The Duolingo English Test is a comprehensive exam that certifies English proficiency for students, professionals, and migrants. According to the researchers in 2024 approximately 700,000 people attended the Duolingo English Test online and the number is expected to increase. It is one of the popular exams known for English proficiency.
In this blog you will get detailed information about the Duolingo exam pattern and syllabus along with the format, benefits and much more.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
If you are a student and a professional who wants to work and study abroad but is confused about where to start then the DET(Duolingo English Test) is for you. DET is an English proficiency exam designed to prove the ability of your English proficiency. This exam is counted as one of the most affordable and convenient exams in the world and recognized by thousands of the reputed universities. The DET is divided into four main sections: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. If you are aiming to study, work or migrate abroad then you can take this test right from your home. You just need a computer, a webcam and a stable internet connection to attend this exam.
Duolingo English Test Pattern
If you are planning to take the Duolingo English Test, then having a good understanding of its pattern is the most important thing. While the DET pattern is easy to understand at your convenience.
The Duolingo English Test is divided into two parts, and each part has different types of questions. You will get one hour to complete both the parts and you can take this test anytime from anywhere as per your convenience.
Explore the below table to go through the Duolingo English Test Pattern.
| Section | Description | Duration |
| Introduction & Onboarding | This includes an overview of the setup, validation of equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.), and a review of testing rules. | 5 min |
| Adaptive Test | Varied question types that adjust in difficulty level based on test taker performance. Focus on reading and listening comprehension skills. | 45 min |
| Writing and Speaking Sample | It includes open-ended prompts for writing and speaking skills. | 10 min |
Duolingo English Test Syllabus
DET (Duolingo Exam Pattern) consists of three sections, and each has different timing and duration. You can find the complete pattern of the Duolingo exam below so that you can prepare and score good marks in the exam.
Introduction & Onboarding
The first section is Introduction and Onboarding. In this section, you will get total time of 5 minutes, and in this section, you have to take care of few things which are mentioned below:
- The very first step is that you need to check whether your computer's camera, speakers, microphone and internet connection are working properly so that there is no disruption during the exam.
- When you fill the exam form you will get a government verified ID card which you have to submit as proof of your identity.
- The last step is to review and understand the exam guidelines and policy to avoid any mistakes during the exam.
Syllabus for Adaptive Test
The second section of the Duolingo English Test is adaptive, meaning it adjusts the difficulty of the questions based on your performance. In this section, you have to prove your speaking, writing, reading and listening ability. This section has different sets of questions that include several different questions, for which you get 45 minutes to answer. You can check some examples of these below:
| Question Type | Frequency of Questions | What does it Test? |
| Read and Select | 15 to 18 times | It tests your ability to recognize real English words from fake words. |
| Read and Complete | 3 to 6 times | It tests your ability to fill in the missing letters in a sentence. |
| Listen and Type | 6 to 9 times | It tests your ability to write down spoken words accurately. |
| Read Aloud | 3 to 6 times | It tests your ability to pronounce words correctly by speaking written sentences. |
| Fill in the Blanks | 6 to 9 times | This assesses your ability to complete words by choosing the correct letters. |
| Writing Sample | 1 time | It evaluates your writing ability in a long, free-form response. |
| Speaking Sample | 1 time | It evaluates the ability to speak in a long, free-form response. |
| Speak About the Photo | 1 time | It assesses your speaking ability based on a visual. |
| Write About the Photo | 1 time | This section evaluates your writing skills by asking you to write about a visual prompt. |
| Read, Then Speak | 1 time | It tests your ability to read and then speak the relevant sentences or phrases. |
| Listen, Then Speak | 1 to 2 times | It evaluates your ability to listen and then speak the relevant sentence or phrase. |
| Listen and Select | 6 to 9 times | You are evaluated based on your ability to choose the correct word or phrase after listening. |
Interactive Reading
This part of the Duolingo English Test is designed to test your ability in academic writing and how you connect your ideas in a piece. In this part you will find several questions that will evaluate your comprehension and literacy sub-scores.
| Question Type | Frequency of questions | What does it test? |
| Complete the Sentences | 2 times | It tests your ability to choose the best words to complete sentences within a given text. |
| Complete the Passage | 2 times | This tests your ability to evaluate and choose the best sentence to include in a paragraph so that it flows logically. |
| Highlight the Answer | 4 times | Check your ability to efficiently locate specific information in a text. |
| Identify the Idea | 2 times | Identify your ability to determine the main idea or central theme of a given paragraph. |
| Title the Passage | 2 times | Demonstrate your ability to convey the main point of a text through a short and informative title. |
Interactive Listening
In the interactive listening section of the DET (Duolingo English Test), you will have to prove your listening and conversation abilities based on real-life scenarios. You will find two types of questions, which you can find in the table below.
| Question Type | Frequency of questions | What does it test? |
| Listen and Respond | Total 2 sets (5 questions per set) | Understanding of spoken English, the ability to interface, and respond appropriately in conversations. |
| Summarize the Conversation | Total 2 sets (1 question per set) | Summarization skills and the ability to summarize important information from conversations. |
Writing & Speaking Sample
This is the final section of the Duolingo test. This section takes 10 minutes, and it is like a video interview where you will be given some prompts and asked some questions and given a time limit to answer them. It will test your English language fluency, vocabulary, coherence, and grammar.
- First, you will be given sample questions and a hint on a topic, and you have to write and answer those questions in at least 50 words, and you will get 3-5 minutes to complete the test.
- The second part of the test will be your speaking round where you will get sample questions and a hint on a particular topic, and you will get 30 seconds to read that prompt, and you will get 1-3 minutes to complete this part.
Why Take the Duolingo English Test?
You should take the Duolingo English Test because it is convenient, you can take the test anytime, from anywhere, even from your home. It is accepted by more than 5,500 institutions worldwide, and there are many more reasons why you should go for DET without a second thought.
- Difficulty level: You will find the Duolingo English test easier than IELTS and TOEFL.
- Affordable and convenient: This test is more affordable compared to other exams, and you can take it even from your home.
- Wide acceptance: The Duolingo English test is recognized by thousands of prestigious institutions around the world that accept Duolingo test results.
- Practice Opportunities: You can practice with sample questions, take mock tests, and take practice courses before appearing for the actual exam.
Latest Changes in Duolingo English Test 2025
There are some changes made to the Duolingo English Test 2025 that you need to review before taking the test.
- Additional subscore feature: The Dulingo English test is a combination of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and provides sub-scores for each level. This provides a comprehensive assessment of the candidate's language abilities.
- Requirement of the Second Camera: From now on, you will need two cameras to take the Duolingo English Test (DET). The second camera will ensure that you do not cheat, and the test environment is secure since this test can be taken from home. The first camera will record you, while the second camera will record your computer and keyboard screen while you take the test. This adds a new layer of monitoring and security.
- Use of AI in Duolingo English Test: The Duolingo English Test, which is essentially an adaptive assessment, now uses AI to prioritize providing better features for candidates, like;
- Adaptive testing for accurate assessment
- Fast and convenient test-taking process
- Unique and secure test questions
- Evaluation of real language skills
- Accurate score predictions on practice tests
- Strong identity verification
Conclusion
In this blog, we have covered all the required information about the Duolingo English Test, now you can start preparing for the test and take it with full confidence. Start by improving your reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills. As well as learn time management skills so that you can complete the test in the given time and score well.
Scoring well in the Duolingo English Test will not only improve your English language proficiency but will also strengthen your academic profile and help you get a good placement in a reputed university and a job in a reputed institute. Start by knowing everything about the Duolingo English Test, then set your goal, track progress, and achieve your desired goal.
