This podcast details the significant updates to the Duolingo English Test (DET) taking effect on July 1, 2025. These changes are designed to help test-takers showcase their English skills in a more natural and dynamic way, while maintaining the test's fairness, efficiency, and reliability. The broader goals include enhancing the test's authenticity, interactivity, efficiency, and user experience.
Here's a breakdown of the key updates:
New Question Types Introduced
Interactive Speaking: This is a brand-new task designed to simulate real-life conversational scenarios. Each test will include two sets of these questions, with each set containing 6 to 8 rounds of questions and answers. Test-takers will see a preparation prompt, hear a question from a Duolingo character, and have up to 35 seconds to record their spoken answer. Crucially, each question dynamically adjusts based on the previous response, making it feel like a real conversation. This section assesses clear expression, the ability to stay on topic, real-time idea exchange, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, which are all vital for academic success.
Upgraded Interactive Listening with "Listen and Complete": The Interactive Listening section is receiving an important upgrade. This new segment is designed to make the listening comprehension assessment more comprehensive and academic. The process involves several steps: an audio introduction to a scenario, followed by three to four fill-in-the-blank questions to check understanding. After this, test-takers proceed to the original "Listen and Respond" part (where questions are presented as audio only), and finally, they are asked to write a summary of the conversation. This upgraded section evaluates detailed listening comprehension, understanding academic vocabulary, and the ability to summarize key information, which are essential skills for classroom and seminar success.
Question Types Removed
To accommodate the new additions and keep the test within its one-hour timeframe, Duolingo is removing two question types: "Read Aloud" and "Listen, Then Speak". These tasks primarily assessed basic pronunciation skills and are being replaced by the more interactive and comprehensive speaking and listening tasks.
Exam Mechanism Improvements
Removal of Minimum Response Time Limits: For several speaking and writing questions, the minimum response time limits are being removed. This applies to "Speak About the Photo," "Read, Then Speak," "Interactive Writing," "The Writing Sample," and "The Speaking Sample". This change allows test-takers to submit their answers as soon as they feel they are complete, without waiting for a timer to run down. Duolingo's research indicates that shorter responses can be just as effective for assessing language ability, and this change aims to improve the overall test-taking experience and flow.
Preparation Guidance and Resources
The new question types are already available in official online practice tests. Test-takers are encouraged to use these resources to familiarize themselves with the updated formats.
Recommended resources include the official Duolingo English Test Website for practice tests, the DETPractice Research YouTube Channel, and DETPractice's Duolingo English Test Guide 2025.
Platforms like DETPractice.com offer comprehensive preparation resources, including realistic mock exams, a rich collection of academic vocabulary, AI-powered error correction, and personalized AI study plans to help master the essential skills for the updated test. It's advised that candidates begin practicing the new format early and adjust their preparation strategy to ensure smooth adaptation and better scores.
This episode provides a detailed look at the "Read and Select" section of the Duolingo English Test. It explains that the purpose of this task is to assess test-takers' ability to identify real English words and describes its format as judging within a limited time whether the words appearing on the screen actually exist.
The episode also offers various strategies to improve performance in this question type, such as paying attention to letter combinations, roots and affixes, trying to form sentences, and other methods, while reminding test-takers to be aware of common non-word error types. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of continuous practice.
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test practice platform.
This podcast discusses the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a convenient alternative to traditional English proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS. It highlights the various advantages of the DET, including the flexibility of taking the exam online anytime, anywhere, a shorter test duration, faster score reporting, and more affordable test fees.
The podcast points out that the DET, through technological innovations such as adaptive testing, enhances test efficiency and user experience, offering a modern and convenient choice for test-takers with needs for studying abroad or career advancement.
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.
Improve your “Speak About the Photo” answers on the Duolingo English Test. Use advanced adjectives to describe events and gatherings accurately.
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.
The text version and the DET “Speak About the Photo” sample question in the podcast can be found at: https://www.detpractice.com/det-advanced-vocabulary-speak-about-the-photo-6
Welcome to the Duolingo English Test Prep Hub! In today's episode, we're diving deep into the writing section of the Duolingo English Test, equipping you with the skills and strategies you need to excel and achieve a high score.
