How to Understand Questions in Exams; Analyzing writing or speaking prompts 

Why is it important to understand the prompts in Duolingo / IELTS / TOEFL writing and speaking tasks?

So that you can…

• Answer what is actually being asked
• keep yourself on track and avoid giving irrelevant details in your answer
• Score well in the task

Analyzing writing or speaking prompts 

Find out how the Duolingo writing or speaking questions want you to respond. Whether they are asking you to Describe? Discuss? Analyze? Compare?Identify?

Take a look at these examples:

Talk about some unique cultural aspects of the country you live in. Can you compare it with another culture you know about?

vs

Give a summary of the unique cultural aspects of the country you live in.

One of the prompts is asking you to compare, the other is asking you to give a summary of the same topic.

Look at more examples of writing and speaking prompts here:

Describe:

How something looks like, feels like, sounds like, smells or tastes like

Example:Describe a scene, an experience, a person, a food
Discuss:

Talk about, debate, give your views formally.

Example:Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a large family?
Explain:

Make your initial point, give detail account of the question asked with arguments and examples.

Example:Explain a quality about yourself that you are proud of? How does that quality make you a better person?

Argue

(give your opinion): Present facts and reasons to support your opinion or point of view.

Example: Living in a rural area is better than living in a busy city. Argue in favour or against the topic.

Compare:

Means describe/point out similarities or differences

Example: Compare the educational system in your country with that of a neighbouring country.

Summarize:

write or talk about the key points without adding much detail.

Example: Summarize the hazards associated with playing video games.

How to read the Extended writing or speaking Questions

• Read the entire prompt once whether it is a cue card question or a question in a single sentence.

• Look for the keywords in the question. Be mindful of what you are being asked. Are you being asked to explain, argue or compare etc.( You might be familiar with a topic but you still need to see what the question requires you to do.)
• EXAMPLES: What is your opinion about the importance of dreams? Do you think dreams have hidden messages?(opinion)
  What advice would you give to your younger self and why?(Discuss both parts of the question)
• Answer the prompts in an organized order.
• Focus on the vocabulary and keywords in the question as you can use the same words when you start off your answer. For Example, if a question says,” Talk about your favourite tourist resort? How often have you visited it? What is the special thing about it that makes it unique?”You can say,” My favourite tourist resort is….”
• Use synonyms of the words already used. Avoid repetition.