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How the DET works
Find out what happens during the test, how long it takes, and why some questions may feel harder than others.
All 13 task types
Learn what each task asks you to do, how much time you have, and where to practise it.
10–160 score guide
Understand your overall score, your skill scores, and what the numbers mean.
Room and equipment setup
Prepare the supported computer, second camera, accepted ID, speakers, room, desk, software, and network.
Your weekly study plan
Plan what to practise next based on your test date, the skills you want to improve, and your recent practice.
PrepEx practice tests
Try a full practice test when you know the tasks and have time to finish without interruptions.
Choose a section, then choose the exact task
DET Reading practice
Recognise words, fill missing letters, and answer questions about a text.
DET Listening practice
Type what you hear, follow a conversation, and write a short summary.
DET Writing practice
Describe a photo, answer a follow-up question, and explain your ideas in writing.
DET Speaking practice
Describe a photo aloud and answer questions with clear reasons and examples.
What each DET task asks you to do
There are 13 task types. Read the descriptions below and choose one to learn. Each guide explains what to do and how to practise. Tasks are grouped by their main skill; some also test another skill, such as listening and writing together.
Reading task types
Some Reading tasks ask you to recognise or complete words. Others ask questions about a longer text. Choose a guide below to learn the steps and see an example.
Read and Select
Read each word on screen and choose Yes if it is a real English word, or No if it is not.
- Appears
- 15–18 words
- Time
- 5 seconds each
- Practise
- Read the whole word carefully before choosing Yes or No.
Fill in the Blanks
You see one sentence with an unfinished word. Read the sentence and type the missing letters to finish that word.
- Appears
- 6–9 sentences
- Time
- 20 seconds each
- Practise
- Read to the end of the sentence. The clue may come after the unfinished word.
Read and Complete
You read a short text with letters missing from several words. Type only the missing letters to make the text complete.
- Appears
- 3–6 passages
- Time
- 3 minutes each
- Practise
- Read the whole text once. Use the complete sentences to understand who or what it is about.
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.
- Appears
- 2 sets of 6 questions
- Time
- Shared 7- or 8-minute timer
- Practise
- Complete the Sentences: read each whole sentence before choosing its missing words. Check the meaning as well as the grammar.
Listening task types
In Listen and Type, you write the words you hear. In Interactive Listening, you answer questions about a situation, choose replies, and write about the conversation.
Listen and Type
Listen to a short recording and type the words you hear. You can listen three times in total.
- Appears
- 6–9 sentences
- Time
- 1 minute each; up to 3 plays
- Practise
- On the first listen, follow the whole sentence and start typing the words you catch.
Interactive Listening
Listen to a situation and fill in answers about it. Then choose replies in a conversation and write a short paragraph about what happened.
- Appears
- 2 sets of 8–10 questions
- Time
- Shared 6:30, then 75 seconds to summarize
- Practise
- Listen and Complete: listen to the situation, then fill each gap with the information asked for. You can replay this first recording while the shared timer runs.
Writing task types
You will describe a photo, answer two related questions, and write a longer answer about a topic. Learn what each task needs before you practise.
Write About the Photo
Write sentences that explain what you can see in a photo.
- Appears
- 3 photos
- Time
- 1 minute each
- Practise
- Start with the main scene, then describe the people, actions, and objects you can see.
Interactive Writing
Write an answer to a question, then answer a second question about the same topic.
- Appears
- 1 set of 2 questions
- Time
- 30-second preparation; 5 minutes + 3 minutes
- Practise
- Explain your first answer, then add new ideas when you answer the follow-up question.
Writing Sample
Write about a topic. Your answer is shared with the institutions receiving your test results.
- Appears
- 1 prompt
- Time
- 30-second preparation; 5 minutes
- Practise
- Give a clear answer and explain it with reasons, details, or examples.
Speaking task types
You will describe a photo, answer written and spoken questions, and give a longer answer. Practise explaining your ideas clearly as well as saying the words.
Speak About the Photo
Look at a photo, prepare for 20 seconds, then describe it aloud. The photo stays on screen while you speak.
- Appears
- 1 prompt
- Time
- 20-second preparation; up to 90 seconds
- Practise
- During preparation, identify the place, the main people or objects, and the main action.
Read, Then Speak
Read a question, use 20 seconds to prepare, then speak about the topic for up to 90 seconds. The question stays visible.
- Appears
- 1 prompt
- Time
- 20-second preparation; up to 90 seconds
- Practise
- Read every part of the question. Notice whether it asks you to describe, explain why, compare, or give an example.
Interactive Speaking
Listen to a series of 6–8 questions and record an answer to each. You hear each question once and have 35 seconds to answer.
- Appears
- 1 set of 6–8 questions
- Time
- 35 seconds per answer
- Practise
- Listen for what the question asks: a choice, a reason, an experience, or an explanation. The question will not play again.
Speaking Sample
Read a topic, prepare for 30 seconds, and speak for up to three minutes. On the real DET, a video of your answer is shared with the institutions receiving your results.
- Appears
- 1 prompt
- Time
- 30-second preparation; 3 minutes
- Practise
- Read the whole question. Decide what you want to say and choose two or three points that answer it.
Choose your next step
| Goal | Best resource | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Learn the current structure | DET format guide | You are new to the test or returning after a format change. |
| Understand one task | DET task library | You want to know what to do and see an example before trying it. |
| Target one skill | DET skill-practice guides | You know the section but need to compare its task types first. |
| Run a full session | PrepEx practice tests | You want a complete practice experience and a saved PrepEx report. |
| Plan the next week | DET Study Plan | You have a test date and want help deciding what to practise each day. |
| See your progress | DET Dashboard | You want to see your recent results and choose what to work on next. |
| Prepare the real room | DET setup guide | You need to verify equipment, phone-camera placement, ID, and rules. |
Four things to know before your test
You need a supported desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera, microphone, and speakers, plus a charged phone camera that records your head, shoulders, screen, and keyboard. You also need a physical accepted ID and a private, well-lit room.
Check the official test instructions
PrepEx helps you learn and practise. Our questions and scores are for practice; only Duolingo can give you an official DET result. Check these pages before test day for the latest instructions and equipment requirements.
- Official DET Test Structure
- Official item-scoring overview
- Official test policies, rules, and requirements
- Official device and operating-system requirements
- Official phone-camera setup
Official pages rechecked September 1, 2026. Duolingo's live Help Center remains the authority for current candidate rules.