"The committee agreed that the proposal needed further review before the vote." Read the whole sentence first, then fill the gaps from context and spelling.
Duolingo English Test Practice & Preparation Tips
Because the DET is fast and adaptive, familiarity is everything: take the official practice test, drill the frequent task types, and prepare a strict testing environment so nothing invalidates your score.
This page gives you original sample tasks and a practical preparation checklist.
How to prepare
- Take the official free DET practice test first so the adaptive format and question types are familiar.
- Drill dictation and read-aloud daily — accuracy in these fast tasks lifts your Comprehension and Conversation subscores quickly.
- Practise short, well-structured written responses under a timer; the writing tasks reward clarity and correct grammar, not length.
- Rehearse the speaking tasks: name the topic, give reasons with detail, and keep talking smoothly to the end.
- Treat the ungraded interview seriously — universities watch it.
Environment checklist (avoid a proctoring flag)
- A quiet, well-lit room with a clear desk and no one else present.
- A working webcam and microphone, tested in advance.
- A stable internet connection and a fully charged or plugged-in device.
- Your eyes on the screen throughout — looking away repeatedly can flag the session.
Sample tasks (original, in the DET format)
Original examples to show the task types — not real test items.
Type the moment you hear it; if you miss a word, write the rest and fill the gap logically — a mostly-correct sentence still scores. Accuracy in spelling and punctuation counts.
Write one clear, complete, grammatical sentence with specific detail rather than a fragment or a list of nouns.
Name the place immediately, give two reasons with a detail each, and keep speaking smoothly until time is up. Fluency and staying on topic matter more than perfect vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Duolingo offers a free official practice test that mirrors the adaptive format and question types. Take it before you book the real test.
Focus on the frequent, fast tasks — dictation and read-aloud — and on writing short, correct, well-structured responses. These improve quickly and lift several subscores.
Proctoring issues: another person present, looking away from the screen, a noisy or dark room, or an unstable connection. Prepare your environment carefully.
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