Duolingo English Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the impact of long pauses during the speaking section of the Duolingo English Test?

They only matter if longer than 10 seconds
They reduce the fluency score and may indicate lack of confidence (Correct answer)
They have no impact on the score
They are encouraged for thoughtful responses

Correct answer: They reduce the fluency score and may indicate lack of confidence

Long or frequent pauses negatively affect the fluency component of the speaking score. While brief natural pauses are acceptable, extended silence suggests difficulty with the language and reduces the overall impression of speaking competence.

Question 2: Which English number matches the Italian word 'tre'?

Ten
Two
Three (Correct answer)
Five

Correct answer: Three

'Tre' is the Italian number three.

Question 3: Which spelling is correct?

Definitaly
Definitley
Definitely (Correct answer)
Definately

Correct answer: Definitely

"Definitely" is the correct spelling.

Question 4: What happens if a test taker submits a completely blank response for a dictation question on the Duolingo English Test?

It receives the minimum possible score for that item (Correct answer)
The question is skipped without penalty
The test is automatically invalidated
The question is repeated once more

Correct answer: It receives the minimum possible score for that item

Submitting a blank response results in the minimum score for that item. The test does not skip or repeat questions, and a single blank response does not invalidate the entire test, though it negatively impacts the overall score.

Question 5: Which of the following is a critical component for a high score in a 'Listen, then Type' dictation task?

Typing as fast as possible to finish early.
Ensuring correct capitalization at the beginning of the sentence and proper ending punctuation. (Correct answer)
Using contractions like 'don't' even if the speaker says 'do not'.
Paraphrasing the sentence using more advanced vocabulary.

Correct answer: Ensuring correct capitalization at the beginning of the sentence and proper ending punctuation.

Accurate transcription requires attention to detail, which includes correct punctuation and capitalization. Forgetting to capitalize the first letter or end with the correct punctuation (usually a period) will result in lost points. You must type exactly what you hear.

Question 6: Which of the following is "coffee"?

Stecca
Caffè (Correct answer)
Latte
Cornetto

Correct answer: Caffè

In Italian, "caffè" is the direct translation for "coffee." It is a staple beverage in Italy, typically served as a small, strong espresso. The word is commonly used in cafes and homes across Italy.

Question 7: In the 'Speak About the Photo' task, a test taker sees an image of a busy marketplace. Which response strategy would score highest?

Describing the scene, people, activities, colors, and possible location with varied vocabulary (Correct answer)
Describing only one person in extreme detail
Counting the number of people visible in the image
Simply saying 'This is a marketplace'

Correct answer: Describing the scene, people, activities, colors, and possible location with varied vocabulary

A comprehensive description covering multiple aspects of the image demonstrates vocabulary range, descriptive ability, and organized thinking. This approach naturally produces longer, more complex speech that scores well across all speaking criteria.

Question 8: During the speaking section, a test taker is asked to describe an image for at least 30 seconds. What structure produces the best score?

Listing individual objects seen in the image
Repeating the same observation multiple times to fill time
Speaking as fast as possible to include more content
Providing an organized description covering main elements, details, and possible context (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Providing an organized description covering main elements, details, and possible context

An organized description that covers the main subject, supporting details, and contextual observations demonstrates comprehensive language ability. This structured approach naturally fills the time requirement while showcasing vocabulary and coherence.

Question 9: How does the interactive reading section contribute to the overall Duolingo English Test score?

It is a practice section that does not count toward scoring
It only affects the Reading subscore
It contributes to both Literacy and Comprehension subscores (Correct answer)
It only affects the Writing subscore

Correct answer: It contributes to both Literacy and Comprehension subscores

Interactive reading tasks contribute to both the Literacy subscore (reading and writing) and the Comprehension subscore (reading and listening), as they test both the ability to read text and comprehend meaning in context.

Question 10: After reading a DET passage about climate change, you are asked: 'What conclusion can be drawn about global temperatures?' What should your answer be based on?

