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DET Test Pattern: Format, Test Type, and Answering Tips
The DET Test Pattern differs slightly from other English language exams available at test centres. The DET Test Pattern is a simple, quick, and reasonably priced online examination that can be taken whenever and anywhere you choose. One hour is allotted for the online DET Test Pattern. The DET Test pattern is essentially split into two halves. One is a 45-minute adaptive exam that consists of a series of inquiries meant to gauge a candidate's proficiency in English. The other is a 10-minute Writing and Speaking test with open-ended prompts that a candidate's score and answers to are shared with institutions. The exam regulations and prerequisites are explained to test-takers within the first five minutes of the introduction. It is graded from 10 to 160. The four components of the DET Test Pattern are intended to track the candidate's overall English language performance.
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Highlights of the DET Syllabus
It's crucial for test-takers to comprehend the DET Test Pattern in order to properly complete the exam. Even though the exam is computer-based, it still has certain technical issues, particularly with how its machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms respond to the test-effort taker's at the Duolingo English test.
The following is a summary of the overall operation or DET Test Pattern:
| Parameters | Description |
|---|---|
| Test Name | DET |
| Mode | Online, At-Home |
| Number of Sections | Two; Graded and Ungraded |
| Types of Questions | Objective + Descriptive |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Time Distribution | 5 min: Introduction & Onboarding |
Video Walkthrough
The Duolingo English Test website(go.duolingo.com/walkthrough) or Youtube channel can help candidates learn about the structure of the test. Candidates can check the video walkthrough for a better understanding. This section takes the test-taker through each portion of the test, including setup and upload.
Test Length
Candidates need about 1 hour of uninterrupted free time to take the DET. After a quick setup (5 minutes), the DET consists of a computer-adaptive portion (approximately 45 minutes) and an extended-response portion (approximately 10 minutes). The former is a series of questions that become more or less difficult based on the test taker’s performance. The latter comprises open-ended written, audio, and visual prompts. For example, in Duolingo English Test exam pattern, certain questions require test takers to describe an image in a written or spoken paragraph.
Duolingo English Adaptive Test
DET Test Pattern includes an adaptive test. This section focuses on analyzing the reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities of the candidates. It is a graded section of the DET exam syllabus which is 45 minutes long. The difficulty level of the questions is set to change dynamically during the Adaptive test. In the Adaptive section of the DET Test Pattern, questions will be asked one after the other irrespective of their type or the section it belongs to. The number of questions in this test is not limited, but the test itself will not take more than 1 hour. DET Test Pattern has the Grading engine will end the test when it is persuaded by the score obtained by the candidate.
Duolingo English Test Set-Up
DET Test Pattern includes a different setup. The test questions draw from a huge pool. It is highly unlikely that you will encounter the same question twice, no matter how many times you take the exam. The DET Test Pattern comprises - Introduction and onboarding, Adaptive Test, Writing Sample and Speaking Sample.
- Introduction and onboarding(5 minutes)
- Ensure your computer's camera, speakers, and microphone are functioning properly.
- Submit your government-issued photo ID.
- Review the test rules and requirements.
- Adaptive test(45 minutes)
- Measures your English skills through a series of different question types.
- Test questions are administered randomly.
- Question difficulty changes based on your performance. This is what enables the Duolingo English Test to be shorter in length than other tests.
- Writing Sample and Speaking Sample(10 minutes)
- You will be given a prompt and asked to respond at length.
- The Speaking Sample allows for a 1-3 minute response, and the Writing Sample allows for a 3-5 minute response.
- You will be able to review your responses to these samples after the test has concluded.
- Institutions that receive your results will also receive these samples.
- The Speaking Sample is an unscored question.
General Tips to Ace Duolingo English Test
There are some DET preparation strategies and habits that apply to all of the question types on the DET exam syllabus. DET Test Pattern preparation includes test-taking strategies, writing tips, and speaking tips.
Test-taking strategies
- Use all of the time that is available to answer a question. Fast solutions and skipping questions might lead to incorrect answers.
- Provide longer responses than required. For instance, write more than 50 words or speak longer than 30 seconds.
