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Episode: Duolingo English Test Prep Course: Read and Select Questions

Author: DETPractice.com
Duration: 00:20:12

Episode Shownotes

This comprehensive episode focuses on the “Read and Select” question type in the Duolingo English Test. It covers the format, importance of word spelling, tips for answering questions, and strategies for preparation. The post also delves into word formation, roots, affixes, and common error patterns to help test-takers improve their

performance. Text-based version and more exercises can be found at: DET Prep Course: Read and Select Questions Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.

Full Transcript

00:00:00 Speaker_00
Welcome back everybody to another deep dive. Yeah. We're taking on a really interesting part of the Duolingo English test today. The read and select questions or as some people call them word recognition.

00:00:11 Speaker_00
And basically it's all about spotting misspellings really fast.

00:00:14 Speaker_01
It really is a test of your spelling and how fast you can think.

00:00:17 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:00:17 Speaker_01
Because you only have five seconds for each word to decide is this right or is this kind of a trick.

00:00:24 Speaker_00
Five seconds. That's pretty intense. We've got a bunch of different sources for this deep dive today. We've got a DET prep course, some research that we found on test-taking techniques, and we've even got the official Duolingo English test guide.

00:00:39 Speaker_01
Right.

00:00:39 Speaker_00
No stone unturned for you guys today.

00:00:41 Speaker_01
That's fantastic. Yeah, we're really going to break down what makes this part of the test so hard. and show you how they actually design those tricky misspellings so you know what to watch out for.

00:00:51 Speaker_01
And of course, we've got the best strategies to help you boost your score.

00:00:54 Speaker_00
OK, so let's just get started with the basics. What exactly is this read and select section all about?

00:01:00 Speaker_01
So basically, you see a word pop up on the screen. And you have to decide like that, is this spelled correctly? Just yes or no. Click it and boom, next word. And you get somewhere between like 15 and 18 of these.

00:01:12 Speaker_00
Wow, so it's really all about speed. But what makes these misspellings so hard? It's not like they're using like really obscure words or anything, is it?

00:01:19 Speaker_01
No, it's really not about, you know, knowing huge, complicated vocabulary. The challenge is really how these misspellings, they kind of exploit the shortcuts that our brain takes. For example, one common trick is letter substitution.

00:01:35 Speaker_01
You know, they use letters that look really similar. So, for example, the prep course uses the example of snush instead of slush.

00:01:41 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:01:42 Speaker_01
Our brains easily mix up those shapes, especially when you only have a couple of seconds.

00:01:46 Speaker_00
Especially when you're under pressure. It's kind of like those spot the difference games, but with letters. Now remember, the prep course also mentions other error patterns, like letter additions and omissions. What about that?

00:01:56 Speaker_01
Yeah. So they might sneak in an extra letter, like guide it instead of guide. And you know, if you say that out loud, it sounds weird, right? So that's a little clue. Yeah. Or they'll try to trick you with a missing letter, like bunny instead of bunny.

00:02:11 Speaker_01
And again, they're really relying on that kind of visual similarity to trip you up.

00:02:15 Speaker_00
So it's all about being hyper aware of those tiny details. Now what about the word form errors? I remember that was like a whole category of its own.

00:02:24 Speaker_01
Yeah. This is where it gets kind of interesting. Word form errors, they mess with like the building blocks of words, the roots, prefixes, suffixes, that kind of thing. So for example, you might see inaccurate instead of inaccurate.

00:02:35 Speaker_01
And if you recognize that in is the standard negative prefix there, then you can pretty quickly flag that misspelling.

00:02:42 Speaker_00
So having a good grasp of those word formations can really help you out. Now, I also remember the prep course had some pretty wild examples of incorrect word combinations as well.

00:02:52 Speaker_01
Oh, yeah. They call those the Frankenstein words, just like smashing two words together, like south out, just, you know, south and out together. Or drapmen, like grape and man, but they dropped a vowel.

00:03:05 Speaker_01
Clearly designed to make you second guess yourself.

00:03:07 Speaker_00
Okay, so you'd think we could just count on like half the words being misspelled and half of them being correct. But the official Duolingo guide says otherwise, right?

00:03:17 Speaker_01
Yeah. And this is one of the things that makes it kind of tricky. The guide specifically says that there's no set number of correctly spelled words. So you can't go in thinking, okay, there's going to be exactly 10 misspelled words.

00:03:29 Speaker_01
You really have to look at every single word and decide on its own.

00:03:32 Speaker_00
That makes it even harder, so no relying on those easy patterns. What else does the official guides say about how to tackle these read and select questions?

