A short test with many response modes
The exact number of questions can vary because the test adapts. Some tasks are individually timed, while Interactive Reading and Interactive Listening use shared timers across linked steps.
Three broad stages
- Introduction and onboarding. The desktop app checks your camera, speakers, and microphone; you submit an accepted ID; set up the phone camera; and review the rules.
- Adaptive test. You complete different question types that collect Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking evidence. Difficulty and length can vary.
- Writing and Speaking Samples. You produce extended responses. These samples are shared with institutions that receive your result; the official Speaking Sample artifact includes video.
The real DET requires both a computer camera and a separate phone camera. Review the complete setup guide before test day.
Why your test may not look exactly like someone else's
The DET draws from a large pool and changes the difficulty of some questions as it gathers evidence. It may administer more or fewer questions depending on the scoring engine's confidence. A question feeling easier or harder than the previous one is normal.
Adaptivity is not identical across every stage. For example, Read and Select presents 15–18 individually adaptive five-second decisions, while open-response tasks such as Write About the Photo are not adaptive.
Frequency and timing by task family
| Task family | Frequency | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Read and Select | 15–18 words | 5 seconds each |
| Fill in the Blanks | 6–9 sentences | 20 seconds each |
| Read and Complete | 3–6 passages | 3 minutes each |
| Listen and Type | 6–9 sentences | 1 minute each; up to 3 plays |
| Interactive Reading | 2 sets of 6 questions | Shared 7- or 8-minute timer per set |
| Interactive Listening | 2 sets of 8–10 questions | 6:30 for the conversation stages, then 75 seconds to summarize |
| Write About the Photo | 3 photos | 1 minute each |
| Interactive Writing | 1 two-part set | 30-second preparation; 5 minutes + 3 minutes |
| Speak About the Photo | 1 | 20-second preparation; up to 90 seconds |
| Read, Then Speak | 1 | 20-second preparation; up to 90 seconds |
| Interactive Speaking | 1 set of 6–8 questions | 35 seconds per answer |
| Writing Sample | 1 | 30-second preparation; 5 minutes |
| Speaking Sample | 1 | 30-second preparation; 3 minutes |
Open the task library for response modes, scoring notes, and filtered practice links.
What PrepEx does and does not simulate
PrepEx offers original DET-style practice, feedback, internal difficulty routing, and provisional practice estimates. It does not claim to reproduce Duolingo's operational item bank, IRT calibration, adaptive selector, proctoring, or scoring model.
A PrepEx mock may run on a phone or tablet and allow headphones for convenient practice. Those conditions are not valid real-test setup guidance. The real DET requires a supported desktop or laptop, speakers rather than headphones, a separate phone camera, and the official security setup.
Verify the current format before your test
Use the live official DET Test Structure as the current candidate baseline. The official task directory explains each question type.
Official structure rechecked September 1, 2026. If a dated guide and the live Help Center differ, follow the live Help Center.