How to Spot Real and Fake Words on the Duolingo English Test: Best Tips for Success
Are you preparing for the Duolingo English Test and struggling with the "Read and Select" section? This task tests your ability to spot real vs. fake words—but here's the challenge: you only have 5 seconds to decide. That’s right, just 5 seconds! ⏳
This section appears at the very beginning of the test and can impact your confidence. But don’t worry—I’ll show you three powerful techniques to help you identify real words instantly.
Tip 1: Sound It Out—Trust Your Instincts
One of the fastest ways to tell if a word is real is to say it out loud. If the word feels awkward or unnatural to pronounce, it’s probably fake. Our brains recognize familiar patterns in language, and pronunciation is a huge clue.
Example:
- ✅ Real word: Wonderful (It flows naturally.)
- ❌ Fake word: Scrimber (It sounds strange, right?)
Strategy:
- If a word feels clunky or unnatural, trust your gut—it's likely fake.
- If it rolls off the tongue smoothly, it's probably a real English word.
Tip 2: Look for Familiar Prefixes and Suffixes
English words follow patterns, especially when it comes to prefixes and suffixes. Common ones like re-, un-, and -tion can help you figure out if a word is real or not.
Example:
- ✅ Real word: Re-approach → (Re- is a common prefix.)
- ❌ Fake word: Unclumb → (Un- is real, but clumb isn’t! 🚩)
Tip 3: Watch for Weird Letter Combinations
English words follow certain letter patterns that make them easy to recognize. If a word has a strange or awkward combination of letters, that’s a red flag.
Example:
- ✅ Real word: Balance (Looks and sounds normal.)
- ❌ Fake word: Transel (It looks like "translate," but it isn’t real!)
Strategy:
- If the letters don’t look right together, it's probably fake.
- If it reminds you of a real word but seems slightly off, be cautious.
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Ready to Test Yourself? 🧠
Now that you've learned three key strategies, it's time for a fun challenge! Below, you’ll find 20 words—some are real, some are fake.
Can you spot which ones are real? Click to reveal the answers!
Can You Spot the Real Words? Click to Reveal the Answer!
Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Perfect!
Mastering the Read and Select section is all about:
✅ Sounding out words to check pronunciation
✅ Looking for common prefixes/suffixes
✅ Spotting unnatural letter combinations
The more you practice, the faster and more accurate you’ll become at recognizing real vs. fake words.
💡 Want more practice? Check out DET Study—we have 15,000+ practice questions designed to help you score higher on the Duolingo English Test! 🚀
