Duolingo English Test Syllabus
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a modern, computer-adaptive language proficiency exam designed to assess real-world English communication skills. Unlike traditional exams, it combines question types across Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing in a single, streamlined 1-hour test. All tasks are integrated, meaning multiple skills are tested simultaneously through interactive questions.
Reading and Listening Skills
These skills are tested through adaptive, integrated questions that evaluate comprehension, grammar awareness, and contextual understanding.
Common Tasks Include:
- Read and Complete: Fill in missing words in a passage
- Read and Select: Choose real English words from a list
- Listen and Select: Identify real English words from audio
- Listen and Type: Type what you hear in short audio clips
Time Allocation: These questions appear throughout the 45-minute graded section. Question difficulty adjusts in real-time based on your answers.
Writing Skills
Writing is assessed through both short and long-form responses to evaluate grammar, vocabulary, coherence, and idea development.
Writing Tasks:
- Write About the Photo (1–2 sentences) Brief description of an image shown on screen.
- Write a Passage (50+ words): Answer an open-ended question or describe a scenario in a few paragraphs.
- Scoring Criteria Grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary usage, clarity, and coherence.