Timed performance · server clock

Free Duolingo English Test (DET) mock

One Duolingo English Test (DET) timed free-mock paper: 59 questions across 6 timed sections, 1 hr 11 min on a server-controlled clock.

About the real exam The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fully online English proficiency test you take from home in about one hour, accepted by 6,500+ institutions worldwide.

DiagnosticGlobalSpeaking recordedPlays audio
Opens your Free Mock selection · you confirm before your one attempt is used

Free, reversible until you begin · one attempt per account · no retake, no card.

Questions59
Sections6
Breaks5
Scored out of630
Fidelity

How this mirrors the real format

  • This paper runs 6 sections in exam order, 59 questions in total - see "What differs or is limited" for how that compares with the real sitting.
  • Timing is server-controlled for the full 1 hr 11 min -- closing the tab does not pause the clock, exactly like our paid mock series.
  • Marking follows the published paper: the per-section marks shown in the paper map are the marks the scorer applies.
  • Sections run strictly in order and a completed section cannot be reopened.
  • Break windows fall where the paper schedules them, and each one is shown in the paper map.

"Real format" means the paper shape, timing, marking and navigation above - not the official exam software, its visual identity, or any affiliation with the exam body.

The published paper

The paper, section by section

01Ras
16 questions · 2 min
+1 per correct answer, no negative marking
Break · optional, up to 10 min
02Fitb
6 questions · 2 min
+1 per correct answer, no negative marking
Break · optional, up to 10 min
03Rc lt
30 questions · 15 min
Scored out of 92 marks, with no negative marking
Break · optional, up to 10 min
04Ir
2 questions · 16 min
Scored out of 20 marks, with no negative marking
Break · optional, up to 10 min
05Il
2 questions · 16 min
Scored out of 16 marks, with no negative marking
Break · optional, up to 10 min
06Production
3 questions · 21 min
Scored out of 480 marks, with no negative marking
2 recorded prompts1 written task

Navigation: sections run strictly in order and a completed section cannot be reopened.

Marks and results

What you get back

What this free mock returns

You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.

  • Scored out of 630 raw marks, with per-section totals.
  • There is no negative marking anywhere in this paper.
  • AI-scored tasks are estimates provided as-is, and can arrive after your objective result.

How the real Duolingo English Test (DET) is scored

The DET reports an overall score of 10-160 in 5-point increments, aligned to the CEFR. You also receive four individual skill subscores (Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening) - the overall score is their average - and four integrated subscores, each the average of two skills: Production (Speaking + Writing), Literacy (Reading + Writing), Comprehension (Reading + Listening), and Conversation (Listening + Speaking). Your Writing Sample and video Speaking Sample are shared directly with institutions alongside the score report.

  • 155-160 (CEFR C2)Near-native mastery. Exceeds virtually every university requirement worldwide.
  • 130-150 (CEFR C1)Advanced. Meets the requirements of competitive and Ivy League programs; a common bar for demanding graduate admissions.
  • 100-125 (CEFR B2)Upper-intermediate. Meets the typical admission requirement at a very wide range of universities (many ask for 105-120).
  • 10-60 (CEFR A1-A2)Beginner to elementary. Substantially more preparation needed before applying.

Context only - this free mock returns: You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.

Scoring route

Scored instantly, or scored by AI

Objective · instant

56 questions are scored automatically against the paper key the moment you submit.

AI-scored · may take longer

1 written task and 2 recorded speaking prompts are scored by AI. These scores are estimates, provided as-is, and can arrive after your objective result.

About the exam

The Duolingo English Test (DET) at a glance

About the real Duolingo English Test (DET)

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fully online English proficiency test you take from home in about one hour, accepted by 6,500+ institutions worldwide. Unlike IELTS or TOEFL, it has no separate skill sections: all four skills are assessed together through 13 question types mixed through a single computer-adaptive graded section, followed by a Writing Sample and a video Speaking Sample that are shared directly with the institutions you apply to. Question difficulty adjusts to your performance, and results are reported on a 10-160 scale aligned to the CEFR, with four individual skill subscores and four integrated subscores. Independent practice material: not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Duolingo, Inc.

6,500+ institutions
Acceptance
Accepted globally, including all eight Ivy League universities.
10-160
Score scale
5-point increments, CEFR-aligned. Overall = average of the four skill subscores.
~1 hour
Test length
5 min setup + 45 min adaptive graded section + 10 min writing and speaking samples.

