bySayantani Barman Study Abroad Expert
With a growing number of Indian students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad, having a good command of English has become increasingly important. Duolingo English Test (DET), a digital-first, high-stakes assessment, not only serves as a recognized option for college acceptance and smoother immigration processes but also consistently strives to improve the evaluation of test takers' language skills.
New Updates
On April 2, 2024, the DET is scheduled to introduce new and redesigned question types. Recognized by over 5000 global programs across the globe, the upcoming improvements ensure a holistic assessment of a test taker’s English language proficiency by measuring writing skills, vocabulary size, and contextual understanding. Aspiring students can explore these enhancements firsthand by taking a free practice test, now conveniently available on mobile phones as well. Test takers who wish to take the test without these changes can opt to take the certified test before April 2, 2024.
|
Question Types |
New Time Required |
Scores contribute to |
|---|---|---|
|
Interactive Writing |
5 minutes for the first prompt followed by 3 minutes for the second prompt, making for a total duration of 8 minutes 30 seconds |
Literacy and Production subscores |
|
Read and Select |
5 seconds to guess each word with approximately 15–18 words |
Literacy and Comprehension subscores |
|
Fill in the Blanks |
6–9 sentences containing one unfinished word, with 20 seconds for each blank |
Literacy and Comprehension subscores |
Interactive Writing: Elevating Expression and Elaboration
Expanding on the 'Read, Then Write' question, the Interactive Writing feature now includes a follow-up prompt. Test takers read a prompt, and then write about it for 5 minutes. The update introduces a follow-up prompt, allowing an additional 3 minutes to expand on the idea. Here's the breakdown: a 30-second planning screen, followed by the first prompt with 5 minutes, and then the second prompt with 3 minutes. In total, this question spans 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Read and Select: Enhancing Vocabulary Assessment
In the Read and Select section, test takers identify real English words from multiple options. The update transforms the experience by presenting words one by one on multiple screens, allowing 5 seconds to guess each. With approximately 15–18 words in this section, the new format enhances test efficiency and provides a more accurate evaluation of your vocabulary size. Test-takers should trust their instincts while selecting words, as some may appear real but could be misleading.
Fill in the Blanks: Assessing Vocabulary Depth and Contextual Understanding
The Fill in the Blanks question in the Duolingo English Test now assesses vocabulary depth and usage context. This section features 6–9 sentences, each with an unfinished word to be filled in within a 20-second time frame per question. Performance in this question type significantly influences the overall test score, particularly impacting the Literacy and Comprehension subscores. To excel, test-takers must read each sentence thoroughly, consider context clues, and carefully choose the appropriate word for the blank.
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