Information and evidence presented within the passage itself (Correct answer)
Your personal beliefs about climate change
General knowledge that is not discussed in the passage
Recent news headlines you have read on the topic

Correct answer: Information and evidence presented within the passage itself

Conclusion questions in the DET require drawing inferences based solely on information provided within the passage, not outside knowledge.

Question 11: What happens if a test taker's microphone malfunctions during a speaking task on the Duolingo English Test?

The test taker receives full marks for the affected question
The test is immediately cancelled with a full refund
The test detects the issue and may prompt the test taker to check their equipment (Correct answer)
The speaking section is simply skipped

Correct answer: The test detects the issue and may prompt the test taker to check their equipment

The Duolingo English Test has equipment checks and may detect audio issues. If a microphone problem occurs, the system may prompt the test taker to verify their setup. This is why the pre-test equipment check is important.

Question 12: Which spelling is correct?

Receive (Correct answer)
Receve
Receeve
Recieve

Correct answer: Receive

"Receive" follows the "i before e except after c" rule.

Question 13: What best describe the word "garçon"?

woman
boy (Correct answer)
man

Correct answer: boy

In French, "garçon" directly translates to "boy." It is a common noun used to refer to a male child or young man. This word is fundamental in basic French vocabulary for describing people.

Question 14: In an interactive listening task, the speaker uses an idiomatic expression you do not understand. What is the best approach?

Ask the system to define the idiom
Report the question as unfair
Use context clues from the rest of the passage to infer meaning (Correct answer)
Ignore the idiom and focus on other parts

Correct answer: Use context clues from the rest of the passage to infer meaning

Using context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar expressions is a key language skill tested by the Duolingo English Test. The surrounding words and the overall situation usually provide enough information to understand the general meaning.

Question 15: In 'Listen and Type', you hear: 'Please close the window.' Which is correct?

Please closed the window.
Please close the windo.
Please closes the window.
Please close the window. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Please close the window.

It correctly transcribes the imperative with proper spelling.

Question 16: What is the significance of keigo (敬語) in Japanese, and how does Duolingo introduce it?

Keigo is the honorific/polite language system; Duolingo introduces the polite (です/ます) level first (Correct answer)
Keigo is slang that Duolingo avoids teaching
Keigo is only used in ancient Japanese texts
Keigo means casual speech

Correct answer: Keigo is the honorific/polite language system; Duolingo introduces the polite (です/ます) level first

Keigo (敬語) is the Japanese honorific language system with three levels: sonkeigo (respectful), kenjōgo (humble), and teineigo (polite). Duolingo primarily teaches teineigo (the です/ます polite forms) as the most practical starting point for learners.

Question 17: The Duolingo English Test reports four subscores in addition to the overall score. Which of the following is NOT one of those official subscores?

Vocabulary (Correct answer)
Comprehension
Literacy
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 18: Read and Complete: 'He couldn't find his keys ___ he was already late.'

and
but
or
so (Correct answer)

Correct answer: so

'So' shows the result of not finding the keys.

Question 19: What is the correct word order in a basic Japanese sentence?

Subject-Verb-Object (like English)
Verb-Subject-Object
Subject-Object-Verb (Correct answer)
Object-Subject-Verb

Correct answer: Subject-Object-Verb

Japanese follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order: '私は本を読みます' (Watashi wa hon wo yomimasu = I book read). The verb always comes at the end of the sentence, which is one of the most fundamental differences from English word order.

Question 20: After hearing an interactive listening scenario, a test taker must speak their response. What is weighted most heavily in the scoring?

Content relevance and appropriateness of the response (Correct answer)
Speaking speed and fluency only
Use of advanced vocabulary regardless of context
Perfect grammar with no errors

Correct answer: Content relevance and appropriateness of the response

The scoring prioritizes content relevance and appropriateness, meaning the response should directly address what was heard and be suitable for the given context. While fluency and grammar matter, a relevant response is the foundation of a good score.

