Duolingo English Test (DET) Practice: Free Vocabulary, Reading & Listening Exercises

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fully online, adaptive English proficiency test that takes about an hour and is accepted by a fast-growing number of universities. Its task types (picture-based vocabulary, fill-in-the-blank, and listen-and-type) map onto some specific exercises on this site unusually well.

Best forfast, affordable online university admission

Format~1 hour, fully online & adaptive

Score validity2 years

Picture-based vocabulary for DET

DET's adaptive test includes “Read and Select” and picture-matching vocabulary tasks. Our visual vocabulary exercises are a genuinely close match for this task type.

Animals 1 (picture matching)Visual vocab
Things you see in a city (picture matching)Visual vocab
Around the kitchen (picture matching)Visual vocab
Things in and around a school (picture matching)Visual vocab
Food/containers vocabulary matchingVisual vocab
Around the car/parts of a car (picture matching)Visual vocab

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Reading practice for DET

DET's reading-related tasks are short and varied rather than long single passages, so use these for general comprehension speed across a range of topics and levels.

Canada loses its 'measles-free' statusB1/B2/C1
USA: Where did winter go?B1/B2/C1
How dolphins talk to their youngB1/B2/C1
Trump's plan for a “New Gaza”B1/B2/C1
Fauci not worried that COVID numbers are rising again in the USAB1/B2/C1
Clown Day in PeruB1/B2/C1

Browse all 72 reading comprehension exercises →

Grammar & word-level accuracy for DET

DET's “Fill in the Blanks” and “Read and Complete” tasks reward strong word-level accuracy: word formation, comparatives, compound words, homonyms, word order, contractions, and pronoun reference all come up.

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Listening & spelling practice for DET

DET includes “Listen and Type” dictation-style tasks. Our audio listening section includes spelling practice (listen and type what you hear) which is a close match for this task type.

Audio listening & spelling practiceListening/spelling
Video listening (movie clips & trailers)Listening

Browse all listening exercises →

A note on DET format DET is adaptive (questions get harder or easier based on your answers) and combines short, varied task types rather than long passages or essays, so no single exercise here will feel exactly like the real test. That said, the picture-based vocabulary exercises and listen-and-type spelling practice are genuinely close matches for two of DET's core task types, which makes this page a better-than-average fit despite DET's unusual format. Acceptance varies by institution, so always confirm with your specific school before relying on a DET score, and try the official free DET practice test before exam day.

More exam prep Not sure the Duolingo English Test is the right exam for you? Compare all 5 major English exams on our exam prep hub, or browse the full reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary sections.