Duolingo English Test (DET) Structure
If you want to ace the Duolingo English Test, it's important to know the test format.
The Duolingo test has a simple format, divided into three sections: Introduction and onboarding, computer adaptive test, and video and writing sample.
The test format is recognized globally by thousands of institutions in over 50 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and more. It's a popular test for English language learners.
The Duolingo exam is tailored for those who want to study or migrate abroad. It's essential for assessing your language skills.
Before moving to sample questions and answers, let's get familiar with its format.
Duolingo English Test (DET) Structure
Sections | Duration | Key Highlights |
Introduction and Onboarding | 5 minutes |
|
Computer Adaptive Test (Graded) | 45 minutes |
|
Video and Writing sample (Ungraded) | 10 minutes |
|
Read more about Duolingo Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2024
The adaptive section of the Duolingo exam tests your English skills through different types of questions.
Unlike other language proficiency tests, the Duolingo English Test is a computer-based, adaptive exam. This means that the order and difficulty of the questions adjust based on your performance as you progress. Here’s how it works:
- Easy: Questions get simpler if you’re struggling.
- Difficult: Questions get difficult if you’re doing well.
Question Types at a Glance:
Question Types | Frequency | Skills Measured |
Read and Select | 15 - 18 | Reading, Literacy, Comprehension |
Fill in the Blanks | 6 - 9 | Reading, Literacy, Comprehension |
Read and Complete | 3 - 6 | Reading, Literacy, Comprehension |
Read Aloud | 3 - 6 | Speaking, Conversation, Production |
Listen and Type | 6 - 9 | Listening, Comprehension, Conversation |
Interactive Reading | 2 sets of 6 questions | Reading, Literacy, Comprehension |
Interactive Listening | 2 sets of 5 - 6 questions | Listening, Comprehension, Conversation |
Write About the Photo | 3 | Writing, Literacy, Production |
Interactive Writing | 1 set of 2 questions | Writing, Literacy, Production |
Listen, Then Speak | 2 | Speaking, Conversation, Production |
Speak About the Photo | 1 | Speaking, Conversation, Production |
Read, Then Speak | 1 | Speaking, Conversation, Production |
Writing Sample | 1 | Writing, Literacy, Production |
Speaking Sample | 1 | Speaking, Conversation, Production |
Let's discuss each question type in detail.
Speaking
1. Read Aloud: In this task, you will be asked to read a statement and record yourself speaking it loud in a microphone.
Time Limit: 20 seconds
Tips:
- If you have time, try reading the statement out loud once before you start recording.
- Pay attention to punctuation in statements to pace yourself( pause in case of the comma, dash, exclamations, etc.)
- Speak loudly and clearly in a natural place, as if you’re talking to someone in person.
- You only get one chance to record, so make sure your whole response is recorded.
2. Listen, then Speak: Here, you’ll listen to a prompt first, then record your response. During this time, you can hear and replay the prompt.
Time Limit: 1 minute, 30 seconds
Tips:
- Aim to speak for at least 30 seconds. When the NEXT button turns blue, you can wrap up and submit your response.
- Speak naturally and clearly by using varied words and sentence structures.
- Make sure you clearly understand the prompt before recording. You can replay it up to two times (three plays total).
3. Speak about the Photo: In this task, you need to talk about an image that appears on the screen for 90 seconds.
Time Limit: 1 minute, 30 seconds
Tips:
- Spend the first 20 seconds to observe and mentally plan your response before recording your answer.
- Keep your eyes on the image while speaking. You only get one chance to record.
- Try to describe the image in layman's terms.
- Speak at a normal pace and pronounce your words clearly.
- Don’t worry if you stumble on a word or phrase; just keep going.
4. Read, then Speak: Here, you will be given a written prompt. You need to speak your response to the prompt for 90 minutes.
Time Limit: 1 minute, 30 seconds
Tips:
- Read the prompt carefully and think about your answer before you start recording.
- Focus on the question that appears on the screen while you speak.
- Speak at your natural pace and use varied words and structures.
- Make sure to answer all parts of the question.
5. Speaking Sample: In this task, you will read a given prompt, and then you need to speak about the topic in detail.
Time Limit: 3 minutes
Tips:
- Pick a topic you can talk about easily.
- Stay focused on speaking clearly, and don’t get distracted by the timer.
