Speaking Sample
According to the official exam guide, the "Speaking Sample" section is a part of the Duolingo English Test (DET) that involves the following:
1. Instructions: This section requires candidates to speak on a given topic. The topic is intended to elicit a detailed response, and candidates are expected to demonstrate their speaking skills, including the ability to express thoughts coherently and fluently.
2. Subscores: The "Speaking Sample" primarily assesses the Conversation skill, focusing on the candidate's oral communication abilities.
3. Duration: Candidates are given a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 3 minutes to discuss the topic.
4. Interactive Operations:
- Candidates are presented with the topic and have a preparation time before the recording starts.
- The recording begins automatically after the preparation period, and candidates can see the topic throughout their response.
5. Answering the Question:
- After reading the topic, candidates should speak about it in a manner that shows their ability to convey ideas and information clearly.
- The response should be well-structured, with a clear introduction, development, and conclusion if time allows.
6. Suggestions:
- Use the preparation time to think about the points you want to make and how you want to express them.
- Speak clearly and at a natural pace, ensuring that your pronunciation is clear and that you use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Try to continue speaking for the entire duration of the recording to demonstrate your fluency.
7. Scoring: The spoken response is evaluated based on the clarity, detail, and relevance of the spoken response, as well as the candidate's use of English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and overall speaking quality.
8. Significance: The "Speaking Sample" is particularly important as it provides institutions with a more in-depth look at the candidate's speaking skills. It is used to assess the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in English through spoken language, which is a critical skill for academic and professional success.
The "Speaking Sample" section is designed to be a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate's speaking abilities, offering insights into their capacity to communicate effectively in English through spoken discourse.