00:03:40 Speaker_01
Well, they really emphasize the importance of really, really looking at the words carefully. You know those misspellings, they're meant to be subtle, so you can't just skim.

00:03:48 Speaker_01
And they also say that you should always guess, even if you're not sure, because you have a 50-50 chance of being right. And if you leave it blank, it's an automatic miss.

00:03:56 Speaker_00
That makes sense. It's better to trust your gut than to overthink it. Now, the DET practice exam research team, they had a little bit of a different take on that, didn't they?

00:04:05 Speaker_01
Yeah, they had a slightly different approach.

00:04:06 Speaker_00
They seemed to be a little more cautious.

00:04:08 Speaker_01
Yeah. They actually suggest that you only select words, that you are 100 percent certain or correct, no second guessing allowed.

00:04:15 Speaker_00
Okay, so we've got the official guide saying, you know, go ahead and guess, and the research team saying, no, be absolutely certain. How do we reconcile those two seemingly different strategies?

00:04:26 Speaker_01
Well, I think it really depends on, you know, your own personal risk tolerance and how confident you feel.

00:04:32 Speaker_01
If you're somebody who tends to second guess yourself a lot, maybe stick with the research team's advice and just go with the ones you're absolutely sure about.

00:04:41 Speaker_01
But if you're good at making educated guesses, then the official guide's tip might work better for you.

00:04:47 Speaker_00
Yeah, it sounds like finding that right balance between those two is going to be key. So what other insights did the research team offer?

00:04:54 Speaker_01
Well, they really emphasize using a lot of different observation techniques. For example, they say, try reading the word out loud. Sometimes hearing it can help you catch a misspelling that your eyes might have just skimmed over.

00:05:07 Speaker_01
Like if you say, guidette out loud, it just sounds wrong.

00:05:11 Speaker_00
Right. Sometimes our ears catch things that our eyes miss.

00:05:14 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:05:14 Speaker_00
Do they have any other advice for, like, really trying to spot those misspellings?

00:05:19 Speaker_01
Yeah. They pointed out that longer words often have more opportunities for there to be errors, more letters, more chances for things to go wrong. Like, think about those Frankenstein words we were talking about. Those were all pretty long.

00:05:32 Speaker_01
And they also had a really simple but important reminder. Every word has to have at least one vowel to make a syllable. Sounds basic, but it can actually prevent you from falling for some of those trickier traps.

00:05:43 Speaker_00
So we're building up quite an arsenal of strategies here, but at the end of the day, this read and select section, it really comes down to vocabulary, doesn't it?

00:05:50 Speaker_01
You're exactly right. It's like a vocabulary test in disguise.

00:05:52 Speaker_00
So how do we tackle this vocabulary beast? The prep course didn't recommend, like, cramming the whole dictionary, did they?

00:05:59 Speaker_01
Thankfully, no. They suggest using the Duolingo question bank. And here's the key they recommend making your own list.

00:06:07 Speaker_01
Of the words that you get wrong as you're practicing, you can even make slash cards or use a spaced repetition app to help you memorize them. This way, you're focusing on your weak spots and turning those mistakes into learning opportunities.

00:06:21 Speaker_00
Okay, so instead of trying to learn every single word in the dictionary, you're just focusing on the ones that are tripping you up. Did they have any other tips for, like, really memorizing these words?

00:06:29 Speaker_01
Yeah, they really emphasized, you know, really focusing when you're memorizing. Pay attention to the little details of the spelling. It's not enough to just recognize the word. You need to know exactly how it's spelled.

00:06:39 Speaker_01
And remember, you know, vocabulary, it builds up gradually. It's like exercising a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

00:06:45 Speaker_00
I love that analogy. So it's not about becoming a spelling bee champion overnight. It's about consistently, you know, growing that vocabulary and really training your eye to spot those sneaky misspellings.

00:06:57 Speaker_01
Exactly. And, you know, then to go the bigger picture here, this skill of being able to look at spelling and know quickly if it's right or wrong.

00:07:04 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:07:05 Speaker_01
It's not just useful for the Duolingo test. This is valuable for like all kinds of writing that you do.

00:07:11 Speaker_00
Absolutely. Whether you're writing an email or report, even a social media post, being able to catch those errors can really make your writing look better. It shows that you pay attention to detail and can even make you seem more credible.

00:07:24 Speaker_01
It makes you look more professional, especially in a world where we see so much written content every day. Being able to process that quickly and accurately is a real superpower.

00:07:35 Speaker_00
Yeah, it's like a secret weapon for clear and effective communication. So for all of you listening out there, as you're going through those read and select practice questions, remember, you're not just preparing for a test.

