Grammar Tricks to Help You Score Above 130 on the Duolingo English Test 💡

Last updated on 09 Feb 2025

Feeling unsure about grammar? No worries! Here are three essential grammar rules that will make your English sound more natural and help you hit that 130+ score on the Duolingo English Test.

1. Get Subject-Verb Agreement Right 💬

Your subject and verb must match in number—a singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. But it gets tricky with words like "or" and "either...or."

✅ Rule: The verb should match the subject closest to it.

Example:
✔️ Either the teacher or the students are presenting today.
✔️ Either the students or the teacher is presenting today.

Quick Fix: If two subjects are connected by "or," look at the one closest to the verb and match them up!

Save Money on Your Duolingo English Test with Official Coupon Code

2. Using ‘A’ or ‘An’ the Right Way ✏️

Choosing between "a" and "an" depends on the sound of the next word, not just the first letter.

✅ Rule:

Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound.
Use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound.

Examples:
✔️ I ate an apple after lunch.
✔️ She gave me a unique gift. ("Unique" starts with a vowel letter but sounds like "yoo," which is a consonant sound!)

💡

Quick Fix: Say the word out loud—if it sounds like it starts with a vowel, use "an."

3. Simple Past vs. Present Perfect ⏳

Many test-takers mix up these two tenses. Here's how to keep them straight:

✅ Rule:

Use Simple Past for actions that happened at a specific time (yesterday, last year, in 2020).
Use Present Perfect when the time isn’t mentioned but the action is relevant to now.

Examples:
✔️ I went to the park yesterday. (Specific time = Simple Past)
✔️ I have been to the park many times. (No specific time = Present Perfect)

Quick Fix: If there's a time word (yesterday, last week), use Simple Past! If not, use Present Perfect.

Ready to Improve Your Score? 🎯

Master these three rules, and your English will sound more polished and natural—a key factor in scoring above 130 on the DET!

Want to practice? Try writing sample sentences or use AI tools like ChatGPT to refine your grammar. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be!

🚀 Good luck! Every small improvement brings you closer to your goal.