If Duolingo is too fast paced, then you aren't going to learn any quicker using a different method. The fastest way to learn any language is full immersion with lessons. It's extremely difficult. Maybe go online and find a tutor/teacher in your area or virtually. Oh and it's "ciao".

If the test is standardized, then I'm assuming test prep already exists for it. Your goal should be to pass the test, not to learn Hindi, because one month is wayyyyy too short to learn a language. You might be able to pick up the alphabet, and some common phrases within a month.

Once you've passed the test, you can focus on learning Hindi. If you study 4-6hrs a day, then I reckon you could be intermediate in about 6-12mos.

You don’t

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Language_Institute

36-64 weeks of very intensive training can get it done.

30 days does not seem like enough time to become fluent in any language.

Hit up your local library, Rosetta Stone has library partnerships and you can take their programs for free through the library.

Pimsleur courses were the best tool I've used for learning languages on my own. I haven't tried the apps, but your local library might have books and CDs. I got mine from the high seas.

You are probably going to want a tutor that offers an intensive class, that can be done in a month, but you are still going to be looking at 50+ hours.

Do you know what level the exam is expecting?

The Mango app is much better than Duolingo. Less game like, more effective, because you can quickly record your own voice and playback simultaneously with the native speaker, correcting your own pronunciation.

Set a reasonable goal for language achievement. You will not be fluent in a month if you don't already know how to learn a new language.

https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/

Do you need to read and write as well or only speak? It took me a long time to realize i wasn't learning anything with duolingo. I switched to pimsleur, and i have made much better progress with my Hindi.

Pimsleur advertises it can give you a solid foundation of a language in 30 days. I am too lazy to complete it in 30 days, but i can see where it is going

Get yourself kidnapped by some hindi-speaking cult. Take lots of acid, and try to convince them to let you go. Join the cult. Eventually, lean to speak hindi. Sober up from acid. Kidnapping and cult never happened. But now you speak hindi.

Hindi end. It all worked out

'The best way to learn a language is underneath the mosquito net'.

I've done duo lingo for a couple languages. I find it easier to read the language. But without actual conversation with another person. Makes it very hard to grasp the language. I've gotten a tip. That watching children shows that use the language are the best way to start. Dora for example.