How to Prepare for the Duolingo English Test 2025: Complete Guide
Duolingo English Test Preparation TipsThe Duolingo English Test is an online computer exam that examines the difficulty of questions based on an individual's performance. The questions are not ordered in the same way, and there is always a chance that you will not repeat the same question even in case you take the test two or more times.
The table below mentions all the details related to the Duolingo English Test.
Feature | Details |
Mode of Test | Fully online; can be taken from home with basic equipment like a computer, camera, and microphone. |
Test Type | The difficulty level changes based on your performance during the test. |
Test Duration | Approximately 1 hour (5 min introduction + 45 min adaptive section + 10 min writing/speaking sample). |
Skills Tested | Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. |
Score Range | 10 – 160; accepted by thousands of universities worldwide. |
Acceptance | Recognized by 1000s of universities and educational institutions globally. |
Test Fee (India) | Around ₹4,852. |
Score Validity | Typically valid for 2 years. |
What is the Duolingo English Test (DET)?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a modern, computer-based English proficiency exam developed by Duolingo. DET is also done in the comfort of your house as opposed to the traditional methods, where an individual has to go to a test centre.
It entails computer adaptive testing, and this would mean that the difficulty of the questions would vary in real time depending on your responses. The test is accepted in universities and institutions worldwide, and so is a convenient option for students who intend to apply in another country.
How Long Does It Take to Prepare for the Duolingo English Test?
Your present level of mastery of English (reading, listening, writing, and speaking in particular) and your desired score are crucial in the preparation for DET. By the time, 3-4 weeks of intensive training may be necessary in case you have an excellent background (high 80s / 100s score at English tests). At a medium level, 6-8 weeks will be wiser to build format familiarisation, skill-building, and practice of the skills.
Because DET is not long (around 1 hour) and is also most adaptive, it is necessary to familiarize oneself with the format in order to improve English language proficiency. A typical safe exercise program: 4 weeks of hard or 8 weeks of moderate training.
How Can I Prepare for the Duolingo English Test?
It is always advisable to make a combination of both self-studying and coaching, as a qualified coach will help the candidates to clear the doubts in a more realistic manner. Here are some tips for Duolingo English Test preparation that you can use to perform well in the test:
Work on Vocabulary: You may learn new vocabulary and its meaning every day. Have a writing pad with little size to write such words. The sources where you could learn new words are books, magazines, online blogs, newspapers, etc.
Exercise Your Listening: You can also work on your listening skills with the help of watching your favorite English web series, documentary, or drama.
YouTube Videos: With the ready availability of the internet nowadays, almost all individuals have video applications on their cell phones. To learn English, you can use the help of YouTube videos and different English lessons, live coaching classes, pronunciation of words in English, synonyms/antonyms videos, etc.
Descriptive Exercise: As Duolingo English Test has an exercise that requires candidates to describe a thing, event, or something mentioned in their own language. All you have to do is find something beside you or any other thing around you and write on 2-3 descriptive sentences about this thing in as creative a way as possible.
Speaking Exercise: To train your speaking, you were supposed to pick any topic of your choice and speak about it between 30 seconds and 1 minute. Record it all and repeat it. In addition, it is advisable to practice the topics in Duolingo speaking to be able to polish your speaking.
When practicing Sample papers: This can always be a good exercise to have a preview of how far you have prepared by doing some sample papers before you sit in the actual paper.
Understanding the Duolingo English Test Format & Scoring
For clearing any test /exam, it is a must to understand its scoring format. The Duolingo English Test scores are marked on a scale of 10 to 160 on the basis of literacy, conversation, comprehension, and production. The table below mentions the complete format with the duration.
Section | Description | Duration |
Introduction | Brief setup and verification process before the test begins. | 5 minutes |
Adaptive Test | The main test section where question difficulty changes based on responses. | 45 minutes |
Writing & Speaking Sample | Includes descriptive writing and spoken responses on given topics. | 10 minutes |
Total Duration | Complete test session including all sections. | 1 hour |
Scoring & Results | Scores reported on a 10–160 scale; results shared digitally. | Within 48 hours |
Duolingo English Test Skills
Reading Skills
Activities similar to completing blanks, selecting real and fake words, and reading and filling in are also present in the DET reading part. Be wary of false words; they are so lifelike. Skim read sentences to grasp the context, and then first remove the incorrect ones and then choose the right one. Use punctuation and words that are located close by as hints and learn vocabulary (level B1/B2) so that an error in the usage of words can be signaled easily.