- Speak uninterruptedly until the NEXT button turns orange, and try to wrap up with a conclusion before you finish.
- Use your preparation time to practise speaking for 1-2 minutes before you start.
- Keep in mind that your speaking sample will be reviewed by examiners. Make sure what you speak is relevant to the topic.
Note
The instructions appear for 30 seconds before the recording starts. Use this time to read and plan your response.
Also explore: What are the top 9 Duolingo Speaking Topics?
Writing
1. Write about the Photo: In this task, you will see an image on the screen that you need to describe within the given time limit.
Time Limit: 1 minute
Tips:
- Use your mouse or trackpad to scroll back and check your response before submitting.
- Try to give a detailed description of the image.
- Aim to write more than just one sentence, as a longer response showcases more of your skills.
2. Interactive Writing: This task is divided into 2 steps:
Step 1: You will receive a written prompt and respond in writing.
Step 2: You will receive a follow-up prompt based on your initial response. After that, you need to respond in writing.
Time Limit: 5 minutes for step 1, 3 minutes for step 2
Tips:
- Proofread carefully! Wait to click NEXT until you have checked your response for the current step and are ready to submit.
- Use the time wisely to craft thoughtful and relevant answers.
- Write as much as you can, as long as it’s relevant to the topic.
- Follow good writing practices to make your responses clear and effective.
3. Writing Sample: In this task, you will be given a written prompt. You need to write at length for at least 3 minutes.
Time Limit: 5 minutes
Tips:
- Use the 30 seconds of preparation time to pick a topic you can talk about easily.
- Develop good writing habits, such as varying your sentence structure and word choice. Use transition words to connect ideas.
- Allocate time at the end to proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
- Make sure to write responses that are relevant to the topic. (Don’t forget that the topic will be reviewed by examiners.)
- Think of it as a short essay. Your response will be considered as an additional measure of your writing skills.
Note
The instructions appear for 30 seconds before the recording starts. Use this time to read and plan your response.
Reading
1. Read and Select: In this task, you are required to read each word and decide if it's a real English word or not.
Time Limit: 5 seconds
Tips:
- Make sure to select "Yes" or "No" for each word. Missing a response will be marked incorrect.
- Read each word carefully, as some may look like real English words but aren't.
(Keep your eye out for it!)
- The number of words shown may vary. Don’t worry if you see more or fewer words than expected.
2. Fill in the Blanks: For this task, you will be given an incomplete sentence, You need to provide a missing word.
Time Limit: 20 seconds
Tips:
- Read the whole sentence first to get the context.
- Try to get some context of the word. It will help you to choose the right word.
- Don’t worry if you typed the wrong letter by mistake. Just use the backspace or delete key to fix it.
3. Read and Complete: Here your task is to complete the missing words in the passage.
Time Limit: 3 minutes
Tips:
- Read the whole passage before focusing on the blanks.
- Try to get some context of the passage. It will help you to select the right word.
- In case of a typo error, use the backspace or delete key to correct it.
4. Interactive Reading
A. Complete the Sentences: In this task, you will be given a passage with several blank spaces, and you need to pick the best word to complete the sentence.
Time Limit: 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section
Tips:
- Read the full sentence to get the context and choose the best word.
- Keep an eye on the timer and double-check your response after completion.
B. Complete the Passages: In this task, you will be given two sections of a passage with a missing sentence in the middle. You need to select the sentence that best fits the passage.
Time Limit: 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section
Tips:
- Hover over each option to see how it fits into the passage.
- Some parts of the passage may look familiar to complete sentence questions- read carefully, especially new materials.
- If you’re unsure about the answer, pay extra attention to sentences before and after the blank.
C. Highlight the Answer: In this task, a question will appear on the screen. You need to locate and highlight the answer to the question within a passage.
Time Limit: 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section
Tips:
- Be precise in your selection, and make sure to highlight the correct answer.
- If needed, adjust your highlighting by clicking and dragging your cursor again.
D. Identify the Idea: Here, a passage will be given. Your task will be to select an idea from the passage that best interprets what you read in the passage.
Time Limit: 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section
Tips:
- Read the options carefully.
- Choose the one that fits the passage best and ignore the irrelevant ones.
E. Title the Passage: In this task, you need to select a title from the list of options that best represents the passage.
Time Limit: 7 or 8 minutes for the entire section
Tips:
- Read the options carefully.