00:07:45 Speaker_00
You're really honing a valuable life skill.

00:07:48 Speaker_01
Right. And there's no magic bullet for this section. It takes time and effort to build up that vocabulary and develop that focus.

00:07:55 Speaker_00
But the good news is that all of the resources that we've looked at today, they really give you a roadmap. You know the format. You know what the pitfalls are. And now you've got a bunch of strategies to help you practice effectively.

00:08:06 Speaker_01
Those practice questions are like your sparring partners. The more you spar, the better you get at recognizing those misspellings and being able to make those quick decisions.

00:08:15 Speaker_00
Okay, so let's take a pause right there. We've covered a lot of ground already from the challenges of read and select to the specific strategies from the guide and from the research team, but we're not done yet.

00:08:26 Speaker_00
In the next part of our deep dive, we're going to dig even deeper into how to prepare for success on this challenging but ultimately conquerable section of the Duolingo English test.

00:08:37 Speaker_01
So we've really focused on like the what of Read&Select so far, what it is, what makes it so challenging, what kinds of errors to watch out for. But let's shift gears a little bit and talk about the how.

00:08:47 Speaker_01
How do we actually prepare to do well on this unique part of the Duolingo test?

00:08:52 Speaker_00
That's the million-dollar question. We've talked about, you know, practicing with the practice questions and things, but how do we make that practice really count? It's not just about, you know, clicking through questions, is it?

00:09:03 Speaker_01
No, not at all. Just kind of mindless repetition isn't going to get you very far. Yeah.

00:09:08 Speaker_01
The prep course really emphasized that it's all about active practice, you know, really engaging with the material, thinking about your mistakes, and constantly trying to improve your approach.

00:09:17 Speaker_00
So quality over quantity, what does that kind of look like in the context of read and select?

00:09:23 Speaker_01
So one really key strategy is to slow down and actually analyze the misspellings that you come across. Don't just mark it as wrong and move on. Like really ask yourself, OK, what kind of error is this? Why did I fall for that?

00:09:37 Speaker_01
What can I learn from this mistake?

00:09:39 Speaker_00
It's almost like turning each mistake into like a mini lesson. Exactly. Like having a personal spelling coach right there pointing out those little errors to you.

00:09:47 Speaker_01
And speaking of coaching, the DET practice exam research team, they had some interesting stuff to say about mindset and how that can affect your performance on this section.

00:09:56 Speaker_00
Mindset? So it's not just about spelling.

00:09:58 Speaker_01
Right. It's not just about knowing how to spell.

00:10:00 Speaker_00
What did they have to say about that?

00:10:02 Speaker_01
They really emphasize the importance of staying calm and focused. And that five-second timer can feel really, really pressured. And when you're feeling that pressure, you're more likely to make mistakes.

00:10:15 Speaker_01
So they recommend practicing under timed conditions so that you get used to that pressure.

00:10:19 Speaker_00
Yeah, it makes sense. You wouldn't just show up for a marathon and expect to run 26 miles without having practiced beforehand. You have to train your brain to function under pressure.

00:10:28 Speaker_01
Right. And they even suggested, you know, practicing some mindfulness techniques like deep breathing to help manage any test anxiety you might have.

00:10:36 Speaker_00
So it's about training your mind and your spelling muscles. What other advice did they have for staying focused and avoiding those kind of click happy moments?

00:10:46 Speaker_01
Well, they recommended using visual cues to kind of help you stay on track because the words pop up on the screen one at a time, right? It's easy to kind of lose your place and get flustered.

00:10:56 Speaker_01
So they say, try focusing on the center of the screen and kind of let the words come to you. rather than frantically searching for them all over the place.

00:11:04 Speaker_00
Yeah, kind of creating a calm space in the middle of a spelling storm. I like that. I can see how that visual anchoring technique could be really helpful. But what about those moments when you're just not sure?

00:11:17 Speaker_00
Like you're looking at a word and you're like, I don't know if this is spelled right or wrong. Did they have any tips for dealing with that uncertainty?

00:11:24 Speaker_01
Yeah, they actually address that directly. They said, pay attention to your gut feeling. If a word looks or sounds even a little bit off, it's probably worth marking it as incorrect.

00:11:34 Speaker_01
Remember, they're specifically designing these misspellings to trick you.

00:11:38 Speaker_00
Trust your instincts. It's like that feeling when you know you left the stove on, even though you can't remember actually turning it off.

00:11:43 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:11:44 Speaker_00
Sometimes that little voice in your head is right.

