Duolingo Exam Pattern –Know To Prepare Effectively

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an innovative and flexible language proficiency exam designed to evaluate your skills in real-world contexts. The test is divided into two main sections: an adaptive test and a video interview. The adaptive test assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in an integrated format, where the questions adjust to your ability level.

PTE Exam Format - First Step
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Duolingo Exam Pattern Guide- Know In-Depth

Understanding the Duolingo English Test (DET) structure in detail can significantly enhance your preparation. The adaptive test, which lasts about 45 minutes, dynamically adjusts the difficulty of questions based on your responses, making it a quick yet comprehensive evaluation.

Duolingo Exam Pattern

Know everything about Duolingo English test pattern to score high and practice well.

Read and Select

In this task, you’ll be presented with a list of words. Your goal is to carefully read each one and determine whether it is a valid English word or not.

How to answer:

Carefully review each word and click the correct answer to indicate whether it’s a valid word. If you’re unsure, try to recall common English words and patterns.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-read-and-select

Fill in the Blanks

You will be given a sentence with a missing word. Your task is to read through the sentence and fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the thought.

How to answer:

Analyze the context of the sentence and think about the type of word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) that would logically fit. Type your answer in the blank space provided.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-fill-in-the-blanks

Read and Complete

In this question type, you’ll encounter a passage with incomplete words. You will need to type the missing letters to complete the words, allowing you to practice spelling and comprehension.

How to answer:

Look at the word's context and figure out the missing letters. Type them in the provided spaces to complete each word.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-read-and-complete

Read Aloud

In this task, you’ll read a written statement aloud into the microphone.

How to answer:

Focus on clear pronunciation and fluency as you read the statement aloud. Try to speak naturally as if you were having a conversation. Ensure that your words are clear and easily understood.

Subscores: Speaking, Comprehension, Conversation

duolingo-read-aloud
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Listen and Type

Listen carefully to a spoken statement and then transcribe it by typing what you heard.

How to answer:

Pay close attention to the speaker’s words and type them as accurately as possible. Focus on spelling, punctuation, and grammar as you transcribe.

Subscores: Listening, Comprehension, Conversation

duolingo-listen-and-type

Complete the Sentences

In this exercise, you’ll be presented with a passage containing several missing words. Your task is to select the best word to fill each blank, completing the sentences and ensuring they make sense.

How to answer:

Read each sentence carefully and select the word from the options that best fits both the context and the grammatical structure of the sentence.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-complete-the-sentences

Complete the Passage

This task will show you two sections of a passage with a missing sentence between them. You must select the most appropriate sentence to complete the passage logically.

How to answer:

Read both sections of the passage carefully. Choose the sentence that bridges the gap logically and enhances the flow of the overall message.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-complete-the-passage

Highlight the Answer

In this activity, you will read a question and then search the passage to find the correct answer. Highlight the relevant text by clicking and dragging over the words that best answer the question.

How to answer:

Read the question and understand what information you’re looking for. Then, find the specific part of the passage that answers the question and highlight it.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-highlight-the-answer
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Identify the Idea

In this task, you will read a passage and then choose the idea that best represents the main message or theme.

How to answer:

After reading the passage, review the list of ideas and select the one that most accurately reflects the central theme or message of the text.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-identify-the-idea

Title the Passage

You will read a passage and select the best title from a list of options.

How to answer:

After reading the passage, think about the main theme or topic. Choose the title that best summarizes the essence of the passage.

Subscores: Reading, Literacy, Comprehension

duolingo-title-the-passage

Listen and Respond

In this task, you will listen to a prompt and select the best response.

How to answer:

Listen to the prompt carefully, then choose the response that fits the situation. Consider the tone and content of the prompt to pick the most appropriate reply.

Subscores: Listening, Comprehension, Conversation

duolingo-listen-and-respond

Summarize the Conversation

Listen to a conversation and summarize it within 75 seconds.

How to answer:

Focus on the key points of the conversation. After listening, write a brief summary that captures the main ideas and important details.

Subscores: Writing, Listening, Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production

duolingo-summarize-the-conversation
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Write About the Photo

You’ll be shown an image and asked to write a brief description of it.

How to answer:

Observe the image carefully, noting important details. Write a description that includes what you see, any relevant emotions or themes, and any objects or people present in the photo.

Subscores: Writing, Literacy, Production

duolingo-write-about-the-photo

Interactive Writing

In this task, you will write about a topic for 5 minutes, followed by a 3-minute follow-up response.