- Make sure to choose the title that best represents the passage. (Ignore the irrelevant options)
Listening
1. Listen and Type: In this task, you will listen to a statement and then type the statement that you hear.
Time Limit: 1 minute
Tips:
- Use the option to replay the statement up to two times (three plays total) to verify your response.
- Double-check your response by replaying the statement and comparing it to what you wrote.
2. Listen, Then Speak: The question type is similar to the one given in the Speaking part. Refer to the speaking part question type 2 for the explanation.
3. Interactive Listening
A. Listen and Respond: In this task, you will be required to select the best response. First, you will read about the situation and then pick the best option to start the conversation. Finally, as the conversation progresses, select the best response for each turn.
Time Limit: 4 minutes
Tips:
- Listen carefully! You can play the audio clips only once.
- Review the earlier parts of the conversation to help you pick the right response.
- Notice how the speakers interact. How would two students talk to each other? How would a teacher and a student have a conversation?
- Don't stress if your first choice isn't perfect. You’ll see the correct answer later and can learn from it.
- Remember the main ideas for the summary task that follows.
B. Summarise the Conversation: For this task, you will be asked to summarise your question that you just had in 75 seconds.
Time Limit: 75 seconds
Tips:
- Don’t worry if you picked the wrong answer in the previous section. Just focus on summarising the conversation.
- Write in full paragraphs, not bullet points.
- Watch the timer carefully. Start with the basics: Who was speaking? What was the conversation about? What was the outcome?
- Use your time wisely to provide a detailed summary. If you finish early, review your summary to fix any errors.
Here are some things to keep in mind about question types:
- All questions are integrated into a single section, so different questions will pop up one after the other. You won’t know what the next question will be.
- There’s no set number of questions. The test will keep going until the grading engine is confident of your score.
- The test questions are drawn from an extremely vast pool. It’s highly unlikely that you will face the same question twice, no matter how many times you take the exam.
Suggested Read: Duolingo Result 2024: Score Report, Recheck & Review
The good news:
You won’t be penalised more for entering an incorrect response compared to skipping the question. If your answer isn’t entirely correct, you’ll still receive partial credit.
For instance, in the Read and Complete section, you’ll get the same score for a blank response or an incorrect one. For Listen and Type, missing a word will cost you more than typing it incorrectly.
In other words, it’s worth giving every question a shot!
Duolingo English Test Sample Question and Answers
In the sample answers section, we will discuss detailed answers to some commonly asked questions in the Duolingo English Test.
Practising these sample answers can help you improve your language skills.
Let’s look at sample answers and questions for each language skill.
Reading
Sample Question 1
Question Type: Read and Select
Is this a real English word?
A. dresson
B. readly
C. nevelor
D. some
E. pirect
F. birthday
G. evelony
H. watching
I. cook
J. wattered
K. docuse
L. likes
M. girls
N. well
O. fourteen
P. watteen
Q. givess
R. hoken
Sample Answer 1
A. dresson: no
B. readly: no
C. nevelor: no
D. some: yes
E. pirect: no
F. birthday: yes
G. evelony: no
H. watching: yes
I. cook: yes
J. wattered: no
K. docuse: no
L. likes: yes
M. girls: yes
N. well: yes
O. fourteen: yes
P. watteen: no
Q. givess: no
R. hoken: no
Sample Question 2
Question Type: Read and Complete
Birds are found on every continent of the world. Birds o_ different ty_ _ _ can li_ _ in free_ _ _ _ cold enviro_ _ _ _ _ _, a_ _ others c_ _ live i_ hot des_ _ _ _. Birds live in forests, in grasslands, on cliff faces, in river banks, on stony sea shores, down mine shafts and in the roofs of houses.
Sample Answer 2
Birds are found on every continent of the world. Birds of different types can live in freezing cold environments, and others can live in hot deserts. Birds live in forests, in grasslands, on cliff faces, in river banks, on stony sea shores, down mine shafts and in the roofs of houses.
Sample Question 3
Question Type: Fill in the blanks
In examining the financial records, irregularities were found, suggesting frau_ _ _ _ _ _ activities.
Sample Answer 3
fraudulent
Writing
The writing section of the Duolingo English test is a bit different from other English language tests. Here, you don’t need to write an essay, but you’ll still need to prove your writing skills to the examiner.
Here are sample questions and answers for the Writing module.
