Examples of Effective Photo Descriptions in the Duolingo Test

The Duolingo English Test (DET) has a speaking task where you need to describe a photo.
This task checks your vocabulary, sentence structure, and fluency. Many students feel nervous because they don’t know what to say or how much detail to give.

The good news is — you don’t have to make it complicated. You just need to speak clearly and describe what you see in a logical way.

Let’s look at some examples of effective photo descriptions so you can understand how to do it well.

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1. Start with the Basics

Always start by telling what the main subject of the photo is.

Example:
*"This is a picture of a group of students sitting in a classroom. They are looking at the teacher, who is writing on the board."*

Why it works:

• Simple and clear

• Tells the main subject

• Uses present continuous tense

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2. Add Some Details

After saying the main subject, describe a few details like colors, actions, and surroundings.

Example:
*"The classroom has white walls and large windows. The students are wearing casual clothes and are sitting at wooden desks."*

Why it works:

• Gives extra details for a better image

• Shows a range of vocabulary

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3. Talk About Possible Situations

You can guess what might be happening in the picture. Just make sure it’s logical.

Example:
*"It looks like the students are preparing for a test. The teacher is explaining something important on the board."*

Why it works:

• Adds your interpretation

• Uses phrases like “It looks like” which are common in spoken English

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4. Keep Your Sentences Smooth

Try to speak in full sentences, not just single words. Avoid long pauses.

Example:
*"In the picture, there is a young boy playing football in a park. The weather is sunny, and other children are watching the game."*

Why it works:

• Full, connected sentences

• Clear and natural flow

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5. Practice is the Key

The more you practice, the easier it will be to describe photos quickly and clearly during the test.

You can use real photos from the internet or your phone and try speaking for 20–30 seconds about each one.

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✅ Tip for Students: If you want to practice the Duolingo English Test in a real test-like environment, you can try the DET Mock Test at Gurully.com.
It has the same question types as the actual test, including Photo Description, so you can improve your fluency and confidence before exam day.

Also Read:
Common Listening Traps in the Duolingo English Test: Tips to Avoid Them and Score Higher
Tips for Answering Listen and Respond Questions in DET