The reading experience
What will you see on the test?
Reading appears through different question types within the adaptive test. You will recognise words, complete missing letters, and answer questions about a text. Each task has its own time limit.
The short PrepEx examples below explain the format. They are untimed teaching excerpts, not full test items or official DET questions.
01Recognise real English words
Read and Select
Read each word on screen and choose Yes if it is a real English word, or No if it is not.
- On the test
- 15–18 words
- Time allowed
- 5 seconds each
What to focus onRead the whole word carefully before choosing Yes or No.
Is this a real English word?
reliable
Think of your answer: Yes or No
Reveal answer for Read and Select & explanation
Yes — reliable is a real English word.
It describes someone or something you can depend on. For example, “The bus service is reliable.” Read the whole word: a familiar beginning alone does not make a word real.
The test presents one word at a time, with five seconds for each decision.
02A word that fits the sentence
Fill in the Blanks
You see one sentence with an unfinished word. Read the sentence and type the missing letters to finish that word.
- On the test
- 6–9 sentences
- Time allowed
- 20 seconds each
What to focus onRead first, fill the spaces, then check the finished word.
Complete the unfinished word.
Please close the win___ because the room is getting cold.
Reveal answer for Fill in the Blanks & explanation
Type dow to make window.
The cold room helps you choose what needs closing. Window begins with win and needs three more letters. Door fits the situation, but it does not fit the letters shown.
One sentence. One unfinished word. Type only the missing letters.
03Words that make sense together
Read and Complete
You read a short text with letters missing from several words. Type only the missing letters to make the text complete.
- On the test
- 3–6 passages
- Time allowed
- 3 minutes each
What to focus onThe three minutes cover reading, all the gaps, and checking.
Read the text and complete the word.
Maya grows food behind her house. She picked two carr___ for lunch. They were fresh and sweet.
Reveal answer for Read and Complete & explanation
Type ots to make carrots.
The text is about food from a garden. The letters carr and the three spaces fit carrots. Two tells you that the word must mean more than one carrot. Check all three clues together.
This short teaching example has one gap so you can follow the reasoning. A test passage has several unfinished words.
04Answers supported by the text
Interactive Reading
Read a text and answer six questions about it. You choose missing words and a sentence, highlight answers, then choose the main idea and a title.
- On the test
- 2 sets of 6 questions
- Time allowed
- Shared 7- or 8-minute timer
What to focus onAll six questions share one timer. It does not restart.
Read the text and find the reason.
The library now opens at seven so that people can borrow books before work. Why does the library open earlier?
Reveal answer for Interactive Reading & explanation
Highlight: so that people can borrow books before work
The question asks why, so you need the reason. At seven gives the time, but it does not explain the change. Match your answer to the question word.
This shows one highlighting question from a longer six-question set.
Inside each set
Six questions.
One shared timer.
You work through these stages in order. The 7- or 8-minute timer covers the whole set.
- 01
Complete the Sentences
Choose the words that fit the gaps in the text.
- 02
Complete the Passage
Select the sentence that connects the ideas around a gap.
- 03–04
Highlight the Answer
Answer two questions by selecting the relevant words in the text.
- 05
Identify the Idea
Choose the main point of the whole passage.
- 06
Title the Passage
Choose the title that best represents the text.
- 01
Get to know one task
Read its guide and work through the example before starting the timer.
- 02
Notice what you missed
Was it the meaning, a word ending, or evidence in the text? Find the reason for the answer.
- 03
Try a fresh question
Choose one thing to improve, then put it into practice with a new word or passage.
Based on the current test format
Counts and timings checked September 22, 2026 against the official DET Test Structure and task instructions. Formats can change; check Duolingo’s guidance before test day.