fast, and super effective.
You just have to listen to native English speakers and repeat what they say simultaneously (yes, simultaneously).
Basically, you are their echo, just half a second behind.
You don’t need to understand every word perfectly; just focus on copying how they say it.
Do this for 10 minutes a day, and watch your fluency and pronunciation start to click into place.
Here’s a simple, repeatable structure to help you describe any image clearly and confidently.
You can practice with literally any image — Google, Pinterest, Instagram, or whatever you like.
The method keeps your response organized and gives you a solid 45-60 seconds of natural, fluent speaking for the test.
This one’s a two-for-one: you improve your reading speed and your speaking or writing skills.
Every day, pick a short news article, blog post, or Wikipedia page, set a timer for one minute, and read as much as you can.
As soon as the timer’s up, summarize what you just read out loud or in writing.
There’s no need to recall every detail, of course.
Just focus on the main point: What was it about? What happened? Why does it matter?
Over time, you can quickly understand information and respond clearly, which is exactly the type of skill the DET is checking when it asks you to “Read, then speak” or “Read, then write.”
The Duolingo English Test isn’t a one-size-fits-all test.
It adapts: the questions get harder if you do well and easier if you struggle.
So, your practice should work the same way.
That’s why it’s smart to use adaptive practice tests, such as those on Duolingo’s official site or platforms like LUME.
These tests adjust in real time and give you a feel for the actual exam.
Even better, LUME’s AI scoring shows you which areas you’re doing great in and where you need to improve.
It will make a huge difference when test day rolls around!
Movies, podcasts, YouTube videos, TV shows, and even video games with English voice-overs and subtitles are all good options.
Make it part of your day: watch a scene, pause, and try repeating what they just said.
Ensure you mix up the accents and speaking styles, too — British, American, Australian, slow, fast, casual, formal.
The more your ears get used to real English, the less the DET will surprise you.
And bonus: it’s way more fun than memorizing word lists.
If you’re staring at the keyboard while typing during the test, you’re losing precious time and probably making more typos than you realize.
That’s why you need to learn to type without looking (also known as touch typing).
You don’t have to force yourself to be lightning-fast; you just need to be accurate and comfortable.
Try using free websites like Keybr or 10FastFingers for 10 minutes a day.
Start slow, focus on accuracy, and be confident that speed will come with practice.
Writing and speaking in English becomes so much easier when you understand how sentences are actually built.
You can learn to get familiar with the basics (adjectives – verb – object like “She likes coffee.”)
Over time, level up by learning how to build longer, more natural sentences using connectors like “although,” “whereas,” or “despite.”
It’s easy to find sentence examples in almost anything you read, such as articles, blogs, or even social captions.
You can also try copying a few down and rewriting them with your own words or structure.
Grab a friend, a tutor, or even a chatbot (yes, ChatGPT works!), and simulate real-life conversations: ordering food, asking for help, or explaining a problem.
If you’re practicing solo, try recording yourself asking a question, then pause and respond like you’re in a real chat.
This little tip helps you train your brain to think on your feet.
Plus, many consider it a more engaging alternative than just listening to audio clips passively.
Even 10 minutes of practice a day can make a big difference if you focus on the grammar points that really matter: verb tenses, prepositions, and articles.
Use an app, website, or grammar workbook and tackle a few exercises each day.
Like with other tips, we recommend making it part of your routine, something you do with your morning coffee or while waiting for your bus.
Eventually, you will get so familiar with the basics that you use them automatically when speaking or writing.
Over time, you’ll stop second-guessing yourself mid-sentence, which will result in a smoother, more confident performance on test day.
Are you still translating every sentence from your native language into English in your head?
You’re making things way harder on yourself.
The Duolingo English Test moves fast, and so should your thoughts.
The key is to train your brain to think in English by:
These tiny habits build mental fluency and help turn English into your default thinking language.
As a result, you’ll respond faster with fewer mistakes.
You can take the test up to 3 times within any 30 days.
So, if your first attempt doesn’t go as planned, you still have two more shots that month to improve your score.
And remember that every attempt counts, even if you cancel the test or don’t finish it.
So make sure you’re feeling prepared and ready to go before hitting the “Start Test” button again.
Can’t wait to learn how to score 120 on the Duolingo English Test?
You’ve now got 15 solid ways to do just that, from quick daily grammar drills to speaking out loud to yourself (yes, really).
Let’s take a practice test with LUME and start making your goal a reality!
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Want to ACE the Duolingo English Test And Reach Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ THOUSANDS of PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
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Lume Test is a leading platform offering practice questions and mock tests for major English exams like PTE, IELTS, TOEIC, DET, and more. We provide up-to-date, comprehensive materials designed to help learners improve their language skills and achieve high scores. With expert-crafted tests that closely mirror real exam formats, Lume Test ensures you're fully prepared for success. Your goals are our mission!