Sample Question 1
Question Type: Writing Sample
Respond to the question in at least 50 words.
“Describe your favourite teacher. What qualities did you respect most?”
Sample Answer 1
My favourite teacher was Mrs. Sharma, who taught English in high school. I liked her passion for the subject and how she made literature interesting. She was patient, always ready to help, and treated everyone with respect. Her enthusiasm was inspiring, and she encouraged us to think deeply and share our ideas. Her kindness and dedication made learning enjoyable and had a lasting impact on me. (Word count: 66 words)
Sample Question 2
Question Type: Writing Sample
Respond to the question in at least 50 words.
“Your local government has decided to improve their community. Do you think they should build a public park, a public library, or a public pool? Provide specific reasons for your opinion.”
Sample Answer 2
I believe the local government should build a public park. A park offers a natural space for relaxation and exercise, benefiting people of all ages. It promotes community interaction, provides a safe area for children to play, and enhances the beauty of the area. Moreover, parks contribute to environmental well-being by preserving green spaces. (Word count: 54 words)
Sample Question 3
Question Type: Write About the Photo
Write one or more sentences that describe the image. You have one minute.
Sample Answer 3
A bustling street market with various stalls selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other goods. The market is crowded with people, and there are colourful umbrellas covering the stalls.
Speaking
Sample Question 1
Question Type: Read, Then Speak
Speak about the topic below for 90 seconds.
- What is it?
- How long have you been doing it?
- Who do you do it with?
- Why is it important to you?
Sample Answer 1
One hobby that I really enjoy is gardening. I've been gardening for about five years, starting with a few potted plants on my balcony and expanding to a garden in my backyard. While I usually do it alone, my family members, especially my kids, sometimes join me in planting and watering. Gardening provides me with a sense of peace and relaxation, helping me unwind after busy days.
Gardening is important to me because it allows me to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty. Growing my own vegetables and herbs is rewarding and they taste fresher than store-bought ones. Additionally, gardening has taught me patience and the importance of nurturing, lessons that I apply to other areas of my life. Overall, it’s a fulfilling activity that brings joy and satisfaction.
Sample Question 2
Question Type: Speak about the photo
Speak for 30 seconds about the image below.
Sample Answer 2
The image shows an older woman using a sewing machine to work on embroidery. She is very focused as she carefully stitches lovely patterns onto the fabric. The bright colours and detailed designs suggest a high level of skill and dedication. This activity appears to be both a creative outlet and a way to preserve traditional craftsmanship.
Sample Question 3
Question Type: Read, Then Speak
Speak about the topic below for 90 seconds.
- What was it?
- Who did you give it to?
- How did it make you feel?
- Why did you give it to this particular person?
Sample Answer 3
I recently gave a hand-crafted photo album to my best friend. It was a collection of memories from our time together—photos from trips, events, and special moments. I gave it to her on her birthday because I wanted to show her how much she means to me and to celebrate the journey we’ve shared. Seeing her happy and touched when she opened it made me feel really good. It was a personal and meaningful gift, and I thought it was a great way to celebrate her special day.
Listening
Sample Question 1
Question Type: Listen and Type
Type the statement that you hear.
Sample Answer 1
Is she reading a book? Yes, she is.
Sample Question 2
Question Type: Listen, Then Speak
Speak about the topic for 90 seconds.
Sample Answer 2
My favourite animal is the dog. Dogs are loyal, friendly, and very intelligent creatures. They come in various breeds, each with its own unique traits and characteristics, but generally, they are known for their companionship and playful nature.
I love dogs because they form strong bonds with humans and can be very affectionate. They’re always excited to see you, which makes coming home feel really special. Dogs are also very protective of their owners, often alerting them to potential dangers. Additionally, they can be trained to perform various tasks, from simple tricks to helping those with disabilities.
Another reason I like dogs is because they encourage an active lifestyle. Walking or playing with a dog ensures that you get regular exercise. Their playful energy and joyful spirit can be very uplifting, providing emotional support and reducing stress. In short, dogs are not just pets; they become a beloved part of the family.
Also Read: Duolingo Practice Test 2024 for Exam Preparation
Practising these sample answers and questions can make you stand out in Duolingo exam preparation. This will help you know your strengths and weaknesses.
If you want to level up your Duolingo exam preparation for a higher score, check out these free Duolingo exam materials to help you ace the exam better.