DET
DET reading task guide

DET Fill in the Blanks practice

This is a fast context task. One word is partly hidden inside a sentence, and you type only the letters that are missing.

Start free practice See all Reading tasks
Current format

What happens in Fill in the Blanks

Complete one unfinished word in a sentence by typing only the missing letters.

The task is also described as Vocabulary in Context in DET research and learning materials. PrepEx keeps the current on-screen task name as the canonical label.

Frequency6–9 sentencesCurrent official test structure.
Time20 seconds eachPractise with the real constraint.
ScoringRight or wrongPrepEx reports practice evidence only.
A repeatable method

Use one job for each part of the timer

  • Read the whole sentence before committing to a word.
  • Use grammar to narrow the word form, then use meaning to choose the word.
  • Type only the hidden letters and use the final seconds to check spelling.
Practise the format, then review the decision

After each PrepEx attempt, identify the first point where your response went off track. A specific correction is more useful than simply repeating the same item.

Open Fill in the Blanks practice.

Common mistakes

What to catch during review

  • Typing the complete word instead of the missing letters
  • Choosing a plausible word that does not fit the sentence grammar
  • Ignoring the letters already shown
  • Spending the full timer on one uncertain guess
Scoring boundary

PrepEx feedback is practice evidence

Fill in the Blanks contributes evidence under the official DET scoring system. PrepEx can help you check task execution and track practice performance, but it does not reproduce Duolingo's live adaptive selector, operational item bank, proctoring, or scoring model.

Any number shown after a PrepEx attempt is a practice estimate, not an official DET score.

Official source

Confirm the live task rules before test day

Read the official Fill in the Blanks Help Center page and the current DET Test Structure. Duolingo's live Help Center is the final authority if a task count, timer, or rule changes.

Format facts rechecked September 1, 2026. PrepEx examples and practice content are original and independent.

DET Reading practiceCompare every current reading task family. All DET task typesCheck the timing and scoring approach for all 13 families. DET formatSee where the task fits into the current test flow. DET scoringSeparate official reporting from PrepEx practice estimates.
PrepEx provides independent DET preparation. PrepEx practice estimates are not official Duolingo English Test scores or results.