DET speaking task guide

DET Read, Then Speak practice

The prompt asks for an extended answer, often with more than one part. Covering the full instruction matters as much as speaking smoothly.

Current format

What happens in Read, Then Speak

Read a prompt, prepare briefly, and give a connected spoken response.

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

Frequency1 promptCurrent official test structure.
Time20-second preparation; up to 90 secondsPractise with the real constraint.
ScoringSpeaking criteriaPrepEx reports practice evidence only.
A repeatable method

Use one job for each part of the timer

  • Turn the prompt into two or three short answer points.
  • Lead with your direct answer, then support it with a reason or example.
  • Use the last part of the response to close the idea instead of restarting it.
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 Read, Then Speak practice.

Common mistakes

What to catch during review

  • Answering only the first part of a multipart prompt
  • Using all the time on one example without a clear answer
  • Memorizing an introduction that delays the relevant content
  • Speaking faster when an organized shorter response would be clearer
Scoring boundary

PrepEx feedback is practice evidence

Read, Then Speak 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 Read, Then Speak 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.