DET
DET speaking task guide

DET Interactive Speaking practice

Questions arrive one at a time and adapt through the conversation. Each answer should stand on its own while staying consistent with what you have already said.

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Current format

What happens in Interactive Speaking

Respond to a sequence of related spoken questions in a simulated conversation.

Frequency1 set of 6–8 questionsCurrent official test structure.
Time35 seconds per answerPractise with the real constraint.
ScoringSpeaking criteriaPrepEx reports practice evidence only.
A repeatable method

Use one job for each part of the timer

  • Answer the exact question in the first sentence.
  • Add one concrete reason, detail, or example while the timer permits.
  • Keep your position and personal details consistent across turns.
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 Interactive Speaking practice.

Common mistakes

What to catch during review

  • Replaying or transcribing captured audio instead of answering naturally
  • Giving a memorized response that misses the current question
  • Contradicting an answer from an earlier turn
  • Filling all 35 seconds after the response has already lost focus
Scoring boundary

PrepEx feedback is practice evidence

Interactive Speaking 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 Interactive Speaking 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 Speaking practiceCompare every current speaking 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.