Duolingo English Test Pattern
The Duolingo English Test is a 1-hour-long test that can be taken online from anywhere after completing the payment.
The Duolingo English Test Format in 2025 consists of 3 sections:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Adaptive Test (45 mins)
- Writing & Speaking sample (10 mins)
The Duolingo English Test is scored on a scale of 10-160, with 5 marks awarded for each correct answer.
In the adaptive test section, the difficulty level of questions will depend on your performance. If you answer more questions correctly, then subsequent questions will become harder and vice versa.
Below is an in-depth breakdown of what each section contains and how you can ace these sections.
Duolingo English Test Format
The Duolingo English Test Format for Introduction & Onboarding:
This section is only for 5 minutes and has no questions to answer.
- You have to review your test details on the screen
- Read all the rules carefully to avoid any confusion
- Properly verify to ensure you have met all the technical requirements for the test, like camera setup, a strong internet connection, etc.
- Each section has a time limit, so pay attention to the time for each segment
- This way, you can manage your time wisely and complete each part within the given time frame
Duolingo English Test Format for Adaptive Test
The Adaptive test includes various types of questions to assess the writing, speaking, listening, and reading skills of the test-taker. The test is designed in such a way that DET is also able to assess your score on a combination of two skills. For example, the “Listen, then Speak” task allows DET to assess your ability to hold a conversation.
This section is for 45 minutes. The difficulty level of questions will be adapted in real-time based on your performance.
Different types of questions for Adaptive tests are:
Interactive Reading
This section tests the ability to read academic writing and how much you are able to comprehend from it. There are multiple types of questions that are asked with respect to specific passages to test literacy and comprehension sub-scores.
It is worth noting that the Duolingo English Test has no defined sequence in which the questions will be asked, and the frequency of questions in the test can also vary since it is adaptive in nature. Thus, you should be ready to answer these questions in any order to score well.
Read more: Tips & tricks to score 160 in Duolingo English Test
Duolingo English Test Format for Writing & Speaking Sample
In the writing and speaking sample questions, you will be given a prompt and asked to respond within a limited time period. This section is for 10 minutes only.
- For the speaking sample question, you will be given a prompt and will have 30 seconds to read and prepare for it. Then you will have 3 minutes to respond to it with a minimum of 1 minute speaking time.
- You will only have 3-5 minutes to respond to writing sample questions. You will have to write a minimum of 50 words.
Now that you know the test pattern, the next step is a smart prep plan. Don’t waste time guessing what to study - follow our proven Duolingo English Test preparation guide to focus on what really works.