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

Browse all vocabulary exercises →

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.

Browse all grammar exercises →

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.