- Take time to choose the correct answer. Clicking NEXT to submit the answer and move on to the next item is a final decision. A candidate cannot return to a question once you have clicked NEXT.
- Try not to look at the timer too often, because it can distract you from effectively responding.
- Leave time at the end of each question to check your response.
Writing tips
- Proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization must be used. Though the Duolingo English Exam pattern accepts both American and British spelling, the Read and Complete question type uses American spelling only.
- Sentence structure and word choice must vary as much as possible. Diverse, sophisticated vocabulary and grammar can help you achieve a better DET score.
Speaking tips
- Speak loudly, clearly, and at an understandable pace.
- Test-takers will not have a chance to re-record your response. So even if there is any mistake, still keep going.
- Do not submit the recording until the entire response is finished.
- Just like with writing, vary the sentence structure and word choice as much as possible.
Additional Tips for this Section
Following the DET questions types, answering becomes easier. DET Test Pattern includes different components:
Example: an image of a real question from the test.
Directions: information about what you're being asked to do.
Time limit: the amount of time you have to complete the task.
Tips: advice for each question, separated into two categories:
- Good test-taking strategies and language habits
- How you can interact with the test from your computer
Subscores: the subscores that are being assessed on this question.
There are four subscores: Comprehension, Conversation, Literacy, and Production.
DET Syllabus Qusetion Types
DET Test Pattern consists of different questions. The types of DET questions are explained below with a Diagram of a Question. This refers to the Candidates to clear their doubts and confusion about the parts of each test question:
Read and Complete
Read and Complete enquire students to “Type the missing letters to complete the text below.”
For this question type, candidates will fill in the blanks of unfinished words in a passage.
Note: Read the passage before focusing on each individual word. Use context clues to help you complete the words.
Read and Select
For the Read and Select question, candidates need to “Select the real English words in this list.”
Candidates will need to read each word in a list and decide if it is an actual word in English.
Note: Select only the words you know are real. There could be any number of real words in the list, so don’t worry if one question has more than another.
Listen and Select
Candidates for Listen and Select need to “Select the real English words in this list.” Similar to Read and Select, you will be trying to identify real English words, but in this question, you will listen to the words to identify them.
Note: Make sure to pay attention to each syllable of each word—some fake words may have small differences from real ones. Select only the words you know are real.
Listen and Type
For the Listen and Type question, test-takers are required to “Type the statement that you hear.”
In this task, you will listen to a person speaking a statement and then transcribe what you hear.
Note: Type out what you hear first. Then check your response by replaying the statement and comparing it to what you wrote.
Read Aloud
For the Read Aloud question candidates are asked to “Record yourself saying the statement below.”
In this question type, you will read a written statement, and then speak it out loud into the microphone.
Note: If you have time, practice speaking the statement once out loud before recording. Look at the punctuation in the statement to help you pace yourself—briefly pausing at each comma.
Write About the Photo
Candidates for Write About the Photo need to “Write one or more sentences that describe the image.” For this question type, you will see an image on the screen and you will write a description of the image.
Note: Try to go beyond simple labeling and describe the image in detail. The directions ask for one complete sentence, but try to write more than one, as a longer response can help demonstrate more of your skills.
Speak About the Photo
For Speak About the Photo candidates need to “Speak for at least 30 seconds about the image below.” In this task, the candidate will talk about an image that appears on the screen.
Note: Describe the image as if explaining it to someone who can’t see it. Speak at a natural pace and enunciate clearly.
Read, Then Write
For Read, Then Write candidates need to “Respond to the question in at least 50 words.”
For this question type, you will read a written prompt. Then, you will respond in writing with at least 50 words.
Note: Write as much as you can, as long as you are using English effectively and it is relevant to the topic.
Read, Then Speak
Candidates in Read, Then Speak questions, need to “Speak your answer to the question below.”
For this question type, you will see a written prompt. You will speak your response to this prompt for at least 30 seconds.
Note: Speak naturally and clearly, and use varied words and structures.
Listen, Then Speak
For Listen, Then Speak question, test-takers need to “Speak the answer to the question you hear.” For this question type, you will listen to a prompt, then speak your response.
