Step into the world of English proficiency mastery with our comprehensive guide tailored for scoring 130-160 on the Duolingo English Test. Bursting with over 900 interactive vocabulary words, this resource is your ticket to success, whether you’re pursuing academic admission, immigration goals, or career advancement. Embark on this journey with us and unlock countless opportunities where a strong command of English is the key to unlocking doors.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into actionable techniques to conquer the Read and Select challenge, empowering you to identify authentic English words amidst a sea of possibilities. From understanding word roots and prefixes to practicing with mock tests, we’ll equip you with the tools necessary to excel on test day.
In the Read and Select section of the Duolingo English Test, your task is to determine whether each word presented is a genuine English word. Here are some tips to help you interact with and respond to this question effectively:
Familiarize Yourself with Common English Words
Review common vocabulary lists, focusing on words used in everyday conversations, academic settings, and professional contexts. Flashcards and vocabulary apps can be useful for this purpose.
Here are extensive examples of words used in everyday conversations, academic settings, and professional contexts:
| Everyday Conversations | Academic Settings | Professional Contexts |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Education | Job |
| Goodbye | Teacher | Career |
| Please | Student | Employer |
| Thank you | School | Employee |
| Sorry | University | Resume |
| Yes | Study | Interview |
| No | Research | Meeting |
| Friend | Class | Deadline |
| Family | Book | Project |
| Food | Knowledge | Office |
| Water | Exam | Colleague |
| Love | Grade | Manager |
| Home | Degree | Client |
| Work | Homework | Presentation |
| Play | Lecture | Skill |
| Weather | Assignment | Networking |
| Time | Professor | Collaboration |
| Health | Classmate | Leadership |
| Travel | Semester | Communication |
| Money | Library | Negotiation |
| Shopping | Experiment | Productivity |
| Hobby | Thesis | Innovation |
| Music | Academic | Quality |
| Video | Essay | Customer |
| Sport | Seminar | Feedback |
| Technology | Laboratory | Strategy |
| Social | Graduate | Profit |
| Culture | Curriculum | Ethics |
| Nature | Scholarship | Professionalism |
| Feelings | Academician | Development |
| Greeting | Examination | Connection |
| Conversation | Assessment | Relationship |
| Tradition | Grading | Agreement |
| Celebration | Coursework | Contract |
| Holiday | Deal | Transaction |
| Vacation | Transaction | Revenue |
| Adventure | Research | Cost |
| Discovery | Analysis | Expense |
| Experience | Experiment | Investment |
| Memory | Theory | Budget |
| Dream | Hypothesis | Market |
| Goal | Conclusion | Industry |
| Achievement | Findings | Competition |
| Success | Citation | Consumer |
| Failure | Reference | Clientele |
| Decision | Source | Product |
| Opportunity | Publication | Service |
| Responsibility | Conference | Brand |
| Commitment | Identity | Patience |
| Respect | Advertising | Trust |
| Empathy | Promotion | Kindness |
| Generosity | Publicity | Courage |
| Justice | Loyalty | Integrity |
| Freedom | Marketing | Equality |
| Diversity | Leadership | Community |
| Cooperation | Problem-solving | Teamwork |
| Influence | Flexibility | Inspiration |
| Persistence | Determination | Imagination |
| Motivation | Resilience | Adaptability |
| Resourcefulness | Diligence | Tenacity |
| Collaboration | Review | Case Study |
| Connection | Critique | Journal |
| Deal | Manuscript | Proposal |
Understand Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Learn common roots, prefixes, and suffixes in English. This knowledge can help you identify unfamiliar words by breaking them down into recognizable parts.
