Introduction
Master Duolingo's 'Write About the Photo' in 60 seconds with this battle-tested 3-step formula:
📸 Why 73% of test-takers fail – time crunches, vague descriptions, and preposition pitfalls
✅ 3-Sentence Blueprint – General Summary formulas, action/location frameworks, and examiner-tested vocabulary
📊 Scoring Secrets – What graders check at 0:15, 0:30, and 0:50 marks (based on DET's 2025 criteria)
🎁 Resources – Tool to get 'Write About the Photo' real test question
🕒 Proven Timing Strategy – How Maria scored 130 with just 38 words. No AI tools or VIP gimmicks – just actionable tactics.
Why 60 Seconds Feels Impossible (And How to Fix It)
The 'Write About the Photo' question appears 3 times on the DET, testing:
- Content Relevance: Does your description match the image?
- Discourse Coherence: Logical structure (intro → details)
- Vocabulary Range: Precise adjectives/prepositions
- Grammar Accuracy: Capitalization, punctuation, tense consistency
Critical Mistake: 68% of test-takers waste 20+ seconds on vague openings like 'This is a complex photo...'.
The 3-Sentence Blueprint (Adapted from Top Scorers)
A. General Summary (0:00-0:15)
Formula
'This [image/photo] shows [main subject] + [context].'
• Avoid: Generic terms like 'people' or 'things.'
• Strong Examples:
'This image depicts a family of four walking on a sandy beach at sunset.'
'The photo shows a vintage pink car parked outside a rustic café.'
Pro Tip
Memorize 3 opening phrases to save time:
- 'This photograph captures...'
- 'In this image, there is...'
- 'The central focus of this photo is...'
B. Action Description (0:15-0:35)
Focus
What the subject is doing (use present continuous tense):
- People: 'The parents are holding hands while their children chase seagulls.'
- Objects: 'The car's headlights are shining brightly, suggesting it was recently parked.'
Scoring Hack
Replace basic verbs with precise alternatives:
- 'Walking' → 'Strolling' / 'Marching'
- 'Looking'* → 'Gazing' / 'Scanning'
C. Location Details (0:35-0:55)
Key Points
Use Prepositional Phrases to describe spatial relationships
Examples
'To the left of the café, there's a bicycle leaning against a brick wall.'
'In the background, high-rise buildings contrast with the quiet street.'
High-Value Vocabulary
Proximity: 'adjacent to,' 'parallel to'
Position: 'foreground,' 'diagonally behind'
Resources to Break Through Plateaus: Dreamy DET 2025 latest & real-test Question Bank for all the question types.
Examiner's Checklist: 3 Make-or-Break Moments
- 0:00-0:15: Did you identify the main subject?
- 0:30-0:45: Did you use at least 2 descriptive adjectives?
- 0:50-0:60: Is there a clear concluding prepositional phrase?
Avoid These Errors:
❌ Misspellings of common terms ('beach' vs. 'beech')
❌ Run-on sentences without periods
See the scores students get after using Dreamy DET strategy：
Additional Resources
By understanding all the new question types, utilizing the provided templates, and practicing with sample questions, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle this new challenge in the Duolingo English Test 2024. Good luck with your exam!
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