DET

A guide to DET Listening

DET Listening.
From words to meaning.

Catch the words in a sentence. Follow the purpose of a conversation. Explore the recordings, response types and connected stages that make up DET Listening.

Explore the tasks Go to listening practice

Two task types · Examples explained · Practice at your pace

The listening experience

What will you hear,
and what comes next?

Listen and Type asks you to capture the words you hear. Interactive Listening takes you through a situation, a conversation and a written summary. Some recordings can be replayed; others are heard only once.

The original PrepEx audio below is an untimed teaching example, not an official DET recording or a full test set. Replay and transcripts are available here so you can explore the format.

01The words you actually hear

Listen and Type

Listen to a short recording and type the words you hear. You can listen three times in total.

On the test
6–9 sentences
Time allowed
1 minute each; up to 3 plays

What to focus onListening, replaying, and typing all use the same minute.

Read the task guide Practise this task
PrepEx exampleListen for the exact words

Listen to the sentence

0:00

Untimed teaching example · Replay as you learn

For your own comparison. This example is not graded or saved.

Reveal the transcript & what to notice
The train leaves in ten minutes.

Listen for the ending in leaves and the short word in. “The train leave ten minutes” captures the general idea, but misses parts of the sentence. This task asks for the wording you hear, rather than a paraphrase.

On the test: one minute for listening, typing and checking, with up to three plays in total.

Give each listen a purpose

  1. 01

    Catch the sentenceStart with the words you understand.

  2. 02

    Fill the gapsListen for the part you missed.

  3. 03

    Check the detailRevisit small words, endings and order.

02Understand what the speakers mean

Interactive Listening

Listen to a situation and fill in answers about it. Then choose replies in a conversation and write a short paragraph about what happened.

On the test
2 sets of 8–10 questions
Time allowed
Shared 6:30, then 75 seconds to summarize

What to focus onThe first two parts share 6 minutes 30 seconds. The summary has its own 75 seconds.

Read the task guide Practise this task

Inside each conversation

Three stages.
One connected situation.

  1. 01
    Listen and CompleteUnderstand the situation · 3–4 questions
  2. 02
    Listen and RespondChoose your replies · 5–6 questions
  3. 03
    Summarize the ConversationExplain what happened · One paragraph

The first two stages share 6 minutes 30 seconds. The summary gets a fresh 75 seconds.

Follow a short example

Two classmates are arranging a time to prepare a presentation. See how the information carries from one stage to the next.

01

Listen and Complete

Listen to the situation, then fill gaps with the information requested. In the real test, this opening recording can be replayed while the shared timer runs.

Capture the meaning. A short paraphrase can be acceptable here.

PrepEx exampleOne completion question

Hear the situation

0:00

Untimed teaching example · Replay as you learn

We are preparing a __________ for history class.

Reveal the transcript & answer

Transcript

You and your classmate are preparing a short presentation for your history class. The original plan was to work together this evening, but your classmate needs to change the time. You are both free tomorrow morning, and you are discussing where to meet.

Answer

short presentation

The gap asks what the classmates are preparing. “Presentation” also conveys the necessary information; you do not need to repeat the whole situation.

02

Listen and Respond

Take the student’s role and choose the reply that best continues the conversation. Each new conversation clip plays once on the test. Earlier dialogue remains readable.

Follow the speaker’s intention, as well as the details.

PrepEx exampleYour classmate speaks

Listen to your classmate

0:00

Untimed teaching example · Replay as you learn

Which reply fits the conversation?

  1. A

    That works. I’ll meet you at the library this evening.

  2. B

    Tomorrow morning works. Let’s meet at the library.

  3. C

    Good idea. We can give our presentation tomorrow morning.

  4. D

    No problem. You can prepare the presentation on your own.

Explore the reply & explanation

What you heard

I can't meet this evening after all. Since we're both free tomorrow morning, could we work on the presentation in the library then?

The best reply in this example

Tomorrow morning works. Let’s meet at the library.

Your classmate proposes a different time for working together. This reply accepts the new time and place. The other replies keep the cancelled time, confuse preparation with the presentation itself, or assume you will work separately.

On the test, a corrected reply is shown if needed so you can follow the next turn. This teaching example allows replay.

03

Summarize the Conversation

Write one paragraph about who was speaking, why they were talking, the important details and the outcome. This stage has its own 75-second timer.

Use your own words and keep the facts accurate.

PrepEx exampleBring the conversation together

Hear how the example ends

0:00

Untimed teaching example · Replay as you learn

Read the final exchange

Classmate: Great. Let's meet by the library entrance at nine. I'll bring the books we need.

You: Thanks. I’ll see you there at nine.

Imagine you have just finished this short exchange. How would you explain the situation and the agreed plan?

Explore a possible summary
My classmate and I discussed preparing a presentation for our history class. We had planned to work together that evening, but my classmate needed to change the time. We agreed to meet at the library entrance at nine the next morning, and my classmate offered to bring the books.

The summary connects the purpose, change of plan and final agreement. It reports the conversation rather than listing each line or adding a new opinion.

This is a shortened teaching conversation. A full set has more turns and details to include in the summary.

Listen with a purpose

What should you listen for?

Understand DET scoring
01 / Words

Catch the small details

In dictation, short words and word endings matter alongside the main message. Compare what you typed with what you heard.

02 / Meaning

Follow the intention

Is the speaker asking, suggesting, correcting or changing a plan? Choose a reply that fits the situation.

03 / The whole picture

Remember the outcome

Keep the people, purpose and final decision in mind for the summary. Notes are not allowed on the real test.

From listening to understanding

Hear the difference.
Then try it for yourself.

Choose one task, practise within its time limit, and review what you missed before moving to a new recording.

Start listening practice

Based on the current test format

Counts, timing and replay rules checked September 22, 2026 against the official DET Test Structure and task instructions. Formats can change; check Duolingo’s guidance before test day.

Listen and TypeListen and CompleteListen and RespondSummarize the Conversation
All DET task typesSee what you do in all 13 task types. DET formatUnderstand the current one-hour test flow. DET scoringRead how official scores and PrepEx estimates differ. DET test setupPrepare the equipment, room, ID, and phone camera.
PrepEx provides independent DET preparation. PrepEx practice estimates are not official Duolingo English Test scores or results.