20 Words to Improve Your Duolingo English Test Vocabulary

I’m always looking for ways to improve my Duolingo English Test score, and I’ve found that strong vocabulary makes a huge difference. In this guide, I’m sharing 20 powerful words that help with reading, writing, speaking, and listening—all key to scoring higher. Let’s have a look!

Why Vocabulary Matters 📝

The Duolingo English Test assesses four key areas:
✅ Literacy – Reading and Writing
✅ Conversation – Speaking and Listening
✅ Comprehension – Reading and Listening
✅ Production – Speaking and Writing

To score higher, you need a strong vocabulary across all sections. Let’s dive into 20 powerful words that will elevate your English! 🚀

Boost Your Duolingo English Test Score with Strategic Use of Adjectives and Adverbs

Stronger Alternatives to Basic Words 🔥

1️⃣ Excellent – Instead of "good"
Example: "My English skills are excellent!"

2️⃣ Terrible – Instead of "bad"
Example: "That movie was terrible!"

3️⃣ Crucial – Instead of "important"
Example: "It's crucial to practice daily for the test."

4️⃣ Significant – More formal than "important"
Example: "Your test results are significant for university applications."

5️⃣ Drawbacks – Instead of "disadvantages"
Example: "One of the major drawbacks of this method is time."

6️⃣ Roughly – Instead of "about"
Example: "There are roughly 20 people in the room."

7️⃣ Tiny – Instead of "small"
Example: "That dog is so tiny!"

8️⃣ Highlight – Instead of "focus on"
Example: "Let’s highlight the key points of this lesson."

9️⃣ Incorporate – Instead of "include"
Example: "This presentation incorporates all the essential details."

Connect Your Ideas Better 💡

🔟 However – Instead of "but"
Example: "I wanted to go out; however, it started to rain."

1️⃣1️⃣ Additionally – Instead of "and"
Example: "Additionally, there’s a park nearby."

1️⃣2️⃣ Although – To create complex sentences
Example: "Although it was cold, we still went outside."

Describe Things More Precisely 🖼️

1️⃣3️⃣ Vast – Instead of "big"
Example: "The vast mountains are breathtaking."

1️⃣4️⃣ Minuscule – Instead of "tiny"
Example: "The details in that painting are minuscule."

1️⃣5️⃣ Essential – Instead of "very important"
Example: "Studying regularly is essential for success."

Make Your Sentences More Engaging ✨

1️⃣6️⃣ Approximately – Instead of "about"
Example: "There are approximately 50 students in the class."

1️⃣7️⃣ Despite – Instead of "even though"
Example: "Despite the weather, we had a great time."

1️⃣8️⃣ Weaknesses – The opposite of strengths
Example: "The plan has several weaknesses that we need to address."

1️⃣9️⃣ Benefits – Instead of "good things"
Example: "Exercise has numerous benefits for health."

2️⃣0️⃣ Crucial – Reinforces importance
Example: "It’s crucial to focus on vocabulary for better scores."

Final Thoughts 💭

Using these powerful words will boost your Duolingo English Test score by improving your vocabulary, fluency, and precision across all sections.

🚀 Keep practicing, and make sure to use these words in your speaking and writing!

🎯 Good luck with your test!