Word knowledge
Recognize established English words across familiar vocabulary, inflections, and common derivations.
Free adaptive vocabulary practice
Read and
Select
Try a complete 16-word PrepEx sequence without signing in. Each answer updates the difficulty of the next reviewed word, followed by an instant task-specific practice score.
5 seconds
per word
15–18
items on the current test
Adaptive
one word at a time
PrepEx provides independent DET-style practice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duolingo. This page reports task-specific practice accuracy, not an official or estimated DET score.
Practice preview · Ready
0:05
Word 1 of 16
Is this a real English word?
Start the timed sequence to reveal the first word. Each decision is final.
Task-specific practice result
—
PrepEx selected each reviewed word from your preceding responses. This uncalibrated practice route is not Duolingo's operational selector, and the result is not an official or estimated DET score.
—correct
—answered
—timed out
Keep practicing in the DET Practice Hub.
Continue in DET Practice Hub
Open the adaptive Read and Select activity, save attempts, and build a broader vocabulary profile.
What the task measures
Fast recognition, one word at a time.
Read and Select checks receptive vocabulary under tight time pressure. Each item asks for a final Yes or No decision about one displayed string.
Spelling patterns
Distinguish real words from plausible-looking pseudowords without relying on one-letter proofreading tricks.
Decision speed
Make one accurate choice within five seconds, then move forward to the next independently scored item.
Task-specific control
Judge the word in front of you, not the sequence.
The number of real words is not fixed. Treat every item independently and avoid trying to balance your Yes and No choices.
Read the whole string
Check the beginning, middle, ending, and familiar word parts before committing to a choice.
Do not wait for certainty
Five seconds passes quickly. Make the best lexical decision you can instead of leaving the item unanswered.
Use the keyboard if helpful
Tab moves between Yes and No, and Enter or Return selects the focused answer.
This free page routes 16 reviewed PrepEx stimuli individually. Each response updates a provisional ability estimate before the next unseen word is selected. The real DET uses Duolingo's private calibrated model and can administer 15 to 18 items.
Current format, checked August 2026
Task facts come from current DET sources.
PrepEx follows the public response mode and timing, routes original reviewed words with an internal adaptive model, and keeps the practice result separate from official DET scoring.
You see one string, 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.
Quick answers
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 string appears.
How many Read and Select items are on the DET?
The current test structure lists 15 to 18 items. The exact number can vary because the test is adaptive.
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?
The preview does not create a submission or update a learner profile. When you continue, PrepEx keeps a seven-day result handoff in this browser so signup can return you to the same DET task.
How does PrepEx adapt the next word?
PrepEx starts in the middle difficulty band, updates an internal ability estimate after each response, and serves an unseen reviewed word from the closest available band. This rule-based route does not call an AI model and is not Duolingo's calibrated selector.
Will I get different words if I retry?
Usually. Each new sequence samples unseen words as it adapts, so two attempts can follow different routes even when the answers are similar.
Is this an official or estimated DET score?
No. PrepEx reports task-specific accuracy for one adaptive practice sequence. Only Duolingo can issue an official DET score.