Duolingo English Test Practice Tests
10 practice tests with all 13 question types of the current Duolingo English Test, grouped by the four skills the DET scores: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Every question keeps its real time limit, Reading and Listening are marked instantly with an estimated 10-160 subscore, and every writing and speaking task has a model answer. The first 3 tests are free; the other 7 come with 7ESL Pro.
Duolingo English Test Practice Test 1 with Answers
A free, interactive Duolingo English Test practice test with answers, about 80 minutes.
TopicsRooftop beekeepingA first night in a restaurant kitchenGroup presentationsLab report deadlinesLearning outside the classroom
This Duolingo English Test Practice Test 1 has 4 papers — Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Choose a paper below to start; your browser will load the interactive version automatically.
Reading
Part 1 — Read and Select
Is this a real English word? Select YES or NO for each word. You have 5 seconds for each word.
Part 2 — Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentence with the correct word. You have 20 seconds for each sentence.
Part 3 — Read and Complete
Type the missing letters to complete the text below. You have 3 minutes for each text.
Part 4 — Interactive Reading 1
You have 7 minutes for all six questions about this passage. The questions appear one at a time.
Part 5 — Interactive Reading 2
You have 8 minutes for all six questions about this passage. The questions appear one at a time.
Listening
Part 1 — Listen and Type
Type what you hear. You can play the recording up to three times. You have 1 minute for each item.
Part 2 — Interactive Listening 1
Listen to the scenario and prepare to answer questions. You have 6 minutes 30 seconds for Listen and Complete and Listen and Respond together. You can replay the scenario as many times as you like; each line of the conversation plays only once.
Part 3 — Interactive Listening 2
Listen to the scenario and prepare to answer questions. You have 6 minutes 30 seconds for Listen and Complete and Listen and Respond together. You can replay the scenario as many times as you like; each line of the conversation plays only once.
Writing
Part 6 — Write About the Photo
Write a description of the image below for 1 minute.
Part 7 — Interactive Writing
Write about the topic below for 5 minutes. Then write a follow-up response for 3 minutes.
Part 8 — Writing Sample
Write about the topic below for 5 minutes. Your Writing Sample is shared with the institutions that receive your results.
Speaking
Part 1 — Speak About the Photo
Speak about the image below. You have 20 seconds to look at the photo, then up to 90 seconds to speak.
Part 2 — Read, Then Speak
Speak about the topic below for 90 seconds. You have 20 seconds to prepare.
Part 3 — Interactive Speaking
Have a conversation with the examiner. Listen to each question once, then record your answer. You have 35 seconds for each answer.
Part 4 — Speaking Sample
Speak about the topic below. You have 30 seconds to prepare and up to 3 minutes to speak. Your Speaking Sample (video) is shared with the institutions that receive your results.
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Duolingo English Test Practice Test 2 with Answers
A delivery rider and a lost dogSleep and memorySharing apartment choresChanging a research topicFree public transport
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
Start Test 2 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 3 with Answers
A grandfather's chess lessonsThe history of the bicycleForming a study groupAsking for a recommendation letterCity life vs small-town life
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
Start Test 3 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 4 with Answers Pro
A marathon with a sore ankleCoral reef restorationBorrowing class notesDiscussing an essay gradeCoding in elementary school
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 4 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 5 with Answers Pro
Why languages disappearStage fright at a music competitionPlanning a campus club eventInternships for course creditRemote work
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 5 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 6 with Answers Pro
The science of procrastinationA power outage on a city streetRoommate problemsCourse waitlistsShould zoos exist?
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 6 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 7 with Answers Pro
Vertical farmingA lighthouse keeper's last stormChoosing next semester's coursesBecoming a research assistantAre exams the best way to measure learning?
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 7 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 8 with Answers Pro
Siblings build a raftColor in advertisingCarpooling to a conferenceSupply and demandTaxing sugary drinks
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 8 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 9 with Answers Pro
Rival bakersUrban heat islandsSharing a lost textbookCapstone project feedbackLearning a second language
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 9 →Duolingo English Test Practice Test 10 with Answers Pro
A lucky mistake in the labThe history of paper moneyDebate competitionMissing a midtermPreserving old buildings
Reading · Listening · Writing · Speaking · about 80 min
See Test 10 →
The four DET papers
The real Duolingo English Test is one adaptive sitting of about an hour, with no separate papers. On 7ESL each practice test is split into the four skills the DET reports, so you can practise one skill at a time or work through all four:
How DET is scored
The Duolingo English Test reports an overall score from 10 to 160 in steps of 5, with Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking subscores on the same scale; the overall score is their average, rounded up to the nearest 5. On 7ESL, the Reading and Listening papers are marked instantly and give an estimated subscore: harder questions count more, and Listen and Type and Highlight the Answer give partial credit. Writing and Speaking come with model answers, and Pro members can have each answer scored by the AI examiner. Once all four subscores are estimated, you see your practice overall score and the four combined subscores.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency test made by Duolingo. You take it on your own computer, at home, at any time, and it lasts about one hour. Before the questions start, you check your camera, speakers and microphone, show a government photo ID and set up your phone as a second camera. Results usually arrive within two days.
