About the exam
DET Exam structure
Duolingo English Test prep with 601 original English-language questions, 130 flashcards, current adaptive task coverage, Interactive Speaking, response samples, and 2026 test-day readiness.
Issuer and path
Duolingo English Test Prep is administered through Duolingo English Test. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
Adaptive Reading and Vocabulary
32 scored + 0 pretest
Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Read and Complete, and Interactive Reading skills grouped for practice.
Adaptive Listening
18 scored + 0 pretest
Listen and Type plus Interactive Listening skills grouped for practice.
Adaptive Speaking
4 scored + 0 pretest
Speak About the Photo, Read Then Speak, intelligibility and fluency control, and current 6–8-turn Interactive Speaking grouped for practice.
Adaptive Writing
4 scored + 0 pretest
Write About the Photo, Interactive Writing, and extended written-response skills grouped for practice.
Samples and Test Readiness
2 scored + 0 pretest
Writing and Speaking Samples plus the secure desktop app, ID, dual cameras, room and ear scans, test rules, and adaptive readiness.
Before you test
Confirm the receiving program's current policy, then test the secure desktop app, government ID, computer camera, microphone, speakers, smartphone secondary camera, room and ear scans, lighting, workspace, and internet before starting.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read and Select Word Recognition | 18 | 45 | 10 | Priority |
| Fill in the Blanks and Read and Complete | 15 | 45 | 10 | Priority |
| Interactive Reading | 12 | 65 | 10 | Priority |
| Reading Comprehension and Inference | 10 | 60 | 10 | Strong |
| Listen and Type Dictation | 9 | 50 | 10 | Priority |
| Interactive Listening | 12 | 50 | 10 | Priority |
| Listening Inference and Detail | 10 | 50 | 10 | Strong |
| Speaking Intelligibility and Fluency | 6 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Photo, Extended and Interactive Speaking | 5 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Write About the Photo | 4 | 45 | 10 | Priority |
| Interactive Writing Development | 2 | 45 | 10 | Strong |
| Writing and Speaking Samples | 2 | 30 | 10 | Priority |
| Rules, Setup and Adaptive Readiness | 3 | 30 | 10 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to study for the Duolingo English Test
Improve transferable academic English while learning how each current DET task asks you to read, listen, speak, or write under time pressure.
1. Identify the action
Decide whether you must recognize, complete, transcribe, select evidence, summarize, describe, argue, or respond conversationally.
2. Use the evidence
Base reading and listening answers on the text or audio; base photo responses on visible details rather than invented stories.
3. Develop one clear line
For speaking and writing, answer immediately, connect reasons and examples, and use the available time without memorized filler.
4. Protect certification
Keep the secure two-camera environment stable and follow every current instruction throughout the session.
Read and Select Word Recognition
This topic covers real-word recognition, spelling patterns, word families, affixes, roots, American and British spelling, and timed yes/no decisions.
Key rules
Rule 1
Read and Select presents single entries rapidly; recognition depends on real vocabulary, spelling patterns, roots, and affixes rather than whether a string merely looks English-like.
Exam cue: Check whether the whole word—not just its root—exists in standard English.
Rule 2
Both common and advanced vocabulary may appear, and American and British spelling conventions can be valid.
Exam cue: Notice doubled consonants, legal suffix combinations, vowel order, and near-miss spellings.
Rule 3
A confident no is better than treating every pronounceable letter sequence as a real word.
Exam cue: Use meaning and word-family knowledge when available, then decide within the short display time.
Common traps
Selecting a nonword because it resembles a familiar word by one letter.
Prevention: Name the controlling rule before selecting the answer.
Rejecting a valid but less familiar academic word merely because it is uncommon.
Prevention: Name the controlling rule before selecting the answer.
Assuming only one national spelling convention can be accepted.
Prevention: Name the controlling rule before selecting the answer.
Memory anchors
Real Word
A real word is a valid English word, not a word that only looks English-like.
Fake Word
A fake word may use familiar letters but does not exist as standard English.
Affix
An affix is a prefix or suffix that helps identify word structure.
Root
A root carries the core meaning of a word family.
Spelling Pattern
Spelling patterns help distinguish real words from near-miss words.
British American
DET word recognition can include both British and American spelling conventions.
Fast Decision
Fast decisions must still be based on confidence, not guesswork.
Vocabulary Breadth
Vocabulary breadth improves recognition across academic and everyday words.
Near Miss
A near miss resembles a real word but changes a letter or ending.
No Overclicking
No overclicking means selecting only words you recognize confidently.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
Select the real English word.
Which entry is a real English word?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
Duolingo English Test
Official DET website for test registration, score use, and general test information.
Duolingo English Test Readiness
Official readiness page with setup, practice, guide, and walkthrough resources.
How the DET is scored
Official current overview of the 10–160 scale, individual and integrated subscores, adaptive measurement, and response scoring.
Interactive Speaking
Official explanation of the adaptive 6–8-turn conversational task, 35-second responses, no prep time, and follow-up behavior.
Current test-space setup
Official 2026 instructions for the desktop app, secondary camera, room scan, ear scan, workspace, lighting, and test rules.
The DET Handbook
Official detailed task handbook; also check current readiness notices for newer features such as Interactive Speaking.
FAQ
Common DET questions
Is this official Duolingo English Test content?
No. These are original practice questions aligned to the official DET Handbook and public sample-question resources.
Does the DET have fixed reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections?
No. The official handbook says the adaptive test is not divided into distinct skill sections; this prep page groups question types by skill for easier study.
Does this guide include the current Interactive Speaking task?
Yes. Practice includes original conversational prompts and follow-ups designed around the current 6–8-turn format, 35-second responses, no prep time, task completion, fluency, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and coherence.
How is the DET scored?
The DET reports an overall score and individual Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking subscores from 10 to 160 in five-point increments. It also reports integrated Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production subscores.
How is the weighted mock built?
The 60-item mock is a Pass Harbor study form—not a claim that the adaptive DET has a fixed 60-question form. It allocates 32 reading/vocabulary, 18 listening, 4 speaking, 4 writing, and 2 sample/readiness questions.
Why include setup and rules?
The current at-home setup uses a secure desktop app, computer camera, smartphone secondary camera, government ID, room scan, ear scan, and a clear private workspace. A valid language performance still must meet certification rules.
What should I practice most?
Use the official free practice test for format familiarity, then build English across all four skills. Give extra attention to unfamiliar task types, dictation accuracy, reading inference, spontaneous Interactive Speaking, and developed writing.