13 Types of Duolingo English Test Questions
Updated for the 2026 DET Format. Learn exactly how each fully-scored question works, what it tests, and how to improve your performance.
Read and Select
Determine whether each displayed word is a real English word. Evaluate your basic vocabulary recognition skills. You will encounter both authentic vocabulary and carefully constructed pseudowords designed to challenge your spelling and semantic recall.
Fill in the Blanks
Complete a single sentence by typing the missing letters of an unfinished word based on context. This question assesses your reading comprehension and grammar mechanics in a rapid-fire format.
Read and Complete
Complete multiple unfinished words within a paragraph by typing the missing letters to restore the full text. This passage-length exercise tests your contextual understanding and vocabulary depth.
Interactive Reading
Answer a series of questions about a single passage that progressively reveals more content as you proceed. You will highlight sentences, fill in blanks, and assign a overarching title, simulating complex academic reading tasks.
Listen and Type
Listen to an audio sentence (up to 3 plays allowed) and type exactly what you hear using correct spelling and punctuation. This evaluates your auditory processing and working memory under strict time constraints.
Interactive Listening
Engage with an audio scenario through connected tasks: listen to peers, select the best responses, and write a summary. This mirrors real university dialogue, testing both your listening comprehension and written synthesis.
Interactive Speaking
Have a dynamic spoken conversation with an animated Duolingo character. You must listen to audio prompts and provide your spoken responses directly without reading text, assessing real-time academic communication.
Speak About the Photo
Speak aloud describing the image presented on screen for 1-3 minutes. This evaluates your verbal fluency, vocabulary range, and ability to structure a cohesive spoken response spontaneously.
Read, Then Speak
Read a written prompt asking about personal experiences or opinion, prepare your thoughts, then record your spoken response. This measures your ability to organize ideas logically and articulate them with fluency.
Speaking Sample
Speak extensively about a personal experience or opinion topic chosen from a prompt. While this part affects your Speaking subscore, the raw video recording is also shared directly with the admissions offices of your chosen institutions.
Write About the Photo
Describe what you see in a realistic photo displayed on screen using complete and descriptive sentences. You will need to demonstrate strong initial observation skills along with varied vocabulary and proper grammatical structures.
Interactive Writing
Write a detailed response to a specific prompt, then immediately answer a related follow-up question on the exact same topic. This multi-part sequence intentionally challenges your narrative development.
Writing Sample
Write an extended essay about a topic asking for your personal experience or opinion. This extensive writing piece contributes to your overall score, and your final essay is submitted alongside your entire test results.
FAQs about Duolingo English Test Question Types
How many question types are there in the DET?
Are the 13 question types presented in a specific order?
Do certain question types appear more often than others?
Is there a time limit for each question type?
Are all the Duolingo English Test questions computer adaptive?
Can I skip difficult questions and return to them later?
How can I best prepare for all 13 question types?
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