Start with the current task structure
The Duolingo English Test combines short tasks with connected reading, listening, writing and speaking activities. Begin with the format guide and task directory. Check the official DET test structure for the live exam. PrepEx provides original independent practice; it does not reproduce Duolingo's operational question bank or scoring system.
Set aside a realistic daily study period. The suggested 30–45 minutes below is a planning choice, not official task timing. If you have less time, complete the attempt and review before adding another task.
A week of focused practice
| Day | Practice | Keep as evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explore the format and try one task from each skill area. | Two repeated difficulties, with an example of each. |
| 2 | Read and Complete and Read and Select. | Word form, spelling or context errors you can explain. |
| 3 | Listen and Type, followed by a careful answer review. | One missed phrase and the sound or ending you missed. |
| 4 | Interactive Writing. | A paragraph that answers the follow-up directly. |
| 5 | Interactive Speaking and a recording review. | One response with clearer development or fewer restarts. |
| 6 | Revisit the two weakest task types with new material. | Whether the same error appears again. |
| 7 | Review the week and use a full practice test if your access and available time allow. | A next-week plan based on actual attempts. |
Make the review specific
After a dictation error, “listen more carefully” is difficult to act on. “I missed the final plural sound after a consonant” suggests a useful next exercise. After a writing response, compare each sentence with the prompt: a well-written paragraph can still fail to answer the follow-up.
For speaking, record an answer once, listen to it and identify one place where the meaning became difficult to follow. Try a new question after making that correction. Rehearsing the same answer until it sounds fluent measures familiarity with that answer as much as general readiness.
Keep practice estimates separate from official results
Use feedback to identify patterns rather than treating a single number as a prediction. Every PrepEx numeric DET score is a practice estimate, not an official DET score. Read the scoring explanation before comparing attempts, especially when they use different tasks or conditions.
Check real-test readiness separately
Read the test setup guide well before your booked session. The real test requires a desktop or laptop, a front-facing camera, microphone, speakers, a secondary phone camera, accepted physical ID and a private, well-lit room. Use one keyboard and mouse and disconnect secondary monitors.
The real test does not permit headphones or earbuds, notes, other devices beyond the required setup, outside assistance, dictionaries, translators, extensions or other applications. A convenient phone or headphone practice session does not establish test-day compliance. Check current official instructions, including the accepted ID rules for your situation.