The DET is computer-adaptive: each answer affects the difficulty of the next question, so the number of questions varies from person to person, from roughly 60 to 95. Scores cover the whole range from beginner to proficient (CEFR A1 to C2).
Who accepts the DET?
The DET is designed for university and college admission, and thousands of programmes accept it, including many in the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia. Acceptance is decided by each programme, and some set minimum subscores as well as an overall score, so check the admissions page of every place you apply to.
It is generally not a visa or immigration test. It is not a UK Secure English Language Test, it is not on IRCC’s list for Canadian permanent residence, and Australia does not accept English tests delivered completely online for visas. If you need a visa, check which test the immigration authority requires.
DET format at a glance
The real test is one adaptive sitting with the question types mixed together. Grouped by the subscore they count towards, they look like this:
| Skill | Question types (approximate number) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Read and Select (15–18), Fill in the Blanks (6–9), Read and Complete (3–6), Interactive Reading (2 sets of 6 questions) | From 5 seconds per word to 3 minutes per text; 7–8 minutes per Interactive Reading set |
| Listening | Listen and Type (6–9), Interactive Listening (2 conversations) | 1 minute per sentence; about 6.5 minutes per conversation, plus a short written summary |
| Writing | Write About the Photo (3), Interactive Writing (1 set of 2), Writing Sample | 1 minute per photo; 5 + 3 minutes; 5 minutes |
| Speaking | Speak About the Photo, Read, Then Speak, Interactive Speaking (6–8 questions), Speaking Sample | Up to 90 seconds; 35 seconds per question; up to 3 minutes |
On 1 July 2025 Duolingo added Interactive Speaking, a simulated conversation, and removed Read Aloud and Listen, Then Speak. The Writing Sample and Speaking Sample are sent to institutions with your results.
Scores, results and retakes
You receive an overall score from 10 to 160 in steps of 5, plus four individual subscores (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) and four integrated subscores (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production), all on the same scale. The overall score is based on the average of the four individual subscores.
Results are valid for two years. You can buy up to three tests in any 30-day period, and you must wait for one result before taking another test. Because the test is short and available at any time, many applicants take it once for practice under real conditions and again for their application.
Tips for the DET
- Use a quiet, well-lit room and follow the rules exactly: looking away from the screen, wearing headphones or leaving the camera view can make a test invalid.
- Read and Select gives you only a few seconds per word, so build a quick sense of real English spelling patterns.
- In Interactive Speaking, answer each question fully for most of the 35 seconds; short answers give the examiner little to rate.
How to prepare with 7ESL
7ESL practice tests include all 13 current question types, grouped into four skill papers so you can focus on one subscore at a time:
- Reading and Listening: real time limits, instant marking and an estimated 10–160 subscore.
- Writing: model answers and B2, C1 and C2 samples for the Writing Sample. 7ESL Pro members can have each answer scored by the AI examiner.
- Speaking: every speaking task with timers and model answers, with AI scoring for Pro members.
Estimates are for practice only; the real test adapts to you in ways a fixed practice form cannot.
Sources checked for this page
- testcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/39104891663245-Test-Structure
- testcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/36094897057421-Test-Update-New-Interactive-Speaking-questions
- blog.englishtest.duolingo.com/det-subscores/
- testcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/12745089717517-How-long-are-Duolingo-English-Test-results-valid
- testcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011075451-How-often-can-I-take-the-Duolingo-English-Test
- englishtest.duolingo.com/
- gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt
- canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-test.html
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language
Duolingo English Test — frequently asked questions
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency test made by Duolingo. You take it on your own computer at home, whenever you like, in about one hour, and results usually arrive within two days. Thousands of universities and colleges around the world accept it for admission.
How is the Duolingo English Test scored?
The DET reports an overall score from 10 to 160 in steps of 5, plus four subscores on the same scale: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. The overall score is the average of the four, rounded up to the nearest 5. The score report also shows four combined subscores: Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production.
Why is the practice test split into four papers when the real DET is not?
The real test is adaptive: the questions get easier or harder as you answer, and the question types are mixed in one sitting of about an hour. Our 10 practice tests group the 13 question types by the subscore they count toward, so you can open Reading, Listening, Writing or Speaking on its own. Each question keeps its real time limit, and Read Aloud and Listen, Then Speak, which were removed in July 2025, are not included.
What score do I need?
It depends on the university and the program, so check their website. As a rough guide, the DET maps 100-125 to CEFR B2, 130-150 to C1 and 155-160 to C2. Some programs also set a minimum for each subscore.
How are writing and speaking marked on 7ESL?
Every writing and speaking task has a model answer, and the Writing Sample comes with B2, C1 and C2 samples with notes. 7ESL Pro members can also have their answer scored by the AI examiner, which gives an estimated 10-160 score and feedback. All estimates are for practice only.
Are these official Duolingo English Test questions?
No. They are original 7ESL practice materials written to follow the public DET format. 7ESL is not affiliated with Duolingo, and practice estimates are not official DET scores.
7ESL practice material written in the public Duolingo English Test format. 7ESL is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Duolingo, Inc. Duolingo and the Duolingo English Test are trademarks of Duolingo, Inc. Score estimates are unofficial and for practice only.