How to answer:

Begin by organizing your thoughts. Write a clear and well-structured response to the topic for the first 5 minutes, and then provide additional thoughts or details in the follow-up response.

Subscores: Writing, Literacy, Production

duolingo-interactive-writing

Listen, Then Speak

Listen to a prompt and then speak your response. You’ll have 90 seconds to organize your thoughts and deliver a clear, concise, spoken response.

How to answer:

Take a moment to organize your thoughts after hearing the prompt. Then, speak clearly and confidently about the topic, ensuring your response is relevant and to the point.

Subscores: Speaking, Conversation, Production

duolingo-listen-then-speak

Speak About the Photo

In this task, you will be shown an image and asked to speak about it for 90 seconds.

How to answer:

Focus on describing the image in detail, including what you see and any feelings or thoughts the image evokes. Speak clearly and confidently, and try to be descriptive.

Subscores: Speaking, Conversation, Production

duolingo-speak-about-the-photo
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Read, Then Speak

You’ll be presented with a written prompt and asked to speak your response for at least 30 seconds, up to 90 seconds.

How to answer:

After reading the prompt, think briefly about your response. Then, speak about the topic, making sure to express your thoughts clearly and fully.

Subscores: Speaking, Conversation, Production

duolingo-read-then-speak

Writing Sample

You will be provided with a written prompt and asked to write a detailed response for at least 3 minutes, up to 5 minutes.

How to answer:

Spend the first few moments brainstorming your ideas. Write a focused, well-organized response, ensuring you cover all relevant points in the given time.

Subscores: Writing, Literacy, Production

duolingo-writing-sample

Speaking Sample

For this task, you will read a written prompt and speak about the topic for a minimum of 1 minute, up to a maximum of 3 minutes.

How to answer:

Organize your thoughts, and speak for the full 1 to 3 minutes. Ensure that you answer the prompt in a structured way, providing clear and complete responses to all aspects of the question.

Subscores: Speaking, Conversation, Production

duolingo-writing-sample
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Duolingo Exam Format With Frequency Of Questions

Know the different questions & frequency of these question types in the Duolingo exam pattern.

Question Types

Frequency

Read and Select

15-18

Fill in The Blanks

6-9

Read & Complete

3-6

Read Aloud

3-6

Listen and Type

6-9

Complete the Sentences

2

Complete the Passage

2

Highlight the Answer

4

Identify the Idea

2

Title the Passage

2

Listen & Respond

10

Summarize the Conversation

2

Write About the Photo

3

Interactive Writing

1 set of 2 questions

Listen, Then Speak

2

Speak, About the Photo

1

Read, Then Speak

1

Writing Sample

1

Speaking Sample

1

Succeed in All DET Question Types with Gurully

Gurully offers a powerful platform designed to help candidates excel in every aspect of the Duolingo Test Pattern. Here’s how these features work to boost your success:

1

Real-Time Exam Simulation

The real-time exam simulation feature provides an authentic, test-like experience, replicating all aspects of the Duolingo test. It helps you:

  • Experience the pacing and time constraints of the actual test.
  • Familiarize yourself with the exact question flow and structure of the Duolingo exam.
  • Gain confidence by practicing under real exam conditions, reducing any anxiety on test day.
2

Full-Length Mock Tests

Gurully offers full-length mock tests that are identical in structure and content to the actual Duolingo English Test. These mock tests allow you to:

  • Complete the entire exam in one sitting to build stamina and manage the 60-minute test duration effectively.
  • Assess your performance across all sections—speaking, writing, listening, and reading—and pinpoint areas that need more attention.
  • Simulate real testing conditions to ensure you’re fully prepared for exam day.
3

Instant Scoring Through AI

Gurully uses AI to provide instant, accurate scoring for your practice tests. As you complete tasks, the AI evaluates your performance in real-time and gives detailed feedback. This feature helps you:

  • Receive immediate scores for both objective and subjective tasks, including speaking and writing.
  • Quickly identify areas of improvement and adjust your strategies accordingly.
  • Track your progress and see how you are advancing toward your target score.

FAQs

Have questions about the Duolingo exam format? Find comprehensive answers to all your queries in our detailed FAQs.

The Duolingo test pattern has an adaptive format, meaning the difficulty level of the questions changes based on your responses. The test evaluates reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through an integrated approach.

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