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Thinking about taking the Duolingo English Test (DET)?

You're in the right place. I’m Teacher Luke from DET Ready, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through all 13 question types on the Duolingo English Test.

By the end, you’ll know exactly what to expect on test day, how to prepare, and where to get the best practice. Let’s dive in!

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Question Type 1: Read and Select

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This question type is all about vocabulary. You’ll see a list of 15–18 words and must select the ones that are real English words.

• Timing: 5 seconds per word
• Scoring tip: Trust your instincts. Speed matters!
• Test strategy: If a word looks strange or unfamiliar, it’s probably fake. Don’t overthink!

✅ Contributes to: Reading, Literacy & Comprehension

🎯 Best practice: Use high-frequency word lists and apps like Anki or Quizlet to build vocabulary. Practice every day with the correct time limit here 👉 DET Ready

Question Type 2: Fill in the Blanks

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You’ll be shown a sentence with one incomplete word. Based on the context, you must complete the word correctly.

• Timing: 20 seconds per item
• Scoring tip: Grammar and context matter—choose letters that make sense in both sound and meaning.
• Test strategy: Don’t get stuck! Use clues in the sentence to make your best guess and move on quickly.

✅ Contributes to: Reading, Literacy & Comprehension

🎯 Best practice: Read daily to sharpen your reading skills. Practice every day with the correct time limit here 👉 DET Ready

Question Type 3: Listen and Type

Duolingo English Test: Listen and Type

You’ll hear a short sentence, and your job is to type exactly what you hear.

• Listening: Allowed up to 3 times
• Scoring tip: Spelling and punctuation count. Listening for every word and type exactly what you hear.
• Test strategy: Type major words first, then refine the sentence on the second or third replay.

✅ Contributes to: Listening, Conversation & Comprehension
🎯 Best practice: Use dictation exercises and listen to short English podcasts to improve.

Question Type 4: Read and Complete

You’ll get a short passage where some words are missing letters. Complete each word using the context.

• Timing: Approx. 3 minutes
• Scoring tip: Logical guesses and spelling accuracy matter.
• Test strategy: Skim the passage first to understand the theme, then complete the missing parts.

✅ Contributes to: Literacy & Comprehension
🎯 Best practice: Practice on DET Ready and read a lot of non-fiction articles. Use news resources or apps like Imprint.

Question Type 5: Interactive Reading

This task contains two full reading passages. Each passage comes with five question types:

1. Select missing words
2. Complete the passage
3. Highlight the answer
4. Identify the main idea
5. Choose the best title

• Timing: 7–8 minutes per passage
• Scoring tip: Reading speed AND accuracy are both tested.
• Test strategy: Read the first and last sentences carefully. Use skimming and scanning techniques.

✅ Contributes to: Literacy & Comprehension

🎯 Best practice: Practice with academic-style reading and multiple-choice quizzes.

Question Type 6: Interactive Listening

In this newer task, you'll hear a conversation between a student and professor or advisor. You’ll answer several follow-up questions.

• Question types: Fill in the blanks, short answer, multiple choice, and writing a summary.
• Scoring tip: Take mental notes. The writing summary affects both your listening and writing scores.
• Test strategy: Focus on the speaker’s tone and key details. Don’t try to write everything—just the important points.

✅ Contributes to: Conversation, Comprehension, Literacy & Production
🎯 Best practice: Practice with academic listening clips and take short summary notes.

Question Type 7: Write About the Photo

You’ll see an image and have 1 minute to write a description.

• Scoring tip: Grammar, vocabulary, and sentence variety are key.
• Test strategy: Describe what you see first, then make educated guesses about the scene.

✅ Contributes to: Production & Literacy
🎯 Best practice: Practice with random photos. Focus on using prepositions and descriptive adjectives.

Question Type 8: Interactive Writing

This task is like a mini conversation in writing. You’ll respond to two prompts:

1. Part 1: 5-minute response (longer)
2. Part 2: 3-minute follow-up (shorter)

• Scoring tip: Quality > Quantity. Well-structured paragraphs earn higher scores.
• Test strategy: Use a simple structure: topic sentence, two examples, closing line.

✅ Contributes to: Literacy & Production
🎯 Best practice: Respond to daily prompts with a timer and self-review your writing.

Question Type 9: Speak About the Photo

You’ll see a photo and speak about it for up to 90 seconds.

• Scoring tip: Fluency, vocabulary range, and speaking length matter.
• Test strategy: Use the same structure as the writing photo task. Don’t panic if you run out of ideas—speculate!

✅ Contributes to: Production & Conversation
🎯 Best practice: Describe photos out loud every day. Record and review your answers.

Question Type 10: Read, Then Speak

You’ll read a written prompt, get 20 seconds to prepare, then speak for up to 90 seconds.

• Scoring tip: Answer all parts of the question clearly and stay organized.
• Test strategy: Structure your response like this:
  
  1. Introduction
  2. Two main points with examples
  3. Closing sentence

✅ Contributes to: Production & Conversation
🎯 Best practice: Use a timer and practice common prompt types (describing experiences, sharing opinions).

Question Type 11: Interactive Speaking

This is the newest speaking task. You’ll have a mini-conversation with a virtual character.

• Scoring tip: Stay on topic and speak naturally—no memorized answers.
• Test strategy: Use the O.R.E.O. Method:
  
  • Opinion
  • Reason
  • Example
  • Outcome

✅ Contributes to: Production & Conversation
🎯 Best practice: Practice speaking naturally about common everyday topics.

Question Types 12 & 13: Speaking & Writing Samples

These two tasks are not scored but are sent to universities.

• Writing Sample: Write for 3–5 minutes on a general topic
• Speaking Sample: Speak for 1–3 minutes on a given question

📌 Important: These are often seen by admissions officers, so take them seriously.

🎯 Best practice: Be confident, polite, and clear. Show off your best English!

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Final Thoughts from Teacher Luke

The Duolingo English Test has come a long way—with fast results, at-home convenience, and growing university acceptance.

Want to prepare the smart way?

✅ Join my DET Ready VIP program:

• Full step-by-step courses
• Live Zoom lessons
• Unlimited feedback
• Access to my AI-powered practice platform

🎓 Over 1,000 students join every month.

Start now at detready.com — I’ll see you inside!

👨‍🏫 — Teacher Luke