Are you feeling confused or overwhelmed by the Duolingo English Test writing sample? Do you want to learn how to craft essays that are well-developed, coherent, and demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical complexity? If so, this podcast is designed just for you!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Whether you're a beginner preparing for the test or looking to further improve your writing skills, this podcast will provide you with the most practical and comprehensive guidance. So, let's begin your journey to writing success!
Find the text-based version here: https://prep.detpractice.com/det-prep-course-writing-sample/
Welcome to our Duolingo English Test Prep Hub. This episode provides a comprehensive guide to the “Read Aloud” question type in the Duolingo English Test. It covers the format, frequency, and key aspects to consider when answering these questions. The guide delves into pronunciation techniques, including the International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA, word stress, sentence stress, and various phonetic rules like linking and weak forms. It also offers practical examples and exercises to help test-takers improve their pronunciation and reading skills.
Click here for the text-based version: https://prep.detpractice.com/det-prep-course-read-aloud/
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform, with enhanced Duolingo English Practice Test.
This comprehensive episode tackles the speaking section of the Duolingo English Test, focusing on ‘Read, Then Speak’ and ‘Listen, Then Speak’ questions. We’ll explore the test format, scoring criteria, and three main question categories: descriptive, argumentative, and comparative. You’ll learn essential strategies, including the versatile opening sentence technique and tailored templates for each question type. We also provide advanced vocabulary tips for high scorers and offer practice questions with sample answers. Whether you’re a beginner or aiming for top marks, this episode will equip you with the tools to excel in your Duolingo English Test speaking tasks.
The guide mentioned in this episode can be found at: DET Prep Course: Read, then Speak & Listen, then Speak.
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test Prep Platform.
Take full-length Duolingo English Practice Tests just like the real DET. Get instant scores and detailed feedback to improve fast and perform your best. Try our enhanced Duolingo English Practice Test here.
Hi, welcome to Duolingo English Test Prep Hub. In this comprehensive episode of the Duolingo English Test, we will cover speaking sample question types, response strategies, and essential tips. We provide templates for descriptive, argumentative, comparative, and hypothetical questions, focusing on the subjunctive mood for hypothetical scenarios. We also offer practical advice on preparation, delivery, and grammar, equipping test-takers with the tools to excel in the Duolingo English Test speaking section.
The text-based version, sample questions, and templates mentioned in the podcast can be found at: https://prep.detpractice.com/det-course-speaking-sample/
Brought to you by DETPractice, the one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform, AI-powered.
This episode provides a detailed explanation of the problem-solving techniques for the "Describe the Image" task in the Duolingo English Test. It covers three main categories: people, landscapes, and objects, including animals. For each category, the guide offers step-by-step answering strategies, templates, and examples to help candidates improve their test-taking skills and enhance their spoken English proficiency.
The text-based version and more exercises can be found at: https://prep.detpractice.com/det-course-speak-about-the-photo/
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.
The Listen and Type question is a key component of the Duolingo English Test. This question type tests the examinee’s ability to accurately transcribe spoken English sentences, focusing on listening comprehension, spelling, and punctuation. The interface consists of a speaker icon for audio playback and a text box for typing the heard sentence. Each question has a one-minute time limit and allows for up to three audio plays.
The episode provides practical tips for improving performance, such as focusing on content words first, leveraging grammatical knowledge, and enhancing typing speed. It also emphasizes the importance of vocabulary expansion and familiarity with phonetic phenomena like linking, assimilation, and weak forms.
The text-based version and exercises mentioned in the podcast can be found at: DET Prep Course: Listen and Type Questions
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop DET prep hub.
Welcome to our Duolingo English Test Prep Hub. This comprehensive episode covers the Interactive Writing section of the Duolingo English Test (DET), focusing on question types, response strategies, and advanced techniques. It provides detailed templates and examples for argumentative, descriptive, and comparative essays, along with vocabulary-enhanced versions to help test-takers achieve higher scores.
A text-based version can be found here: DET Prep Course: Interactive Writing
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test preparation platform.
Welcome to Duolingo English Test Prep Hub, this episode focuses on the Fill in the Blanks question type in the Duolingo English Test. It covers the question format, importance, and various problem-solving techniques to help test-takers improve their performance. The episode provides detailed explanations and example questions to enhance understanding and preparation for this crucial test part.
