Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test

1. Overview

The DET is a computer-based, adaptive test that assesses your English language skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Total duration: ≈ 1 hour (60 minutes)
Score range: 10 to 160
Results are typically delivered within 48 hours of test completion.

2. Structure & Sections

1. Introduction & Onboarding
(~5 minutes)

2. Adaptive Test (Graded)
(~45 minutes)

3. Writing & Speaking / Video Interview Sample (~10 minutes)

3. Key Recent Changes & New Question Types

To keep your preparation strategy up-to-date, here are the most notable changes introduced:

These question types have been phased out and replaced with an updated speaking format.

A new speaking component where you respond to 6 short prompts, each with a response time limit (e.g. up to 35 seconds).

This simulates a back-and-forth conversational style to better test natural spoken interaction.

In interactive listening sections, you’ll be given audio “scenarios” and then have to respond in writing to comprehension questions about them.

You may replay the audio as needed, but the timer continues running.

The “Read, then write” section is now replaced by a two-part writing task: first you write in response to a prompt (5 minutes) and then a follow-up prompt (3 minutes).

There is no longer a requirement to write for a minimum time before moving on.

Fill-in-the-blank questions are now single-sentence items, each with a time limit (≈ 20 seconds)

The “Read & Select” format is now shown word-by-word (one at a time) with a 5-second decision per word (Yes/No)

The test now reports both individual sub scores (speaking, writing, reading, listening) and integrated sub scores (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production).

4. Types of Questions (Examples)

Here are some of the common question types you’ll see (some updated or newly introduced):

Read & Select

Decide whether a given word is a valid English word (Yes / No)

Fill in the Blanks

Complete sentences using the correct vocabulary

Listen & Type / Listen & Select

Type what you hear, or select the correct option based on audio

Interactive Listening (Listen & Complete)

Respond in writing to comprehension queries after listening to a scenario

Write About the Photo

Write a short description or response based on an image prompt

Interactive Writing

Two-stage writing prompt (initial + follow-up)

Interactive Speaking

Respond to sequential prompts in spoken form under time constraints

Writing Sample & Speaking Sample (Video Interview Type)

Open-ended tasks sent to institutions / used for holistic assessment

5. Preparation Implications & Tips

Focus on speed, accuracy, and adaptability—since the test is adaptive, each correct answer may lead to harder questions.
Practice interactive speaking by doing timed, back-and-forth responses to prompts to simulate the new question format.
Improve your vocabulary in context to handle fill-in-the-blank and quick recognition (Read & Select) tasks.
Get used to listening and comprehending spoken scenarios, then writing short answers quickly (Interactive Listening).
For writing tasks, develop concise structure and coherence—first reply, then respond to a follow-up prompt.
Time management is key—be comfortable with strictly timed responses (20s to 35s) in the new format.
Take mock tests reflecting the new pattern to get real practice under updated constraints.