Question 21: A test taker is preparing for the dictation questions on the Duolingo English Test. Which practice method would be LEAST effective?

Focusing on improving typing speed and accuracy.
Memorizing lists of advanced and uncommon English vocabulary. (Correct answer)
Transcribing short audio clips from news sites or podcasts.
Practicing with dictation exercises that include common contractions and varied punctuation.

Correct answer: Memorizing lists of advanced and uncommon English vocabulary.

Dictation tasks test your listening comprehension, spelling, and punctuation of common English, not necessarily advanced or obscure vocabulary. While a good vocabulary is helpful for the test overall, simply memorizing lists is not a targeted or effective way to prepare for the specific skill of transcription. The other methods directly address the skills needed for this question type.

Question 22: What is the correct French translation of 'She has been living in Paris for five years'?

Elle a habité à Paris depuis cinq ans.
Elle habite à Paris depuis cinq ans. (Correct answer)
Elle vivra à Paris depuis cinq ans.
Elle habitait à Paris depuis cinq ans.

Correct answer: Elle habite à Paris depuis cinq ans.

French uses the present tense with 'depuis' to express an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. 'Elle habite à Paris depuis cinq ans' correctly reflects that she is still living there now.

Question 23: A writing prompt on the Duolingo English Test asks: 'Do you agree or disagree that technology improves education?' What is the ideal response structure?

Stating a position, providing reasons with examples, and addressing a counterargument (Correct answer)
Simply writing 'I agree' or 'I disagree'
Copying the question and adding a few words
Writing an unrelated personal story

Correct answer: Stating a position, providing reasons with examples, and addressing a counterargument

An effective argumentative response states a clear position, supports it with reasons and examples, and demonstrates critical thinking by acknowledging a counterargument. This structure showcases multiple language skills simultaneously.

Question 24: Which word is spelled correctly?

Embarass
Embarrass (Correct answer)
Embaras
Embarras

Correct answer: Embarrass

"Embarrass" has two r's and two s's.

Question 25: Which of the following skills is NOT directly assessed in the complete Interactive Listening scenario (including all its parts)?

Writing Production
Spoken Pronunciation (Correct answer)
Reading Comprehension
Listening Comprehension

Correct answer: Spoken Pronunciation

The Interactive Listening scenario involves listening to audio, reading response options, typing to complete sentences, and writing a summary. It assesses comprehension, literacy, conversation, and production subscores but does not require the test-taker to speak, so spoken pronunciation is not evaluated.

Question 26: Fill the blank: 'Neither the manager nor the employees ____ aware of the change.'

has been
was
is
were (Correct answer)

Correct answer: were

With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'employees' (plural).

Question 27: Which sentence demonstrates correct adjective-noun agreement in Spanish?

Las casas blanco son bonitas.
Las casas blanca son bonitas.
Las casas blancas son bonitas. (Correct answer)
Las casas blancos son bonitas.

Correct answer: Las casas blancas son bonitas.

Spanish adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. 'Casas' is feminine and plural, so the adjective must also be feminine plural: 'blancas.' The other options use masculine or singular forms that do not match.

Question 28: A test taker notices they have 15 seconds remaining on a dictation question and have only typed half the sentence. What should they prioritize?

Submitting what they have immediately
Rewriting what they have more neatly
Deleting everything and starting over
Typing as many remaining words as possible (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Typing as many remaining words as possible

Since missing words are penalized more heavily than misspellings, the best strategy with limited time is to type as many of the remaining words as possible, even if spelling is approximate. Capturing more words maximizes partial credit.

Question 29: Which of the following is a key component of a high-scoring response for the Speaking Sample?

Providing a well-structured answer with a main idea and supporting details. (Correct answer)
Speaking for the entire 3-minute duration without any pauses.
Using as many idioms as possible, even if they don't fit perfectly.
Repeating the prompt's keywords multiple times to show understanding.

Correct answer: Providing a well-structured answer with a main idea and supporting details.