Text-based version: DET Prep Course: Fill in the Blanks
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test Prep Platform.
This comprehensive episode focuses on the “Read and Select” question type in the Duolingo English Test. It covers the format, importance of word spelling, tips for answering questions, and strategies for preparation. The post also delves into word formation, roots, affixes, and common error patterns to help test-takers improve their performance.
Text-based version and more exercises can be found at: DET Prep Course: Read and Select Questions
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.
Welcome to the DET Prep Hub podcast, where we break down everything you need to know about acing the Duolingo English Test. Today we're diving deep into one of the most challenging sections of the test: Interactive Reading. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by those tricky reading questions or found yourself running out of time, you're in the right place.
Whether you're aiming for that dream university admission or seeking to prove your English proficiency for work, mastering these six question types could be the game-changer you need. In the next few minutes, I'll walk you through expert strategies that have helped countless students boost their scores, including a clever time management approach that most test-takers overlook.
Text-based version (including the exercise mentioned in the podcast): DET Prep Course: Interactive Reading
Brought to you by DETPractice, the AI-powered Duolingo English Test prep platform.
This comprehensive episode focuses on the “Read and Complete” question type, a crucial component of the Duolingo English Test. It covers the question format, and its importance in assessing comprehension skills, and provides detailed strategies for approaching these questions effectively.
The episode includes expert tips, practice examples, and explanations to help test-takers improve their performance on this challenging task.
The text-based version and the exercises mentioned in this podcast can be found at: Duolingo English Test Prep Course: Read and Complete
Brought to you by DETPractice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test Prep platform.
This episode will delve into the distinctions between the free and premium versions of the Duolingo English Practice Test, evaluating features, benefits, and costs to assist listeners in selecting the most suitable option for their preparation needs.
Text base version here: Free vs. Premium Duolingo English Practice Test: Which Option Best Fits Your Needs?
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test Prep Platform.
This comprehensive guide walks test-takers through the Duolingo English Practice Test, providing detailed insights into test structure, scoring, and preparation strategies. The episode presents a proven 5-week formula for achieving scores of 130 and above, complete with section-specific study plans and practical tips.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your score, this guide offers actionable strategies, common pitfall warnings, and expert advice based on successful test-taker experiences.
The text-based version can be found here: Duolingo English Practice Test Guide
Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop platform for Duolingo English Test preparation.
This episode provides a comprehensive guide to the “Read Aloud” question type in the Duolingo English Test. It covers the format, frequency, and key aspects to consider when answering these questions.
The guide delves into pronunciation techniques, including the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), word stress, sentence stress, and various phonetic rules like linking and weak forms. It also offers practical examples and exercises to help test-takers improve their pronunciation and reading skills.
A text-based version and practice questions can be found at:
Brought to you by DETPractice, your AI-powered one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.
This podcast offers a comprehensive guide to help both students and teachers succeed in the interactive listening section of the Duolingo English Test. It highlights the importance of scene-specific vocabulary and provides various strategies and exercises to enhance students' listening comprehension, conversation-building, and summarization skills.
The podcast also covers common academic scenarios, such as classroom discussions, assignment submissions, and seeking help, along with the key vocabulary associated with these contexts. It encourages students to practice these concepts through interactive exercises, role-playing, and summarization techniques.
Ultimately, the podcast emphasizes the crucial role of scene-specific vocabulary in the interactive listening test and broader academic settings, offering valuable insights and resources for students and teachers alike.
The guide mentioned in the podcast can be found at: Unlocking DET Interactive Listening with Scenario-Specific Vocabulary Here, you can also find some related practice exercises for the DET interactive listening section.
Produced by DETPractice.com, your one-stop platform for Duolingo English Test preparation.
This comprehensive episode offers advanced strategies and vocabulary for excelling in the “Speak and Write About the Photo” sections of the Duolingo English Test. It covers seven key areas: color descriptions, nature scenes, urban landscapes, human activity, everyday life, technology and science, and weather and climate. Each section provides advanced vocabulary, examples, and practice exercises to enhance your descriptive skills and test performance.
You can find the questions, vocabulary, and example images mentioned in this episode at the link below:
Boost Your DET Vocabulary: 7 Advanced Photo Description Techniques
This podcast is produced by DET Practice - an all-in-one AI-powered Duolingo English Test preparation platform.
