5 Sentences to Boost Your DET Speaking Score

Sep 02, 2025 9:24 am

Hi, Teacher Luke here! 👋

In my DET Ready VIP Speaking Lesson last week, one of my students asked:

“What’s the best way to start my answers on the speaking test?”

So, I looked through dozens of responses from students scoring 120+ to find some great examples for you. 👇

But first, now is the perfect time to level up your Duolingo English Test score — because... Our End of Summer Sale is ON!

Join DET Ready VIP now and save 35% with code SUMMER-2025 (This sale ends tomorrow at midnight)

Inside DET Ready VIP, you’ll get:

✅ Full DET Speaking + Writing courses

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Thousands of students have used VIP to improve their score from 105 → 120+ → even 150 👇

Now — let’s get into some quick speaking tips 👇

Use these openers to speak more fluently and naturally on the test:

1. “I’d say I generally…”

👉 “I’d say I generally admire people who stay calm under pressure—that’s a quality I’ve been working on myself.”

Works well for: Giving personal opinions or describing personality traits

2. “Actually, in my opinion…”

👉 “Actually, in my opinion, Nelson Mandela is someone we can all learn from because of his courage and forgiveness.”

Works well for: Sharing your views on people, events, or social topics

3. “Well, I remember ... I…”

👉 “Well, I remember last month I gave my best friend a book about photography—it really made her smile.”

Works well for: Telling short personal stories or giving real-life examples

4. “Back in ... , I had a moment when…”

👉 “Back in high school, I had a moment when I helped a friend through a hard time. That really showed me the importance of empathy.”

Works well for: Talking about the past or reflecting on experiences

5. “I used to think that, but now…”

👉 “I used to think giving gifts was only for birthdays, but now I enjoy surprising people just to make them feel appreciated.”

Works well for: Showing change in opinion or lessons learned

These phrases help you start strong and keep your answer clear, structured, and fluent.

💬 Want more tips like this?

Watch this video where I review real DET answers and show common mistakes (and how to fix them):

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Let’s get your score where you need it — fast!

— Teacher Luke 👨‍🏫

DET Ready | Helping 1,000+ students pass the test every month

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