Summarize the Conversation - Guide to Duolingo English Test Question
The Summarize the Conversation on the DET seems difficult. However, if you learn a simple strategy, it is actually to do well on.
Table of Contents
- What is the Summarize the Conversation question type?
- Simple template for the Summarize the Conversation question type
- Example high-scoring Summarize the Conversation responses
- How to practice Summarize the Conversation questions
What is the Summarize the Conversation question type?
The Summarize the Conversation question comes at the end of an Interactive Listening set of questions. Interactive Listening simulate a conversation with another person in an academic setting. In the Summarize the Conversation question, you have 75 seconds to write a summary of that conversation.
There are 2 sets of Interactive Listening questions on the test, so you will have to answer 2 Summarize the Conversation questions.
Simple template for the Summarize the Conversation question type
Here is how to do well on this question type.
The first thing you need to do is re-read the conversation. While you are answering the Interactive Listening questions, you can re-read any part of the conversation at any time.
Before you proceed to the Summarize the Conversation question, you should certainly scroll up and re-read the entire conversation. This way, all the information you need in order to summarize the conversation will be fresh in your mind. I explain in this video:
Here is the template you should use to structure your response to the Summarize the Conversation. It consists of 3 sentences:
- In this conversation, I talked with my classmate/professor + [the topic of your conversation]
- Add details about aspects of the topic you discussed
- This conversation ended with + me/us + -ing verb + how the conversation ended
Let me explain each part of the template.
Sentence 1
You should start your response with: In this conversation, I talked with my classmate/professor...
On Interactive Listening questions, you will always talk either with a professor a classmate. Then, all you need to add is the main topic of your conversation.
This information will be provided to you in the scenario. This is the very first part of the conversation. You can see it by scrolling all the way to the top!
In this example, the main topic is: whether your friend is also going to a review session with the professor.
The first sentence could be: In this conversation, I talked with my classmate about whether she was planning on going to a review session this week with the professor.
Sentence 2
In your second sentence, you should add some details from the conversation. You have a lot of flexibility for this sentence, and what you should write depends on the conversation.
To continue the example above, we could write something like: We also discussed other ways we could get ready for the test, like reviewing our readings from class.
Sentence 3
For your final sentence, you should memorize a specific advanced sentence structure, which will help you get more points.
Begin with: This conversation ended with...
Then, you should write me or us.
Then, you need an -ing verb (for example, deciding or planning).
And finally, just complete the sentence.
For example: This conversation ended with us deciding to study together and then attend the review session at the end of the week.
Example high-scoring Summarize the Conversation responses
Let's look at a few examples of high-scoring responses so that you can see how to use the template.
Example 1
In this conversation, I went to my professor to ask for career advice. We talked about whether I should attend graduate school or start working after graduating. This conversation ended with me deciding to apply to graduate programs and jobs so that I can decide later on what I want to do.
Example 2
In this conversation, I talked with a classmate about our upcoming group project. We discussed how to divide up the work and what each person should focus on. This conversation ended with us agreeing to meet up later in the week to keep planning.
Example 3
In this conversation, I talked with a classmate about which classes we are planning to take next semester. We both weren't sure whether to take biology or economics. This conversation ended with us deciding to talk to our other classmates to get their recommendations.
How to practice Summarize the Conversation questions
In Arno, you get unlimited practice questions for every question type, for free! If you purchase credits, then you can get personalized feedback on your grammar and vocabulary.
As soon as you answer a practice question, you will get an instant estimated score and you can see how much advanced vocabulary you are using.
Then, you can get grammar and vocabulary feedback. Arno will even rewrite your response to make it sound like a native speaker wrote it!
You can also view other people's answers.
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