DET in 5 Steps
- Prepare — Use Gateway Abroad mocks, the DET Handbook, and official Duolingo practice.
- Set up — Quiet room, stable internet, working camera/mic, secondary camera (required).
- Book — Purchase at englishtest.duolingo.com; complete within 21 days.
- Take the test — ~60 minutes online from home.
- Share results — Certified score in ~48 hours; valid 2 years.
Test Format (3 Sections)
The Duolingo English Test assesses Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking through integrated, adaptive tasks. Total time: approximately 60 minutes.
| Section | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Introduction & Onboarding | ~5 min | Tech check, rules, ID, secondary camera setup |
| 2 — Adaptive Test | ~45 min | 14 mixed question types; difficulty adapts to your answers |
| 3 — Writing & Speaking Samples | ~10 min | Extended responses shared with institutions |
14 Question Types (Adaptive Section)
| Question Type | Skill | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Read and Select | Reading | 15–18 words; real vs fake English words (5 sec each) |
| Fill in the Blanks | Literacy | 6–9 sentences; choose correct word |
| Read and Complete | Literacy | Fill missing letters in passage words |
| Listen and Type | Comprehension | Dictation; up to 3 listens (2 replays) |
| Read Aloud | Conversation | Read sentence aloud; 20 sec; one attempt |
| Interactive Reading | Literacy | 2 sets × 6 tasks (sentences, highlight, title, etc.) |
| Interactive Listening | Comprehension | 2 sets; choose responses + summarize |
| Write About the Photo | Production | Describe image in writing (~1 min) |
| Speak About the Photo | Production | Describe image aloud (~1.5 min) |
| Interactive Writing | Production | 2 connected writing prompts |
| Read, Then Speak | Conversation | Read passage, then speak |
| Listen, Then Speak | Conversation | Listen to prompt, then speak |
| Writing Sample | Writing | Extended essay; institutions receive this |
| Speaking Sample | Speaking | Extended response; institutions receive this |
Scoring (10–160)
- Overall score — 10 to 160 in 5-point steps (e.g. 85, 90, 95).
- Individual subscores — Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking.
- Integrated subscores — Literacy (R+W), Comprehension (R+L), Conversation (S+L), Production (S+W).
- AI scoring — Adaptive items graded by AI; extended speaking/writing use AI + expert-rated models.
DET ↔ IELTS (approximate)
| IELTS | DET Overall |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 85–90 |
| 6.5 | 95–100 |
| 7.0 | 110–115 |
| 7.5 | 120–125 |
| 8.0 | 130–135 |
Test Day Rules (from Handbook)
- Take the test alone in a quiet, well-lit room.
- Secondary camera (phone) is required — shows your keyboard and workspace.
- Do not use notes, phones, or get help during the test.
- Keep your face visible and do not look away from the screen for long periods.
- Speaking: use a normal conversational volume.
- Listen and Type: audio plays automatically — wait until it finishes before typing.
- Read Aloud: one recording only — no re-record.
- Adaptive test: you cannot go back to previous questions.
Gateway Abroad Preparation Plan (3 Weeks)
- Week 1: Learn all 14 question types (handbook + class + Gateway Abroad mocks).
- Week 2: Adaptive section drills + vocabulary (Read and Select, Fill in Blanks).
- Week 3: Full timed mocks + official Duolingo practice test + review weak subscores.