00:11:46 Speaker_01
But here's the thing. You know, intuition is only as good as the knowledge that it's based on. And that's where building a strong vocabulary comes in.

00:11:55 Speaker_00
Right. So even though this read and select section, it's not about knowing super obscure words. Having a wider vocabulary can still give you a real edge.

00:12:04 Speaker_01
Definitely. Because the more words you're familiar with, the more likely you are to be able to spot when something's not quite right.

00:12:11 Speaker_00
So it's like having a larger mental dictionary to cross-reference against?

00:12:15 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:12:16 Speaker_00
OK, so let's talk about those personalized vocabulary lists. How do we actually use those effectively? It's more than just like writing the words down, isn't it?

00:12:22 Speaker_01
Yeah, there's a real strategy to it. The prep course recommended going beyond just basic memorization. They said try breaking the words down into their parts, like the root, the prefix, the suffix.

00:12:34 Speaker_01
By understanding those building blocks, you can not only learn that specific word, but you can also apply that knowledge to other words that have a similar structure.

00:12:43 Speaker_00
So it's about understanding like the why of the spelling. Right. Not just the what. Almost like learning the rules of the game instead of just memorizing the playbook.

00:12:52 Speaker_01
That's a great analogy. And they also emphasize, you know, using those words in context. Don't just memorize them in isolation. Try writing sentences with them or short paragraphs. Even try using them in your everyday conversations.

00:13:06 Speaker_01
The more you actually use them, the better they'll stick.

00:13:08 Speaker_00
It's like learning a new dance move. You can watch it a thousand times, but you don't really know it until you get out on the dance floor and try it yourself.

00:13:14 Speaker_01
Exactly. You know, and they also made this really interesting point about the connection between spelling and reading comprehension.

00:13:23 Speaker_01
They were arguing that being able to look at spelling quickly and accurately can actually make you a more efficient reader overall.

00:13:31 Speaker_00
Oh, that's interesting. How does that work?

00:13:33 Speaker_01
Well, think about it, when you're reading, your brain's processing so much information, including how words are spelled.

00:13:40 Speaker_01
So if you're constantly stumbling over misspellings or words you don't recognize, it slows your reading down and makes your brain work a lot harder.

00:13:48 Speaker_00
So it's like mental hiccups while you're reading. Each misspelling is like a little disruption that throws you off.

00:13:54 Speaker_01
But if you have that strong spelling foundation, your brain can just kind of glide over those words effortlessly. And you can really focus on the meaning of what you're reading.

00:14:03 Speaker_00
It's like the difference between reading a smooth paved road versus like a bumpy dirt road. The smooth road, you can just speed along and enjoy the scenery. The bumpy road, you're constantly having to slow down and focus on those obstacles.

00:14:18 Speaker_01
Exactly. And that's why I think mastering this read and select section, it has benefits that go way beyond just the Duolingo test itself.

00:14:26 Speaker_01
It's really about developing a skill that can help your reading comprehension, your writing, and just your overall communication.

00:14:33 Speaker_00
So it's not just about acing the test. It's about becoming a more confident and effective communicator overall. Exactly. That's a powerful takeaway. Okay, so let's pause here for a second.

00:14:42 Speaker_00
We've explored a lot of tips and strategies for tackling this read and select section. But there's one more piece of the puzzle we need to talk about, the resources that are available to you.

00:14:54 Speaker_00
As you're preparing for this section, we're going to dig into those resources in the final part of our deep dive, equipping you with everything you need to conquer this challenging, but ultimately conquerable aspect of the Duolingo English test.

00:15:07 Speaker_00
Okay, so we've talked about strategies, we've talked about mindset. But let's get down to like the nuts and bolts here. What actual resources can people use to really hone those read and select skills?

00:15:17 Speaker_01
Yeah, you're right. Having a good game plan is essential. Luckily, there are tons of resources out there, both official ones from Duolingo and then other ones from the test prep world.

00:15:26 Speaker_00
OK, so let's start with the official stuff. What does Duolingo offer to help us prepare?

00:15:31 Speaker_01
Well, I think the first stop should be the official Duolingo English Test website. They have really clear explanations of, you know, how the test works, how it's scored, frequently asked questions, and they also have free practice tests.

00:15:43 Speaker_00
Free practice tests. That's awesome. So you can get a feel for the real deal without actually paying for the full exam.

00:15:48 Speaker_01
Exactly. And these practice tests, they're designed to be just like the actual test experience.

00:15:53 Speaker_01
So, you know, even down to that five-second timer for the read and select section, it's a great way to kind of get comfortable with the pace and the pressure.

