Although I don’t ever think you should cheat at Duolingo since that defeats the purpose of using the app to learn a language, there are certain days when I am thinking more about the game instead of learning. So I’ve put together a list of the fastest ways to get XP on Duolingo so that you can “level up” faster!
And in case you want to make sure I know what I’m talking about, here are my stats from Duolingo that show I have earned almost 50,000 XP since I joined in 2016!
However, I haven’t done this while being consistent (I rarely have a streak on Duolingo).
But I do love learning languages and tend to binge Duolingo when I am in a language learning craze.
I seriously would not be able to learn languages without italki (I’m taking 3 classes per week right now) try out a class and you’ll thank me later. They’re usually $9 or less!
And those crazes have taught me quite a few things about how to earn XP as fast as possible so that I can cram in as many new vocabulary words and grammar drills as possible. Here they are!

P.S. Did you know that with XP you go up in levels in Duolingo? The highest level you can get is 25! Go read my post on “things most people don’t know about Duolingo” to see where you can find out your level!
The Fastest Ways to get XP on Duolingo:
1. Use the Desktop Version
Most users don’t even realize that there is a desktop version of Duolingo, which can be one of the fastest ways to get XP!
Why? Because you don’t lose any “health” when using the desktop option, so you can complete a lot of lessons without needing to watch ads or use your gems to buy back health.

Also, for those of you who are faster at typing on your computer, this means you can complete lessons WAY quicker than if you had to type on your phone!
For me, this is a bonus as well since it helps me to practice spelling and make sure that I really know the grammar.
This is also how to hack Duolingo and get around paying for Duolingo Plus (which I think is a waste of money!)
If you’re super into language learning like me, or maybe just want to get into it, you should definitely check out this book on Amazon about how to stay fluent in a language over time without losing fluency!
2. Attend a Duolingo Event
You earn 250 XP for every Duolingo Event that you attend! This is probably the fastest and easiest way to earn a ton of XP at once, plus it’s a great way to practice your language skills!
Duolingo Events are usually free and are organized by other Duolingo users. It’s basically a Skype video call with other language learners who want more conversation practice outside of their regular Duolingo lessons.
In order to earn the XP, you need to actually join the event. If you’ve never attended a Duolingo Event before, this guide will walk you through the whole process.
3. Complete Stories (If they are available in your language)
For now, Duolingo stories are available for English speakers learning Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese (and they just added Italian!!)
But these are an awesome way to seriously rack up XP quickly and without much effort.
If your language has stories, there will be a tab that looks like a book on the bottom of the screen.

All you need to do is listen to a story and it asks you to match the words to what was said. At the end of the short story, you just match a few vocabulary words and you’re done!
The more you get right, the more XP you get.
The first set of stories is about 14 XP per story, but as you graduate into the more difficult sets of stories, the amount of XP you can get goes up!
I earn about 28 XP per story now on my French Duolingo and it often only takes a minute or two to complete it! It’s an awesome way to get a Duolingo XP boost!

4. Do Ramp Up Challenges in the League Tab
These challenges just recently popped up with the new update and I’m not sure they are available all the time, but they are an awesome way to earn XP very quickly!
Read this post to find out how to earn even more XP using the Duolingo Ramp Up Challenge.

All you need to do is go into your “League” tab (the one that looks like a shield) and check in the bottom right corner. If there is a purple lightning bolt, click on that!
That’s your ramp up challenge! I think they do this to encourage people to get competitive in the leagues and help you to jump up in the ranks quickly.
Basically, it’s a super-easy way to get 40 XP in just one lesson and one of the best Duolingo points hacks there is!
Have a friend who loves learning languages? Or maybe want to make sure you get what you want? lol Here are 9 language gift ideas for your friend (or maybe to send to your mom!)

5. Go back to easier lessons
If you’re running out of health because the lessons are getting harder or you just want to get more XP as fast as possible, head back to the top of your Duolingo tree to start breezing through lessons again!

Not only will this get you a ton of XP quickly, you will also be able to see just how much you have learned! Remember when those first lessons used to be hard?!
If you want to learn a language faster than ever, I also highly recommend reading Benny Lewis’s book on how to learn a language in JUST 3 months.
6. Choose Automated Answers Instead of Typing (When Possible) on the mobile app
Sometimes Duolingo only gives you the option to type, but if you would rather have the word bubbles that you just have to put in order, pay attention to the bottom left corner when completing the lesson.
You may be able to change to the automated answers instead of typing, although like I mentioned before, this isn’t always possible!
7. Click “Can’t speak now” “Can’t Listen Now.”
Sometimes when I’m watching TV (or even if I have a really badly behaved kid when I’m teaching for VIPKID) I open up Duolingo and go to the easier lessons and just barely pay attention enough to get the answers right.
As you are completing a lesson, you’ll notice that when it asks you to “Speak” or “Listen” there is an option to choose “Can’t Speak Now” or “Can’t Listen Now.”

If you hit that button, that type of question will be turned off for an hour. You’ll have to choose that option for both speaking and listening when they come up.

Although the speaking and listening parts of a Duolingo lesson are usually super easy and quick, sometimes you are in a situation where you can’t do those things but you still want to be learning and earning XP. So just turn them off!
They will turn back on in an hour so it’s not a permanent thing and you will be able to practice a lot more often!
8. Get Golden Lessons Then “restore” them
When you finish all of the levels in one of the topic bubbles, the circle will turn gold. After a while, the gold will break and give you the opportunity to “restore” it for 10 XP.
These lessons are usually very easy and plus you get the satisfaction of making the circle gold again!