Word Roots:
- Bio-: Life (e.g., biology, biography, biodegradable, biosphere)
- Chron-: Time (e.g., chronology, chronic, synchronize, chronological)
- Derm-: Skin (e.g., dermatology, epidermis, dermatologist, dermatitis)
- Geo-: Earth (e.g., geography, geology, geothermal, geocentric)
- Graph-: Write, draw (e.g., graphic, graphite, autograph, graphic design)
- Hydr-: Water (e.g., hydrate, hydrology, dehydrate, hydrophobia)
- Luna-: Moon (e.g., lunar, lunatic, lunar eclipse, lunar phase)
- Morph-: Form (e.g., morphology, amorphous, metamorphosis, morpheme)
- Tele-: Distant (e.g., telephone, telepathy, telescope, telecommute)
- Voc-: Voice, call (e.g., vocal, advocate, vocalize, invocation)
Prefixes:
- Anti-: Against (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antisocial, anti-war)
- De-: Opposite of, remove (e.g., deactivate, declassify, defrost, deactivate)
- Ex-: Out of, former (e.g., exit, ex-president, ex-boyfriend, exodus)
- Inter-: Between, among (e.g., international, interact, interconnect, intersection)
- Mis-: Wrong, bad (e.g., misunderstand, misinform, misinterpret, miscommunication)
- Pre-: Before (e.g., preview, prehistoric, preschool, prelude)
- Re-: Again, back (e.g., redo, reconsider, rewind, reevaluate)
- Sub-: Under, below (e.g., submarine, submerge, subpar, substandard)
- Trans-: Across, beyond (e.g., transport, transcend, transatlantic, transcribe)
- Un-: Not, opposite of (e.g., unhappy, unclear, untangle, uncertain)
Suffixes:
- -able/-ible: Capable of being (e.g., adjustable, edible, flexible, visible)
- -er/-or: One who does (e.g., teacher, actor, director, instructor)
- -ful: Full of (e.g., beautiful, playful, successful, meaningful)
- -ify/-ize: Make, cause to be (e.g., simplify, organize, solidify, visualize)
- -ment: Action or result (e.g., improvement, movement, development, measurement)
- -ology: Study of (e.g., biology, psychology, sociology, technology)
- -ous: Full of, having (e.g., courageous, dangerous, adventurous, curious)
- -tion/-sion: State of being (e.g., celebration, discussion, admission, expansion)
- -ity/-ty: Quality of (e.g., creativity, clarity, responsibility, integrity)
- -ize: Become, make (e.g., realize, symbolize, prioritize, modernize)
By mastering these roots, prefixes, and suffixes, you’ll enhance your ability to understand complex English words, thereby improving your performance on the Duolingo English Test and beyond.
Learn Common False Words:
In the “Read and Select” exercise of Duolingo, learners are prompted to determine if a presented word is a real English word. This exercise challenges learners to discern between genuine English vocabulary and non-existent or fabricated words.
By testing learners’ lexical knowledge and discernment skills, this exercise enhances their ability to recognize and understand authentic English words, preparing them for real-world language use and communication.
Some tests include words that appear real but aren’t. Familiarize yourself with common patterns of false words, such as odd combinations of letters or unusual prefixes/suffixes.
