Duolingo English Test Duolingo English Test/Questions/Sample 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Duolingo English Test, the 'Listen and Type' task requires test-takers to do which of the following?
- Read a sentence aloud while being recorded
- Type exactly what they hear spoken in the audio clip (Correct answer)
- Choose the correct word that completes a spoken sentence
- Translate a spoken sentence into their native language
Correct answer: Type exactly what they hear spoken in the audio clip
The 'Listen and Type' task plays an audio clip of a spoken sentence and asks the test-taker to transcribe it accurately by typing what they hear, testing listening comprehension and spelling simultaneously.
Question 2: How long is a Duolingo English Test score report valid for institutions to accept?
- 6 months from the test date
- 1 year from the test date
- 2 years from the test date (Correct answer)
- Indefinitely — scores never expire
Correct answer: 2 years from the test date
DET score reports are valid for two years from the test date, which is standard for most English proficiency tests and gives applicants time to use their scores across multiple application cycles.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes how the Duolingo English Test adapts during the exam?
- All test-takers receive the exact same fixed set of questions
- Question difficulty adjusts based on the test-taker's performance as they progress (Correct answer)
- Test-takers can choose their own difficulty level at the start
- The test only adapts during the speaking section
Correct answer: Question difficulty adjusts based on the test-taker's performance as they progress
The DET is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the algorithm adjusts question difficulty in real time based on how the test-taker answers previous items, allowing for a more precise score estimate.
Question 4: The Duolingo English Test reports four subscores in addition to the overall score. Which of the following is NOT one of those official subscores?
- Literacy
- Comprehension
- Vocabulary (Correct answer)
- Conversation
Correct answer: Vocabulary
The four official DET subscores are Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production. 'Vocabulary' is not a separate subscore; vocabulary knowledge is assessed indirectly through the other subscores.
Question 5: In the Duolingo English Test's 'Read Aloud' task, what are test-takers asked to do?
- Read a passage silently and then answer comprehension questions
- Listen to a passage and repeat it back from memory
- Read a displayed sentence or passage aloud into their microphone (Correct answer)
- Write a summary of a passage they read on screen
Correct answer: Read a displayed sentence or passage aloud into their microphone
The 'Read Aloud' task presents written text on the screen and asks the test-taker to speak it clearly into their microphone, assessing pronunciation, fluency, and reading ability simultaneously.
Question 6: Which of the following statements about retaking the Duolingo English Test is correct?
- Test-takers may retake the test once per calendar year
- There is no limit on retakes, but test-takers must wait 21 days between attempts (Correct answer)
- Test-takers can retake the test immediately after any failed attempt
- Retakes are only allowed if the test was cancelled due to a technical error
Correct answer: There is no limit on retakes, but test-takers must wait 21 days between attempts
Duolingo allows test-takers to retake the DET as many times as they wish, but they must wait a mandatory 21-day (approximately one month) cooling-off period between each attempt.
Duolingo English Test Duolingo English Test/Questions/Sample 1
In the Duolingo English Test, the 'Listen and Type' task requires test-takers to do which of the following?