Is it a real English word?
You see one word at a time. Choose Yes if it is a real English word and No if it is not. You have five seconds to decide.
Word knowledge
Recognise words you have learned, including forms such as walk, walked, and walking.
Spelling patterns
Read every letter. Some made-up words look similar to real words, but an unfamiliar word can also be real.
Decision speed
Choose Yes or No within five seconds. Once you answer, focus on the next word.
Give each word your attention.
The number of real words is not fixed. Decide about each word on its own. You do not need the same number of Yes and No answers.
Read the whole word
Check the beginning, middle, and ending. Ask whether you recognise the whole word, including its spelling.
Make your best choice
Five seconds passes quickly. If you are unsure, make your best choice before the timer ends.
Use the keyboard if helpful
Tab moves between Yes and No, and Enter or Return selects the focused answer.
This activity has 16 words. PrepEx changes the difficulty based on your answers. The real DET has 15 to 18 words and uses Duolingo's own system to choose them.
A small example
Helpful → Yes. Helpful is a real word meaning useful or giving help. Helpfult → No. Adding a letter does not make another English word. This is an original PrepEx teaching example.
A mistake to avoid
Do not choose Yes just because part of a word looks familiar. Read the whole word. Also, do not change your answer because you have chosen Yes several times in a row.
After practice
When you learn a new word, check its meaning and read it in a sentence. Try using it yourself. On this page, the result shows your total correct answers, so do not assume which individual words you missed.
Now try it yourself.
Use the steps you just learned. Start when you are ready; the timer begins when you press the start button.
No account needed. Your result shows how many words you got right, not an official or estimated DET score.
Start the timed sequence to reveal the first word. Each decision is final.
PrepEx chose the next word based on your earlier answers. This result shows how many you got right in this activity. It is not an official or estimated DET score.
Practise more words, save your results, and follow your progress.
Check the rules before test day.
Use the links below to check the test instructions. This PrepEx activity helps you practise; only Duolingo can give you an official DET result.
You see one word, choose Yes or No, and the next item appears. Each item allows five seconds. Read the official task page.
The current test structure lists 15 to 18 Read and Select items. Read the official test structure.
Read and Select informs Reading, Literacy, and Comprehension. Read how DET items are scored.
Read and Select FAQ
How much time do I have for each item?
You have five seconds to choose Yes or No. After you answer, the next word appears.
How many Read and Select items are on the DET?
The current test structure lists 15 to 18 items. The number can change because the test adjusts the difficulty as you answer.
Is there a fixed number of real words?
No. Official guidance says there can be any number of real words, so do not try to force a particular balance of Yes and No answers.
Which DET subscores does this task inform?
Read and Select informs the Reading individual subscore and the Literacy and Comprehension integrated subscores.
Does PrepEx save this anonymous result?
This result is not saved to your account. If you continue to sign up, this browser keeps it for up to seven days so you can return to the task.
How does PrepEx adapt the next word?
The activity starts with a medium-difficulty word. Your answers help PrepEx choose the difficulty of the next word. PrepEx uses its own practice system, which is different from Duolingo's test.
Will I get different words if I retry?
Usually. A new attempt can include different words. The difficulty also changes with your answers.
Is this an official or estimated DET score?
No. Your result shows how many answers you got right in this activity. Only Duolingo can issue an official DET score.