| False Word | Trick Used | Correct Word |
|---|---|---|
| Happiestly | Incorrect adverb | Happily |
| Dislikable | Incorrect suffix | Unlikeable |
| Unmemory | Incorrect prefix | Memory |
| Acastronomy | Incorrect root | Astronomy |
| Friendlinessy | Incorrect suffix | Friendly |
| Unseenable | Incorrect suffix | Invisible |
| Performat | Incorrect suffix | Performance |
| Freeness | Incorrect suffix | Freedom |
| Disbelivable | Incorrect suffix | Disbelievable |
| Improvise | Similar-sounding | Improve |
| Childishnessy | Incorrect suffix | Childishness |
| Unsuccess | Incorrect prefix | Success |
| Understandly | Incorrect adverb | Understandably |
| Happenation | Incorrect root | Happening |
| Delearn | Incorrect prefix | Unlearn |
| Knownable | Incorrect suffix | Knowable |
| Goodliness | Incorrect suffix | Goodness |
| Beautifuler | Incorrect form | More Beautiful |
| Misbelievingly | Incorrect adverb | Believably |
| Reacceptance | Incorrect prefix | Acceptance |
| Childlihood | Incorrect suffix | Childhood |
| Succeedable | Incorrect suffix | Successful |
| Unexplainable | Incorrect prefix | Explainable |
| Consolationary | Incorrect suffix | Consolatory |
| Overlearning | Incorrect prefix | Overlearn |
| Reconstructive | Incorrect suffix | Reconstruct |
| Disunited | Incorrect prefix | United |
| Confusionally | Incorrect adverb | Confusingly |
| Wiseness | Incorrect suffix | Wisdom |
| Exmove | Incorrect prefix | Remove |
| Redevelopment | Incorrect suffix | Development |
| Reunderstand | Incorrect prefix | Understand |
| Unwiseable | Incorrect suffix | Unwise |
| Understandablely | Incorrect adverb | Understandably |
| Knowinglyness | Incorrect suffix | Knowledgeableness |
| Discontinueable | Incorrect suffix | Continuable |
| Unwiseful | Incorrect suffix | Unwise |
| Kindful | Incorrect form | Kind |
| Happiestness | Incorrect suffix | Happiness |
| Unhappenable | Incorrect prefix | Unhappen |
| Mistakeful | Incorrect suffix | Mistaken |
| Undiscovery | Incorrect prefix | Discovery |
| Activenessful | Incorrect suffix | Active |
| Redependence | Incorrect prefix | Dependence |
| Discompletive | Incorrect suffix | Complete |
| Rehappily | Incorrect adverb | Happily |
| Unfearful | Incorrect prefix | Fearful |
| Beautifiedly | Incorrect adverb | Beautifully |
| Unsurely | Incorrect adverb | Surely |
| Performation | Incorrect root | Performance |
| Unbeautify | Incorrect prefix | Beautify |
| Friendshipful | Incorrect suffix | Friendly |
| Misbelievement | Incorrect suffix | Belief |
| Rediscovery | Incorrect prefix | Discovery |
| Disunderstand | Incorrect prefix | Understand |
| Disencourage | Incorrect prefix | Encourage |
| Unaccomplish | Incorrect prefix | Accomplish |
| Childerhood | Incorrect suffix | Childhood |
| Learnableless | Incorrect suffix | Unlearnable |
| Inresponsibly | Incorrect adverb | Responsibly |
| Informedness | Incorrect suffix | Informed |
| Disagreeably | Incorrect adverb | Agreeably |
| Unhappinessful | Incorrect suffix | Unhappy |
| Disoptimism | Incorrect prefix | Optimism |
| Falsifyingly | Incorrect adverb | Falsely |
| Delearnership | Incorrect suffix | Learnership |
| Misoptimistic | Incorrect prefix | Optimistic |
| Disobedience | Incorrect prefix | Obedience |
| Unconfusably | Incorrect suffix | Confusably |
| Believablely | Incorrect adverb | Believably |
| Undiscoverably | Incorrect prefix | Discoverably |
| Unlearnable | Incorrect prefix | Learnable |
| Overlearnd | Incorrect prefix | Overlearned |
| Disencouragement | Incorrect prefix | Encouragement |
| Deinform | Incorrect prefix | Inform |
| Misconstructed | Incorrect prefix | Constructed |
| Reuninform | Incorrect prefix | Reinform |
| Disagreeful | Incorrect suffix | Agreeful |
| Misbehaveable | Incorrect suffix | Behaveable |
| Underhappiness | Incorrect prefix | Happiness |
| Unkindful | Incorrect prefix | Kindful |
| Mistakingly | Incorrect adverb | Mistakenly |
| Overlearnt | Incorrect prefix | Overlearned |
