Among all sections of the Duolingo English Test (DET), the Production subscore is often the most critical. Many universities set a minimum requirement specifically for Production, and for most test takers, it is also the most challenging part. This is because it evaluates both writing and speaking, which are usually the hardest skills to master in any language.
In this article, you’ll learn practical and proven strategies that can immediately improve your Production performance. By the end, you will clearly understand every Production task type and know how to approach each one with confidence—especially if you are preparing with tools like DETPractice.
Understanding the Production Subscore
The Production subscore is one of the four official subscores on the Duolingo English Test, accounting for 25% of your total score.
Duolingo defines Production as “the ability to write and speak.” In other words, it measures how well you can actively produce English, rather than just understand it. This includes idea development, clarity, vocabulary use, grammar accuracy, and spoken delivery.
Because of its weight and difficulty, many candidates focus their preparation on Production using targeted practice platforms such as DETPractice, which simulate real test conditions.
How Production Is Scored on the DET
Since April 2024, the Duolingo English Test has used updated criteria to evaluate writing and speaking responses. These criteria include:
Content: relevance, depth, organization, and impact on the reader or listener
Discourse coherence: logical flow, clarity, and connection between ideas
Lexis (vocabulary): range, sophistication, word choice, spelling, and word formation
Grammar: accuracy, variety, and complexity of sentence structures
Fluency: speaking speed, natural pauses, repetition, and hesitation
Pronunciation: clarity, stress, intonation, and intelligibility
While vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are relatively straightforward, content and coherence often confuse test takers. Simply put, Duolingo wants to know:
Are your ideas easy to follow?
Do you clearly express a main point?
Do your supporting details connect logically?
Practicing structured responses consistently—especially with feedback-oriented tools like DETPractice—can significantly improve these areas.
Top 8 Strategies for Production Questions
1. Prepare a clear strategy for each task type
Production tasks are difficult not only because of language accuracy, but also because you must decide what to say under time pressure.
Having a fixed strategy for each question type helps you generate ideas quickly. This allows you to focus on grammar and vocabulary instead of panicking about content. While memorizing answers is not effective, memorizing response frameworks is essential.
2. Prioritize grammatical accuracy
Simple grammar mistakes cost more points than most test takers realize. The good news is that these errors are also the easiest to correct.
Before investing time in advanced vocabulary or complex structures, make sure your basic grammar is consistently accurate. Clear, correct sentences always score higher than complicated but incorrect ones.
3. Make sure your responses are long enough
Although response length is no longer listed as an official scoring category, it still strongly influences your score.
Based on real test data and learner outcomes, the following minimums are recommended:
Write About the Photo: at least 30 words (50+ for high scores)
Interactive Writing (Part 1): at least 120 words (150+ for 130+)
Interactive Writing (Part 2): at least 90 words
Writing Sample: at least 120 words
Summarize the Conversation: at least 40 words
Writing significantly less than these benchmarks may lead to point deductions. Regular timed practice on DETPractice helps you build the right sense of length.
4. Vary your sentence structures
Using only simple sentences limits your score in both grammar and vocabulary.
To improve, use linking words to combine ideas naturally, such as:
and, but, so, however, because, therefore
which, for example, in fact, moreover
first, second, third, in addition to
These connectors allow you to express ideas more clearly and logically. Just make sure you understand how each one works; incorrect usage can hurt your score.
5. Use synonyms to avoid repetition
Vocabulary range is a key part of the Lexis criterion. One easy way to improve it is by replacing overused words with suitable alternatives.
For example:
good → great, enjoyable, tasty
bad → unpleasant, terrible
important → crucial, essential, noteworthy
like → enjoy, love
small → tiny, insignificant
large → huge, enormous, sizable
The goal is not to sound complicated, but to choose precise and appropriate words. Vocabulary-focused practice on DETPractice can help you identify and fix repetition habits.
6. Reserve time to review writing responses
Writing and editing should be treated as two separate steps.
A simple rule is 50 seconds writing + 10 seconds editing per minute. During editing, focus on:
spelling mistakes
missing articles
verb tense errors
Avoid trying to make sentences perfect—fix obvious issues first.
7. Speak for the entire time in speaking tasks
Unlike writing tasks, speaking responses cannot be edited or re-recorded. A common mistake is stopping too early.
Even if your ideas feel simple, continue speaking until time ends. This improves fluency and gives the scoring system more language to evaluate.
8. Slow down and pronounce clearly
Nervousness often causes candidates to speak too fast. Speaking slightly slower helps with pronunciation, clarity, and confidence.
Clear enunciation is far more important than speed. Training this habit during practice—especially in realistic environments like DETPractice—can noticeably improve your speaking score.
Final Thoughts
Improving your Production score requires more than just learning new words. It demands strategy, structure, accuracy, and consistent practice. By understanding how Production is scored and applying these eight methods, you can make steady progress toward your target score.
If you want to practice these strategies under real test conditions, structured platforms such as DETPractice can help you turn preparation into measurable results.