Listening Skills
Listening is subdivided into such tasks as typing what you have just heard, completing sentences, and correcting words. Such points as shortenings, intonation, and punctuation marks, which distort the meaning, should be paid attention to. Write what you hear in the English podcast or short films. Shadowing involves frequent listening exercises, which improve real-time listening and accuracy.
Writing Skills
You can be asked to write about a picture, summarise a conversation, or write short paragraphs. Write the entirety and answer in a point-by-point manner, in terms of introduction, body, and conclusion. Demonstrated grammar and spelling. Learn to write some random topics and vary in vocabulary and sentence composition to achieve better marks.
Speaking Skills
Speaking exercises include picture description, reading aloud, and answering a prompt. There should be no one around, so speak loudly into the microphone as long as the time allows. Answer in brief- introduction, main point, and conclusion. Fluency and clarity: Enhance fluency and clarity by practicing by recording. Besides, decisive and articulate speech is also rated higher than quickness.
Duolingo English Test Preparation Plan
Students should make a proper study plan for the Duolingo English Test so that they can keep a record of their performance and improve as required in the weaker areas.
The table below mentions a Daily study plan for anyone who wants to give the Duolingo English Test.
Frequency | Activity | Goal |
Daily | Reading or listening in English + vocabulary review | 30–45 minutes reading/listening + 15–20 minutes vocabulary. |
Alternate Days | Writing and speaking practice | 20–30 minutes per session, focusing on structured responses. |
Weekly | Full mock test and review | One complete 60-minute mock test followed by an analysis of mistakes. |
End of Week | Vocabulary & progress review | Evaluate improvement areas and track progress across all skills. |
The table below mentions a 4-week Duolingo English Test Preparation plan for those who have a moderate hold on the English language.
Week | Focus Area | Key Activities |
1 | Understand Test Format | Learn about the Duolingo English Test structure, scoring, and question types. Take a baseline mock test to assess your current level. |
2 | Vocabulary & Grammar Building | Strengthen vocabulary and grammar fundamentals. Practice reading and listening exercises daily. |
3 | Practice Tests & Weak Areas | Attempt full-length mock tests under real exam conditions. Identify weak skills and create a targeted improvement plan. |
4 | Review & Final Preparation | Analyse mistakes from previous tests, polish writing and speaking responses, and simulate the final test day experience. |
The table below mentions an 8-week Duolingo English Test Preparation plan for those who have a basic level proficiency of the English language, as they would require more practice and time to learn.
Phase | Weeks Covered | Focus Area |
Phase 1 | Weeks 1-2 | Understand the test format and take diagnostic tests. |
Phase 2 | Weeks 3-4 | Vocabulary, grammar, and skill development. |
Phase 3 | Weeks 5-6 | Practice full tests, review errors, and strengthen weak areas. |
Phase 4 | Weeks 7-8 | Final review, time management, and confidence-building. |
Duolingo English Test Practice Resources & Mock Tests
Giving mock tests will boost your confidence in the Duolingo English Test. The table below provides the resources and strategies to practice for DET.
Aspect | Details |
Official Practice Test | Use the free practice test available on Duolingo’s official website to understand the real exam format and interface. |
Third-Party Platforms | Try DET-specific platforms like DET Ready, which provide adaptive practice and question types similar to the actual test. |
How to Use Mock Tests | Attempt tests under real exam conditions, maintain the 1-hour duration, record responses, review mistakes, and track improvement over time. |
Practice Strategy Tip | Avoid excessive mock tests—doing more than 3 full tests without feedback may reduce effectiveness; focus instead on targeted revision and error analysis. |
FAQs
Ques: What is the minimum required score in DET?
Ans. It is founded on the visa requirements of the university. There is no global pass score in the world. According to the program, a lot of universities look at a spectrum of 110-140.
Ques: How long does it take for the result of the Duolingo English Test to come?
Ans. Typically, 2 years following the time of the test.
Ques: Can DET be rewritten in case one is not satisfied with the outcome?
Ans. Yes, you can retake the test. However, you may be compelled to wait a bit depending on the policies (e.g., you cannot have it more than once a month).
Ques: Is DET highly accepted in most universities?
Ans. The DET is acceptable in thousands of universities worldwide.
Ques: How much does the Duolingo English Test cost (in India)?
Ans. It imposes an estimated cost of 4852 on Indian citizens. The cost might change every year.
Ques: Are there any changes in the format for the Duolingo English Test?
Ans. This is not a radical change in the structure (intro + adaptive + writing/speaking sample), but it is the question types that continue to be modified. The official site must be the most up-to-date one.