9. Do lessons in a language that you know better
Speak more than just the language that you are learning? Head to that language to earn some XP fast before going back to your new language.
For example, I am currently learning French and Italian but I am already fluent in Spanish.
So sometimes when I am low on health or just want to get as many XP as possible, I head to Spanish and complete lessons and stories there that are super easy for me!

You can even try switching from learning Spanish (or whatever language you’ve chosen) for English speakers to English for Spanish speakers!

This might not be easier in some cases, but give it a try! I talk more about how to do that in this post.
10. Test out of Skills
I don’t recommend doing this in a language that you are new in, but if you have been learning for a while and just are starting on Duolingo, or if you are already fluent in a language, this is a super-easy way to get XP quickly!

When you click on each “Skill” bubble, you can see a key on the top right.
When you click on this, it gives you the option to test out of the lessons on the level that you are on, which means that with just one lesson, you can win 50XP or more.
However, Duolingo recently changed the app to make it so you have to use gems to do complete a test so if you don’t have a lot saved up, you won’t be able to do this quickly.
UPDATE: Now you only earn 20XP at a time when you test out of a level and the lesson is much shorter.
Also, these lessons are obviously going to be slightly longer and more difficult since you are skipping a whole level and earning a lot of XP at once.

11. Test out of a Checkpoint
I really don’t recommend this if you are a beginner, but like I said in the last section, if you have been learning for a while and are just recently starting on Duolingo, or if you are already fluent in a language, then this is a great way to get XP REALLY fast.
In each Duolingo tree, there is a little castle that represents passing a “checkpoint.” Usually, the lessons after the checkpoint are not available until you have gotten to at least level 1 in all of the skills before it.

However, if you click on the Checkpoint, Duolingo gives you the option to skip ALL of those skills and earn all of the XP in one go.
Of course, this is going to be VERY hard unless you are already fluent in that language. But if you are confident or just want to give it a go, there’s no harm in trying!

12. Complete Audio Lessons with Auto-Play On
Not every language has audio lessons, but if yours does then you should definitely be using them to earn XP way faster! Honestly, they’re my favorite new add-on to Duolingo and I think it’s the direction Duolingo will continue to go in.

Instead of typing your answers, with Audio Lessons you actually have to say them.
After they introduce all the new words to you, they will even ask you just to translate out loud without giving you the answer which I think is something that has been missing on Duolingo up to this point.
Plus, you can just set the Audio Lessons on auto-play and you don’t even need to touch your phone to do them.
When they as you to repeat something or translate something out loud, it automatically listens for you to talk without needing to push any buttons to start recording.
Then it will continue onto the next lesson automatically. You can complete these lessons hands-free!
You earn 20 XP per individual lesson and there are usually 4 lessons together, meaning you can earn 80 XP if you have auto-play on and you complete every lesson in that section.

Well, I wish you luck on your quest to get as many XP as possible! Feel free to follow me on Duolingo at Dayna255732 or leave a comment with other ways that you have found to earn XP fast!
Of course, this is not meant at all to be a way at cheating Duolingo but just a few more ways to motivate yourself to learn a language even if it means you have to turn it into a game at times!
Language Learning Must-Haves
- iTalki Language Classes: The #1 reason why I’ve been able to learn languages from home. Take conversation classes from a native speaker for only $5-$10 an hour.
- How to Be Fluent Books: Two of my favorite books about language learning have definitely got me super excited about learning a language and I highly recommend reading both!
- Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It
- Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World
- A Language Planner: Keep track of your scheduled language classes, set language goals, and organize your study schedule with my favorite planner ever.
- Harry Potter in Your Target Language: Reading a beginner book that you’re familiar with is an incredible way to learn vocabulary quickly!
- The Perfect Language Notebook
MORE ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING:
- The Perfect Study Plan for Duolingo
- Find Out Your Duolingo Language Level (It’s Not in the App!)
- How to Get 40XP Per Lesson With the Duolingo XP Ramp-Up Challenge
- Should You Upgrade to Duolingo Plus?
- The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your Duolingo Daily Goal


Christie Taylor
Thursday 30th of June 2022
How do I get XP for podcasts. And, how do I get more podcasts on my phone for XP?
admin
Monday 4th of July 2022
Hey Christie! I don't think you can earn XP from listening to the Duolingo podcasts, however, you can earn XP by doing audio lessons or stories!
Julianna
Wednesday 11th of May 2022
At the end of the story, it gives you the option to earn double points if to write an answer to the question they ask. It never gives me the double points for writing the answer. Why?
Kim370277
Tuesday 5th of April 2022
My lessons are purple and when they crack, they crack purple not yellow?
Also I made it once to the top of the leaderboard and then when 11 o’clock came and we all started over there were people with thoûsands of points within the hour. How does this happen?
DustinKinz2
Wednesday 12th of January 2022
Personally on application I leave most of a level done but when I need a 15 minute boost to double scores I finish out that lesson and knockout the purple levels for double points on the 45 I think so it’s like 90 a mastery. I also use for the weekly skills of 3 like listening, speaking, etc. things I can knock out fast to better utilize the bonus especially if losing or about to fall out of a level.
John
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
You don’t mention the 15 minute double XP boost you get each time you get a crown - with a bit of care you can have at least one skill always ready to earn a crown and use the 15 minutes to bring others skills up leaving another one just ready to earn a crown - so in a 18 or so minute session you can get the crown and double xp for all your ‘normal’ skill lessons. Much better xp than for doing the same thing in a disorganised manner. P.s. the double xp boost doesn’t apply to xp from stories or the audio sessions, just the main skill xp so it makes no sense to waste double xp time on these activities. But they are a good warm up and I also do them when I don’t have a clear 20 minutes