Note: Make sure you have a clear understanding of the prompt before you start to record. You can replay it up to two times (three plays total).
Complete the Sentences
For Complete the Sentences question, test-takers need to “Select the best option for each missing word.” In this task, you will see a passage with several blank spaces, and select a word to complete the sentence.
Note: Read the entire sentence and use context clues to help you determine the best word choice.
Complete the Passage
For Complete the Passage question, test-takers need to “Select the best sentence to fill in the blank.” In this task, you will see two sections of a passage with a missing sentence in the middle.
Note: Some parts of the passage will be familiar to you from the Complete the Sentences question. Make sure to read each section thoroughly, especially new material.
Highlight the Answer
Candidates for Highlight the Answer need to “Click and drag the text to highlight the answer to the question below.” They will see a question on screen, then you will find and highlight the answer within the passage.
Note: Be precise but thorough in your selection, and make sure to highlight only the answer to the question asked.
Identify the Idea
Candidates for Identify the Idea need to “Select the idea that is expressed in the passage.”
In this task,they will select an idea from the list that best represents what you read in the passage.
Note: Read and consider all of the options carefully.
Title the Passage
Candidates for Title the Passage need to “Select the best title of the passage.” They will select a title from a list of given options.
Note: Some of the options may be somewhat relevant, but make sure to choose the one that is the best title for the whole text.
Writing Sample
For The Writing Sample candidates need to “Write for 3 to 5 minutes about the topic below.”
For this question type, you will be given a written prompt. You will write at length for at least 3 minutes.
Speaking Sample
The Speaking Sample needs candidates to “Speak for 1 to 3 minutes about the topic below.”
For this question type, they will read a written prompt. Then, you will speak at length about the topic shown.
Graded Adaptive Test Question Types
In the below table the types of questions, time limit, sub-scores, and how often they appear have been mentioned for candidates to better understand the DET syllabus:
Type | Time Limit | Sub-Scores | How often they appear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read and complete | 3 minutes | Literacy, Comprehension | 6 times on average |
| Read and select | 1 minute | Literacy, Comprehension | 6 times on average |
| Listen and select | 1 ½ minutes | Comprehension and Conversation | 6 times on average |
| Listen and type | 1 minute | Comprehension and Conversation | 6 times on average |
| Read aloud | 20 seconds | Comprehension and Conversation | 6 times on average |
| Write about the photo | 1 minute | Production, Literacy | 3 times on average |
| Speak about the photo | ½ minute to 1 ½ minutes | Production, Conversation | Once on average |
| Read and write | 5 minutes | Production, Literacy | Once on average |
| Read and speak | ½ minute to 1 ½ minutes | Conversation, Production | Once on average |
| Listen and speak | ½ minute to 1 ½ minutes | Conversation, Production | Twice on average |
DET Test pattern Questions Frequency
There is no specified or defined number of questions that will be asked in the test. Here is the frequency of questions that are asked in the DET exam syllabus.
| Types of Questions | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Read and Select | 3-7 Times or 6 on average |
| Read and Complete | |
| Listen and Type | |
| Listen and Select | |
| Read Aloud | |
| Speak about the Photo | 1 |
| Write about the photo | 3 |
| Read and Write | 1 |
| Read and Speak | 2 |
| Listen and Speak | 1 |
| Speaking Sample | 1 |
| Writing Sample | 1 |
DET Test Pattern Score
Duolingo English Test scores can be accessed through the certificate that is released on the Duolingo English Test website. Candidates can view their Duolingo English Test scores within 48 hours of completing the exam.
Some of the aspects it evaluates include:
- the correctness of your grammar (grammatical accuracy)
- the variety and level of your grammar (grammatical complexity)
- the level of vocabulary used (lexical sophistication)
- the variety of word choice (lexical diversity)
- how well you answer the question that was asked (task relevance)
- how much you can say or write in a limited time (fluency)
- the pronunciation and pace of your speech (acoustic features; this one is for speaking questions only)
Unscored Speaking Sample
The Speaking Sample is the only question on the Duolingo English Test that is not scored. The responses are being recorded and the test is scored by the computer algorithms, multiple human proctors. Some institutions use this sample as a way to learn more about your speaking ability.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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