| Disbelieveful | Incorrect suffix | Believable |
| Undecidedness | Incorrect prefix | Decidedness |
| Redependable | Incorrect prefix | Dependable |
| Deoptimistic | Incorrect prefix | Optimistic |
| Misconstructive | Incorrect prefix | Constructive |
| Disagreeablely | Incorrect adverb | Agreeably |
| Disencouragable | Incorrect prefix | Encouragable |
| Unobedience | Incorrect prefix | Obedience |
| Unconfusedly | Incorrect adverb | Confusedly |
Don’t Overthink: Trust Your Initial Impression
Trust your instincts and avoid overanalyzing each word, as time is limited. Here are more examples:
| Word | Initial Impression |
|---|---|
| Zonkle | Unfamiliar, lacks coherence |
| Wizzish | Unlikely to be genuine |
| Quabble | Appears nonsensical, fabricated |
| Blortle | Uncommon combination of letters |
| Splind | Doesn’t fit typical patterns |
| Nargle | Appears made-up |
| Yonk | Unusual, lacks authenticity |
| Flibber | Fabricated, unfamiliar |
| Zoink | Doesn’t sound genuine |
| Blurf | Uncommon, unlikely to be real |
| Klunkle | Appears nonsensical |
| Snizzle | Unfamiliar, doesn’t fit patterns |
| Flimble | Fabricated, lacks authenticity |
| Gonk | Unusual, unlikely to be genuine |
| Quibber | Appears made-up |
| Zorp | Doesn’t sound genuine |
| Skizzle | Uncommon combination of letters |
| Gnarl | Unfamiliar, fabricated |
| Blerg | Appears nonsensical |
| Wabble | Unlikely to be genuine |
This table format provides a clear and organized overview of the words and their initial impressions, aiding in efficient analysis within the limited timeframe of the exercise.
Practice Exercises: Is it a Real English Word?
Let’s put your skills to the test with some sample exercises resembling those found in the Duolingo test. In this exercise, you’ll be presented with words and tasked with determining whether each is a genuine English word or not.
Assess each word to determine if it is a real English word. This interactive exercise will help reinforce the strategies we’ve discussed and strengthen your ability to identify authentic English vocabulary. Ready to begin? Let’s dive in!
| Word | Real? | Word | Real? | Word | Real? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happiestly | No | Attempt | Yes | Dislikable | Yes |
| Unmemory | No | Comprehend | Yes | Acastronomy | No |
| Childishnessy | No | Implement | Yes | Performat | No |
| Happenation | No | Consequence | Yes | Freeness | No |
| Goodliness | No | Contribute | Yes | Disbelivable | No |
| Reacceptance | No | Elaborate | Yes | Misbelievingly | No |
| Unexplainable | Yes | Objective | Yes | Succeedable | Yes |
| Reconstructive | Yes | Generate | Yes | Overlearning | No |
| Wiseness | No | Interpretation | Yes | Confusionally | No |
| Reunderstand | No | Assess | Yes | Redevelopment | Yes |
| Knowinglyness | No | Appropriate | Yes | Understandablely | No |
| Kindful | No | Demonstrate | Yes | Unwiseful | No |
| Mistakeful | No | Hypothesis | Yes | Unhappenable | No |
| Redependence | No | Significant | Yes | Activenessful | No |
| Unfearful | Yes | Methodology | Yes | Rehappily | No |
| Performation | No | Analysis | Yes | Unsurely | No |
| Misbelievement | No | Evaluate | Yes | Friendshipful | No |
| Disencourage | No | Interpret | Yes | Disunderstand | No |
| Learnableless | No | Approach | Yes | Childerhood | No |
| Disagreeably | No | Fundamental | Yes | Informedness | No |
| Falsifyingly | No | Correlate | Yes | Disoptimism | No |
| Disobedience | Yes | Specific | Yes | Delearnership | No |
| Undiscoverably | No | Principle | Yes | Misoptimistic | No |
| Disencouragement | No | Rationale | Yes | Believablely | No |
| Redependable | Yes | Attribute | Yes | Overlearnd | No |
| Underhappiness | No | Indicate | Yes | Misconstructed | No |
| Disagreeablely | No | Underlying | Yes | Misbehaveable | No |
| Unconfusedly | No | Examine | Yes | Mistakingly | No |
| Justify | Yes | Context | Yes | Undecidedness | No |