What it covers

All 13 current DET question types, each drilled with its real on-screen mechanics and timing: Read and Select (real vs fake words, 5s each), Fill in the Blanks (complete the unfinished word, 20s), Read and Complete (C-test passages, 3 min), Listen and Type (dictation with 2 replays), Interactive Reading (one passage, six linked tasks, progressive reveal), Interactive Listening (campus scenario: fill-in blanks, best-response conversation picks, 75-second written summary), Write About the Photo, Interactive Writing (two linked steps), Speak About the Photo, Read Then Speak, Interactive Speaking (a 6-8 question conversation with a character, 35 seconds per answer), plus the Writing Sample and Speaking Sample that institutions see.

Who sits it

  • Students applying to universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and worldwide that accept the Duolingo English Test.
  • Applicants who want a fast, affordable, at-home alternative to IELTS or TOEFL with results in about two days.
  • Test-takers preparing for the CURRENT 13-type format, including Interactive Speaking and the restructured Interactive Listening.
  • Anyone who needs to build speed: the DET runs on strict per-question countdowns as short as 5 seconds.

How people prepare for it

  • Learn all 13 question types cold - the DET rewards knowing exactly what each screen asks before the timer starts.
  • Train pace relentlessly: Read and Select gives 5 seconds per word and Fill in the Blanks 20 seconds per sentence - hesitation costs more than knowledge here.
  • Practise C-test completion daily (Read and Complete) - restoring half-damaged words from context is a learnable skill that feels alien at first.
  • Do Interactive Listening end-to-end: scenario, blanks, response picks, then the 75-second summary - the summary is where prepared candidates pull ahead.
  • Speak to the clock: 35-second answers for Interactive Speaking and 90-second responses for the photo and prompt tasks, with only one recording chance.

What it opens up

  • Fluency with all 13 current DET question types and their exact on-screen mechanics.
  • Reliable pace under the real per-question countdowns, from 5-second word judgements to 3-minute passages.
  • A repeatable method for Interactive Reading's six linked tasks and Interactive Listening's blanks-picks-summary flow.
  • Confident one-take speaking for the photo, prompt, and character-conversation tasks.
  • A clear per-skill and per-subscore picture of your level against the 10-160 scale.

Figures about the real exam, as recorded in the Myndaq course. They describe the real sitting, not this free mock paper - check current details with the exam body before you book.

Be clear about this

What differs or is limited

  • Speaking is trimmed to at most 2 prompts and writing to 1 task; the paid mock includes the full task set. AI-scored sections are estimates and are provided as-is. Audio you record is deleted within 30 days.
  • The real Duolingo English Test is one computer-adaptive graded section whose difficulty follows your performance. This free paper is delivered as fixed, non-adaptive phases, so its section structure differs from the real sitting.
Before you begin

Device and setup checklist

  • A stable internet connection for the full duration.
  • A working microphone (speaking sections are recorded).
  • Headphones or speakers (this paper plays audio).
  • A laptop or desktop is recommended for the closest exam experience.
One attempt

One attempt, explicitly

Adding this mock to your account is free and reversible - you can change the exam any time before you begin. Only the confirmed Begin action uses your one attempt. No retake, no reset, no card.

Questions

Frequently asked

How many attempts do I get?
One. Every account gets exactly one free mock, on one exam. You can change the chosen exam freely until you begin the paper; after that the attempt is permanently used and there is no retake.
What does the result include?
You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.
Is the timing real?
Yes. The paper runs 1 hr 11 min on a server-controlled clock, section by section. Closing the tab does not pause it.
Do I need a microphone?
Yes - the speaking prompts record your voice. You can check your microphone before the recorded section starts, and raw audio is deleted within 30 days.
Are there breaks?
The paper schedules 5 breaks; each break window and cap is enforced by the server and shown in the paper map.
Do I need to pay or add a card?
No. The free mock needs only a Myndaq account. The paid course unlocks explanations, practice content and the full mock series.

About the real Duolingo English Test (DET)

What is a good DET score?
There is no pass mark - each institution sets its own requirement. 100-125 (CEFR B2) meets typical university requirements, with many programs asking 105-120; competitive programs commonly want 130+ (C1). Always check your target program's minimum, including any per-subscore floor.
How does the DET compare with IELTS and TOEFL?
Duolingo publishes an official comparison: broadly, a DET score around 120 is comparable to about IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 98-103, and 105-110 to about IELTS 6.5. The DET is shorter (~1 hour), cheaper, fully at home, and mixes all skills in one adaptive section instead of fixed skill sections.
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59 questions · 1 hr 11 min · one attempt, no retake
Free Duolingo English Test (DET) mock
1 hr 11 min · one attempt