00:16:00 Speaker_00
OK, so that's the Duolingo website. What about that question bank we were talking about earlier? Is that also available on the website?

00:16:06 Speaker_01
Yes, it is. And this is where I think things get really helpful. The question bank is a huge collection of sample questions, and it's constantly being updated. And it covers every part of the Duolingo English test, including the read and select.

00:16:22 Speaker_00
Oh wow, so it's not just like a static set of questions, it's like a living, breathing database of spelling challenges.

00:16:28 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:16:28 Speaker_00
But how do we use this question bank effectively? It's not just about like answering as many questions as possible, right?

00:16:34 Speaker_01
Right. Quantity is good, but the real key is to use it strategically. Remember those personalized vocabulary lists we were talking about? This is the perfect tool for creating those

00:16:44 Speaker_00
So every time we miss a word, we add it to our list. And then we really focus on mastering those specific words.

00:16:51 Speaker_01
Exactly. It's like turning your mistakes into fuel for improvement.

00:16:54 Speaker_00
I like that.

00:16:55 Speaker_01
You know, the prep course instructors even recommend creating different lists for different types of errors. So you might have a list for letter substitutions, a list for word form errors, and so on.

00:17:06 Speaker_01
This can really help you zero in on those weak spots and see if there are any patterns in the types of mistakes you're making.

00:17:13 Speaker_00
So it's like a personalized training regimen for your spelling muscles. All right. So we've got the Duolingo website and the question bank. Any other official resources?

00:17:22 Speaker_01
Well, Duolingo also publishes a book called The Duolingo English Test Official Guide, which we've mentioned a couple of times already. And this guide is basically like a roadmap to the entire exam. It explains each question type in detail.

00:17:36 Speaker_01
It has tons of sample questions, and it even shows you how they score the test.

00:17:39 Speaker_00
So it's like getting a behind the scenes look at how the test is made. Now does it offer any specific advice for read and select?

00:17:46 Speaker_01
It does. It kind of reiterates a lot of the stuff we've already talked about like reading carefully and using that strategic guessing. But it also gives you a little bit of insight into like the thinking behind the misspellings.

00:17:57 Speaker_01
which I think can really help you anticipate the kinds of traps they might throw at you.

00:18:01 Speaker_00
Ah, so it's not just about learning the answers, it's about understanding the game itself. Right. Okay, so those are the official resources. What about some unofficial ones? Are there any other helpful tools out there?

00:18:12 Speaker_01
Oh yeah, definitely. There are tons of Duolingo English test prep courses online. Some of them are free, some of them you have to pay for, but they can all be really valuable for getting extra guidance and practice.

00:18:26 Speaker_00
Any tips for choosing a good prep course? I mean, it can be kind of overwhelming with all the different options out there.

00:18:32 Speaker_01
It can. I think the best advice is to just look for a course that fits your learning style and, of course, your budget.

00:18:38 Speaker_01
Some people really like structured courses with video lessons and homework assignments, while other people prefer something more self-paced. where they can just kind of do practice tests and get personalized feedback.

00:18:50 Speaker_00
So it's all about finding the right fit for your needs and your learning style. Exactly. And don't forget, there are always more general resources for spelling out there, you know, like dictionaries, thesauruses, grammar guides.

00:19:02 Speaker_01
Oh, yeah. Those are great for building that solid foundation.

00:19:05 Speaker_00
And honestly, we shouldn't underestimate just the power of reading.

00:19:09 Speaker_01
Absolutely.

00:19:09 Speaker_00
The more you read, the more you're exposed to correctly spelled words and context. And that can really help solidify your spelling knowledge.

00:19:16 Speaker_01
Yeah. It's like passive training for your spelling muscles.

00:19:19 Speaker_00
I like that. Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today. We've explored the unique challenges of the read and select section. We've talked about a bunch of different resources you can use to prepare.

00:19:29 Speaker_00
So you're now officially well-equipped to conquer this part of the Duolingo English test.

00:19:34 Speaker_01
And remember, it's not about memorizing every word in the dictionary. It's about having a good eye for detail, a strategic approach to learning. and a calm and focused mind.

00:19:46 Speaker_00
And don't forget, this is a skill that's going to help you far beyond the test itself. Being able to quickly assess spelling is a really valuable asset in any area of life where communication is important. So true.

00:19:57 Speaker_00
So as you embark on your read and select journey, keep practicing, stay focused, and trust those instincts. You got this.

00:20:05 Speaker_01
Got this.

00:20:05 Speaker_00
And on that note, we'll wrap up this deep dive. We hope you found it helpful and empowering. Good luck on your Duolingo English test, everyone.