| Emphasize | Yes | Clarification | Yes | Misconstructive | No |
| Implication | Yes | Analogous | Yes | Disencouragable | No |
| Inference | Yes | Deduce | Yes | Unobedience | No |
Enhance Your Vocabulary Further
Explore a a wide range of vocabulary words across various domains including undergraduate studies, postgraduate studies, and more:
| Vocabulary | Vocabulary | Vocabulary | Vocabulary | Vocabulary | Vocabulary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | Adaptation | Analysis | Aptitude | Awareness | Challenges |
| Certification | Collaboration | Commitment | Competence | Comprehension | Concentration |
| Creativity | Curiosity | Dedication | Development | Diversity | Effectiveness |
| Efficiency | Engagement | Enrichment | Evaluation | Experimentation | Exploration |
| Formation | Framework | Growth | Improvement | Initiative | Innovation |
| Inquiry | Inspiration | Integration | Interpretation | Investigation | Knowledge |
| Leadership | Learning | Motivation | Networking | Optimization | Organization |
| Participation | Performance | Persistence | Problem-solving | Progress | Quality |
| Reflection | Research | Resilience | Resourcefulness | Responsibility | Skill |
| Strategy | Success | Support | Synthesis | Teamwork | Training |
| Understanding | Vision | Wisdom | Accommodation | Advancement | Application |
| Assessment | Barriers | Citizenship | Communication | Cultural | Education |
| Employment | Empowerment | Environment | Equality | Exchange | Expression |
| Globalization | Immigration | Inclusion | Internship | Language | Multicultural |
| Opportunities | Pluralism | Policy | Practice | Proficiency | Qualification |
| Refugees | Resources | Socialization | Tolerance | Welfare | Achievement |
| Advocacy | Ambition | Aspiration | Authenticity | Balance | Career |
| Connection | Contribution | Critical thinking | Culture | Decision-making | Empathy |
| Excellence | Experience | Focus | Growth mindset | Honesty | Inclusivity |
| Integrity | Lifelong learning | Opportunity | Passion | Perseverance | Professionalism |
| Self-awareness | Social justice | Time management | Well-being | Assimilation | Coexistence |
| Compromise | Cultural exchange | Diaspora | Discrimination | Emigration | Ethnicity |
| Heritage | Hybridity | Indigenous | International | Naturalization | Racialization |
| Settlement | Subculture | Transnational | Exclusion | Identity | Homeland |
| Hostility | Marginalization | Nativism | Prejudice | Sovereignty | Unity |
| Alienation | Belonging | Community | Equity | Justice | Multiculturalism |
| Representation | Segregation | Stereotype | Tolerance | Migration | Nationality |
| Refugee | Exile | Minority | Oppression | Integration | Inclusion |
Final Thoughts
In your pursuit of achieving a 130-160 score on the Duolingo English Test, it’s essential to recognize the significance of vocabulary enrichment. By delving into common English words, understanding word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and familiarizing yourself with common false words, you lay a robust foundation for success. Remember not to overthink; trust your initial impressions and engage in practice exercises to refine your skills.
As you continue on your language learning journey, consider enhancing your vocabulary further. Exploring comprehensive lists of interactive vocabulary words across various topics, such as academia, professional settings, immigration, and language learning, can provide invaluable support. Use these resources to enrich your vocabulary, hone your language skills, and excel in language proficiency exams like the Duolingo English Test.
With dedication, perseverance, and a proactive approach to learning, you can confidently navigate the challenges of language assessment and achieve your desired score. Embrace the process, stay motivated, and celebrate every milestone along the way. Best of luck on your language learning endeavors!
Additional Reading — Duolingo English Test
