• Quiet, private, well-lit room — you must be completely alone
• Stable internet connection (wired is recommended)
• A computer or laptop with a front-facing camera, microphone, and speakers
• A secondary smartphone camera to record your keyboard, screen, ears, and the room around you

• Keep your face, ears, and mouth visible at all times
• Do not wear headphones or earbuds
• Do not look away from the screen (except when typing)
• No external help — no software, dictionaries, other devices, or other people
• Do not take notes or attempt to record any questions
• Stay in full-screen mode with your cursor inside the test window

• Physical ID only — no photocopies or digital images
• India: Passport only
• China: Passport or government-issued photo ID
• All other countries: Check accepted IDs at englishtest.duolingo.com/ids

Your overall score ranges from 10 to 160, reported in 5-point increments. It maps to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). You also receive eight subscores:

You see one word at a time. For each word, click Yes if it's a real English word, or No if it's a made-up word. You have 5 seconds before the screen moves on automatically.

• ✓Click Yes if you recognise the word or have seen it before — trust your instinct
• ✓Sound the word out silently to help decide — real words usually have recognisable patterns
• ✓Watch for fake words designed to look like real ones (e.g. crumble → real; crumbal → fake)
• ✓Don't overthink — your first instinct is usually correct
• ✓Avoid second-guessing rare but real words (e.g. serendipity, ephemeral)

A sentence appears with one word only partially shown — you see the first few letters, and must type the rest. For example: "The scientist made an important disc______ about black holes."

• ✓Read the full sentence before focusing on the gap — context is your best clue
• ✓Look for synonyms, antonyms, or familiar phrases in the sentence
• ✓Think about the grammatical role: is it a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb?
• ✓Spelling must be exact — double-check before the time runs out
• ✓Use word roots and common patterns to guide you (e.g. -tion, -ment, -ous)

Similar to Fill in the Blanks, but there are multiple incomplete words scattered across an entire paragraph. You have 3 minutes to complete all of them.

• ✓Read the whole paragraph first, including the title — don't jump straight to the gaps
• ✓Start with the words you can identify quickly and confidently
• ✓Use grammatical clues and the surrounding sentences for context
• ✓The missing words are never adjacent to each other, and never proper nouns
• ✓Save difficult words for last — a fresh look later may help

The most complex reading task. You work through 6 sub-tasks on a single passage, with each task revealing a bit more of the text. The passage builds progressively as you proceed.

• 1Complete the Sentences: Choose correct words from dropdowns to fill gaps in the first part of the text
• 2Complete the Passage: Pick the best sentence to bridge the first and second halves of the text
• 3&4Highlight the Answer (×2): Click and drag to select the exact text that answers a question
• 5Identify the Idea: Choose the main idea from multiple options
• 6Title the Passage: Select the most suitable title from four options

• ✓Each sub-task reveals more text — use what you've already read to help with later tasks
• ✓For highlights, select only the relevant portion — don't drag too broadly
• ✓Main idea and title questions require understanding the whole text, not just one sentence
• ✓Manage time carefully — don't spend more than 2 minutes on any single sub-task

A sentence is read aloud. You must type it exactly as heard — including correct spelling and punctuation. You can listen up to 3 times within the 1-minute limit.

• ✓First listen: capture the main content words — nouns and verbs
• ✓Second and third listens: fill in function words and check details
• ✓Pay attention to punctuation — full stops, commas, and capitalisation matter
• ✓Watch for connected speech — words that link or reduce in natural speech
• ✓Leave yourself at least 10 seconds to proofread before time runs out

The most complex listening task. You hear a scenario, then work through three connected parts. This task scores both your Listening and Writing.

• 1Listen and Complete: Fill in blanks about key information from the scenario. Play as many times as you need. Meaning must be accurate but spelling doesn't need to be perfect.
• 2Listen and Respond: Choose the best responses in a spoken conversation. Wrong answers show corrections — use them to inform your next response.
• 3Summarise the Conversation: In 75 seconds, write a brief summary of the full conversation. Use full sentences and include: the main topic, your role, the key problem, and the outcome.