The Speaking Sample is assessed on your ability to express ideas clearly and organize your thoughts. A high-scoring response is coherent and well-structured, with a clear main idea supported by examples or details, much like a mini-presentation.

Question 30: After weeks of non-stop work, the programmer felt completely ______ and decided to take a long vacation.

galvanized
activated
enervated (Correct answer)
invigorated

Correct answer: enervated

'Enervated' means to feel drained of energy or vitality, which accurately describes someone who has been working non-stop. 'Invigorated', 'galvanized', and 'activated' all suggest an increase in energy or motivation, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

Question 31: In a listening scenario where two speakers are having a disagreement, what aspect of the conversation is most important to identify?

The grammatical structures used by each speaker
Which speaker talks more
The specific point of disagreement and each person's position (Correct answer)
The speed at which each person speaks

Correct answer: The specific point of disagreement and each person's position

Understanding the core point of disagreement and each speaker's position demonstrates high-level listening comprehension. This skill is essential for following complex conversations and formulating appropriate responses.

Question 32: What is the standard grammatical word order of a Japanese sentence?

Subject – Verb – Object (SVO)
Object – Verb – Subject (OVS)
Verb – Subject – Object (VSO)
Subject – Object – Verb (SOV) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Subject – Object – Verb (SOV)

Japanese follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. For example, 私はりんごを食べます (Watashi wa ringo wo tabemasu) literally translates as 'I apple eat.' The verb always comes at the end of the clause.

Question 33: Which punctuation element is most commonly tested in the 'Listen, then Type' section of the Duolingo English Test?

Quotation marks and apostrophes
Semicolons and colons
Parentheses and brackets
Period placement and capitalization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Period placement and capitalization

The dictation section primarily tests basic punctuation including periods at the end of sentences and proper capitalization of the first word. These fundamental elements are essential for demonstrating English writing competency.

Question 34: What is the main limitation of using only the practice test for preparation?

It has too many questions
It costs too much
It is only available in English
It lacks adaptive difficulty, so it cannot accurately predict your real test score (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It lacks adaptive difficulty, so it cannot accurately predict your real test score

The practice test uses fixed-difficulty questions and does not adapt based on performance, so it cannot accurately predict the score on the adaptive real test. Supplementing with other English practice materials provides a more comprehensive preparation.

Question 35: Which is a real English word?

Indipendent
Independint
Independant
Independent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Independent

"Independent" ends in -ent, not -ant.

Question 36: A test taker realizes they made a grammatical error mid-sentence during a speaking task. What should they do?

Stop immediately and restart from the beginning
Ignore it completely and keep going
Apologize for the error before continuing
Naturally self-correct and continue speaking (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Naturally self-correct and continue speaking

Natural self-correction is a sign of language awareness and is viewed positively. It demonstrates that the speaker recognizes errors and can fix them, which is a higher-level language skill. Stopping entirely disrupts fluency.

Question 37: In 'Read Aloud', which sentence is grammatically correct to read?

The weather are nice today.
The weather is nice today. (Correct answer)
The weather were nice today.
The weather be nice today.

Correct answer: The weather is nice today.

'Weather' is uncountable and takes the singular 'is'.

Question 38: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

The number of applications are increased.
The number of applications has increased. (Correct answer)
The number of applications have increased.
The number of applications were increased.

Correct answer: The number of applications has increased.

'The number of' takes a singular verb because 'number' is the subject.

Question 39: For the 'Read Aloud' task, which of the following sentences would likely be most challenging for test takers?

She went to the store yesterday.
The archaeological excavation revealed unprecedented findings. (Correct answer)
I like to read books.
The cat sat on the mat.

Correct answer: The archaeological excavation revealed unprecedented findings.

Sentences with longer, multi-syllabic academic or technical words like 'archaeological,' 'excavation,' and 'unprecedented' present greater pronunciation challenges due to complex stress patterns and consonant clusters.

Question 40: During the dictation section, a sentence includes a proper noun the test taker has never heard before. What is the best strategy?

