DET
DET listening task guide

DET Listen and Type practice

Listen and Type rewards accurate word recovery, spelling, and sentence control. You can hear the recording up to three times.

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Current format

What happens in Listen and Type

Listen to a sentence and type what you hear, with up to three plays.

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

Frequency6–9 sentencesCurrent official test structure.
Time1 minute each; up to 3 playsPractise with the real constraint.
ScoringResponse similarity with partial creditPrepEx reports practice evidence only.
A repeatable method

Use one job for each part of the timer

  • Use the first play for the sentence shape and key content words.
  • Type what you know, then use later plays to repair gaps and word endings.
  • Read the sentence once for grammar before submitting.
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 Listen and Type practice.

Common mistakes

What to catch during review

  • Waiting for perfect recall before typing anything
  • Using all three plays without a different purpose for each
  • Dropping small function words or plural and tense endings
  • Replacing an unfamiliar phrase with a sentence that merely sounds natural
Scoring boundary

PrepEx feedback is practice evidence

Listen and Type 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 Listen and Type 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 Listening practiceCompare every current listening 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.