• ✓Listen carefully to the scenario — it sets context for everything that follows
• ✓Reserve enough time in Parts 1–2 to write a quality summary
• ✓For the summary: cover the situation, the main ideas discussed, and the conclusion
• ✓You can write in first person ("I asked...") or third person ("Two students discussed...")

A photo appears on screen. Write a description of what you see. Aim for around 30–40 words in complete, grammatically correct sentences.

• ✓Go beyond labelling — describe actions, atmosphere, and details you notice
• ✓Avoid long generic openings like "In this photo I can see..." — get straight to the description
• ✓Write in complete sentences with proper grammar and punctuation
• ✓Use descriptive vocabulary: adjectives, adverbs, and strong verbs
• ✓If you're unsure what an object is, describe what it looks like or what it's being used for

You get 30 seconds to read the prompt, then 5 minutes to write Part 1 (aim for 120–130 words). After submitting, a follow-up question appears and you have 3 more minutes to write Part 2 (aim for 70–80 words). Both parts are scored together.

• ✓Use the 30-second prep time to plan your main points — don't start writing immediately
• ✓Part 2 asks a different question from Part 1 — don't repeat yourself
• ✓Show range: use varied vocabulary and different sentence structures across both parts
• ✓Proofread each part before the time runs out

You write about a topic that asks for your personal experience or opinion. This response is shared with institutions you apply to, alongside your score — admissions officers will read it.

• ✓Structure your response: a brief introduction, a main body with examples, and a conclusion
• ✓Support your opinion with specific, concrete examples or personal reasoning
• ✓Use the 30 seconds of prep to outline your key points before you start writing
• ✓Aim for 120+ words — longer, well-developed responses score higher
• ✓Save the last 30 seconds to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation

A photo of a real person, animal, or scene appears. After 20 seconds of prep time, you speak for up to 90 seconds describing what you see.

• ✓During the 20-second prep: identify the main subject, setting, and action
• ✓Start with a general overview, then add specific details — don't just list objects
• ✓Aim to use the full 90 seconds — more speaking means more data for scoring
• ✓If you don't know a word, describe what it looks like or what it does
• ✓Include logical inferences about the mood, context, or what might happen next

A written question about your personal experience or opinion appears on screen. After 20 seconds, you record your spoken response. The prompt stays visible while you speak.

• ✓Use prep time to quickly identify 2–3 key points you want to address
• ✓Follow any bullet-point sub-questions provided in the prompt
• ✓Speak naturally — don't force complex vocabulary if it sounds unnatural
• ✓Maintain a steady pace; brief pauses to think are perfectly acceptable

A Duolingo character asks you 6 spoken questions across two topics (3 questions each). Questions adapt in difficulty based on how well you're doing. You can only hear each question once.

• ✓Listen carefully — each question is only played once
• ✓Click "Record Now" before you start speaking
• ✓If you don't fully understand the question, say something relevant to the general topic
• ✓Use the full 35 seconds — more speaking gives more to assess
• ✓Speak confidently even when you're uncertain — fluency and tone matter

Your video response to a personal experience or opinion prompt is recorded and shared with every institution you apply to — admissions officers will watch it alongside your score.

• ✓Plan 2–3 main points during the 30-second prep and stick to them
• ✓Pace yourself — you have a full 3 minutes, so don't rush
• ✓The prompt stays on screen — glance at it to stay on topic
• ✓Maintain a natural tone and look towards the camera
• ✓Speak for as long as you have relevant things to say — silences are penalised

All extended writing tasks (Write About the Photo, Interactive Writing, Writing Sample) are assessed on these four criteria:

All extended speaking tasks are assessed on these six criteria:

• 📖Read in English daily. Wide reading builds vocabulary and grammar instincts faster than any other single habit.
• ✍️Write regularly. Practise describing photos, writing opinions, and summarising conversations — exactly the formats the DET uses.
• 🎧Listen actively. Podcasts, lectures, and conversations train you to process natural English speech at speed.
• 🗣️Speak out loud every day. Record yourself answering questions and listen back — this is one of the fastest ways to improve fluency and pronunciation.
• 📚Build your vocabulary systematically. Focus on academic and high-frequency words. Use the Vocabulary Flashcards in this app.
• ⏱Practise under time pressure. The DET's time limits are tight. Regular timed practice is essential — use the question types in this app.