Write it in lowercase since the exact spelling is unknown
Capitalize it and spell it phonetically (Correct answer)
Replace it with a common word that sounds similar
Skip the word to avoid a spelling penalty

Correct answer: Capitalize it and spell it phonetically

The best approach is to capitalize the word (showing awareness of proper noun conventions) and spell it phonetically. This demonstrates both grammatical knowledge and listening comprehension, even if the exact spelling is imperfect.

Question 41: Which component of the Interactive Listening section allows for unlimited replays of the initial scenario audio?

The entire 7-minute section
Listen and Respond
Listen and Complete (Correct answer)
Summarize the Conversation

Correct answer: Listen and Complete

During the 'Listen and Complete' part, which involves filling in blanks about the initial scenario, the test-taker can replay the scenario audio as many times as needed. This feature is not available for the individual turns in the 'Listen and Respond' section.

Question 42: In the 'Listen, then Type' (Dictation) section of the Duolingo English Test, which of the following errors is penalized most heavily?

Omitting a word entirely. (Correct answer)
Incorrect punctuation.
Typing a synonym instead of the exact word.
A misspelled word.

Correct answer: Omitting a word entirely.

According to the official Duolingo English Test scoring information, you will be penalized more for missing a word than for misspelling a word. Therefore, it is always better to attempt to type the word you hear, even if you are unsure of the spelling.

Question 43: What category of objects does the Japanese counter suffix 本 (hon/pon/bon) count?

Bound books and magazines
Long, thin objects such as pens, bottles, and roads (Correct answer)
Small animals such as fish and insects
Flat objects such as paper and books

Correct answer: Long, thin objects such as pens, bottles, and roads

本 (hon/pon/bon) is the counter for long, thin objects, including pencils (鉛筆一本), bottles (ビール二本), and roads. Its pronunciation changes based on the number preceding it (e.g., 一本 ippon, 二本 nihon, 三本 sanbon).

Question 44: Which pair of sentences expresses the same future meaning in Spanish?

'Voy a estudiar' and 'Estudiaré' (Correct answer)
'Voy a estudiar' and 'Estudiaría'
'Voy a estudiar' and 'Estudiaba'
'Voy a estudiar' and 'Estudié'

Correct answer: 'Voy a estudiar' and 'Estudiaré'

Both 'voy a estudiar' (ir + a + infinitive) and 'estudiaré' (simple future tense) convey a future action. The 'ir + a + infinitive' structure is common in informal speech, while the synthetic future ending '-ré' is more formal — but both mean the same thing.

Question 45: A test-taker is responding to a 'Speak About the Photo' prompt. They are speaking very quickly, using many filler words like 'um' and 'like', and frequently restarting their sentences. Which scoring criterion is most negatively affected by this?

Lexical Sophistication
Fluency (Correct answer)
Grammatical Accuracy
Content Relevance

Correct answer: Fluency

Fluency on the Duolingo English Test is measured by the speed and rhythm of speech, the natural use of pauses, and a low reliance on filler words, repetition, and false starts. Speaking too quickly with many fillers and restarts directly harms the fluency score.

Question 46: To pronounce the word 'information' correctly, where should the primary stress be placed?

On the fourth syllable (in-for-MA-tion) (Correct answer)
On the fifth syllable (in-for-ma-TION)
On the second syllable (in-FOR-ma-tion)
On the first syllable (IN-for-ma-tion)

Correct answer: On the fourth syllable (in-for-MA-tion)

For English words ending in the suffix '-tion', the primary stress is placed on the syllable immediately preceding the suffix. In 'information', this is the fourth syllable, 'MA'.

Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test is an adaptive online English proficiency exam scored 10-160, accepted by thousands of universities worldwide.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

60%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

testcenter.zendesk.com — Score validity, test dates, score release, retake policy, retake fee, eligibility, test delivery · verified Oct 2026
englishtest.duolingo.com — Passing score · verified Oct 2026
blog.englishtest.duolingo.com — Fees, exam format, time limit · verified Oct 2026