The podcast provides a comprehensive guide to the Duolingo English Test (DET), detailing its structure, scoring, and preparation strategies for the 2025 version.

It explains that the DET is a one-hour, fully online, computer-adaptive proficiency assessment accepted by over 5,500 institutions globally, serving as an affordable and rapid alternative to IELTS and TOEFL.

The podcast outlines the various question types, including new interactive speaking and listening sections, and clarifies the strict home-testing environment and equipment requirements, such as the mandatory secondary camera.

Furthermore, the guide contrasts the DET with traditional exams, highlighting its faster results (48 hours) and cost-effective advantages like unlimited, free score sending, and offers extensive resources for targeted preparation.

Welcome back to the DETPractice Podcast, where we help you sharpen your skills for the Duolingo English Test.

Today, we’re diving into one of the most common questions students ask: Can I use templates on the test? The short answer is yes—but with an important catch. Templates are meant to be flexible blueprints that guide your thinking, not scripts to memorize. For example, a three‑sentence model can help you organize a photo description, but the words, grammar, and vocabulary must always be your own.

Why? Because the DET uses advanced AI detection systems that compare your answers against a massive database. If your response looks too much like someone else’s, your score may not be certified.

So here’s the key takeaway: don’t waste time memorizing entire sentences. Instead, focus on building a strong vocabulary bank and mastering short, useful expressions. That way, your answers stay authentic, natural, and a true reflection of your English ability.

Let’s get started.

Welcome to Duolingo English Test Prep Hub. In today's episode, we're tackling a common concern for many aspiring international students: the cost of standardized tests, specifically the Duolingo English Test, or DET. While the DET has become a popular and convenient option for university applications worldwide, its fee can sometimes feel like a financial burden.

But here's the good news: you don't always have to pay full price! We're going to dive deep into how to obtain DET coupons and discounts, making your path to international study more affordable. We'll explore various avenues, from official Duolingo partners like DET Practice, DET Study, and DET Ready, which offer both 10% discount coupons and full-value exam vouchers, to the possibility of securing fee waivers directly from universities like Stanford or NYU. We'll also discuss how non-profit organizations and scholarship programs can provide support, and why staying connected through official Duolingo channels and social media can sometimes unlock exclusive promotions.

So, if you're looking to reduce or even eliminate the cost of your DET, stick around! This episode is packed with practical advice to help you save money and focus on your academic dreams. Let's get started!

Find out more here: How to Get a Duolingo English Test Discount Code?

Welcome to the DET Practice Podcast, the authoritative guide to mastering the Duolingo English Test (DET). The podcast is available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.

This episode focuses on one of the most challenging sections of the Duolingo English Test: Duolingo Interactive Speaking. Introduced in July 2025, it replaced the previous Listen and Speak format and places a higher demand on real-time conversational skills.

Duolingo Interactive Speaking is a dialogue-based task in which test-takers listen to 6–8 questions and respond immediately after each one. This format assesses quick thinking, natural conversational ability, and foundational language and on-the-spot speaking skills.

A text-based guide is available: Complete Guide to Duolingo Interactive Speaking

Special bonus for podcast listeners: As a Gold Partner of DET, we offer a 10% discount coupon for the Duolingo English Test, along with free 24-hour expedited score reporting. Details can be found here: Duolingo English Test Coupon & Discount

This podcast details the significant updates to the Duolingo English Test (DET) taking effect on July 1, 2025. These changes are designed to help test-takers showcase their English skills in a more natural and dynamic way, while maintaining the test's fairness, efficiency, and reliability. The broader goals include enhancing the test's authenticity, interactivity, efficiency, and user experience.

Here's a breakdown of the key updates:

New Question Types Introduced

Interactive Speaking: This is a brand-new task designed to simulate real-life conversational scenarios. Each test will include two sets of these questions, with each set containing 6 to 8 rounds of questions and answers. Test-takers will see a preparation prompt, hear a question from a Duolingo character, and have up to 35 seconds to record their spoken answer. Crucially, each question dynamically adjusts based on the previous response, making it feel like a real conversation. This section assesses clear expression, the ability to stay on topic, real-time idea exchange, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, which are all vital for academic success.

Upgraded Interactive Listening with "Listen and Complete": The Interactive Listening section is receiving an important upgrade. This new segment is designed to make the listening comprehension assessment more comprehensive and academic. The process involves several steps: an audio introduction to a scenario, followed by three to four fill-in-the-blank questions to check understanding. After this, test-takers proceed to the original "Listen and Respond" part (where questions are presented as audio only), and finally, they are asked to write a summary of the conversation. This upgraded section evaluates detailed listening comprehension, understanding academic vocabulary, and the ability to summarize key information, which are essential skills for classroom and seminar success.

Question Types Removed

To accommodate the new additions and keep the test within its one-hour timeframe, Duolingo is removing two question types: "Read Aloud" and "Listen, Then Speak". These tasks primarily assessed basic pronunciation skills and are being replaced by the more interactive and comprehensive speaking and listening tasks.

Exam Mechanism Improvements

Removal of Minimum Response Time Limits: For several speaking and writing questions, the minimum response time limits are being removed. This applies to "Speak About the Photo," "Read, Then Speak," "Interactive Writing," "The Writing Sample," and "The Speaking Sample". This change allows test-takers to submit their answers as soon as they feel they are complete, without waiting for a timer to run down. Duolingo's research indicates that shorter responses can be just as effective for assessing language ability, and this change aims to improve the overall test-taking experience and flow.

Preparation Guidance and Resources

The new question types are already available in official online practice tests. Test-takers are encouraged to use these resources to familiarize themselves with the updated formats.

Recommended resources include the official Duolingo English Test Website for practice tests, the DETPractice Research YouTube Channel, and DETPractice's Duolingo English Test Guide 2025.

Platforms like DETPractice.com offer comprehensive preparation resources, including realistic mock exams, a rich collection of academic vocabulary, AI-powered error correction, and personalized AI study plans to help master the essential skills for the updated test. It's advised that candidates begin practicing the new format early and adjust their preparation strategy to ensure smooth adaptation and better scores.

This episode provides a detailed look at the "Read and Select" section of the Duolingo English Test. It explains that the purpose of this task is to assess test-takers' ability to identify real English words and describes its format as judging within a limited time whether the words appearing on the screen actually exist.

The episode also offers various strategies to improve performance in this question type, such as paying attention to letter combinations, roots and affixes, trying to form sentences, and other methods, while reminding test-takers to be aware of common non-word error types. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of continuous practice.

Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test practice platform.

This podcast discusses the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a convenient alternative to traditional English proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS. It highlights the various advantages of the DET, including the flexibility of taking the exam online anytime, anywhere, a shorter test duration, faster score reporting, and more affordable test fees.

The podcast points out that the DET, through technological innovations such as adaptive testing, enhances test efficiency and user experience, offering a modern and convenient choice for test-takers with needs for studying abroad or career advancement.

Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.

Improve your “Speak About the Photo” answers on the Duolingo English Test. Use advanced adjectives to describe events and gatherings accurately.

Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test prep platform.

The text version and the DET “Speak About the Photo” sample question in the podcast can be found at: https://www.detpractice.com/det-advanced-vocabulary-speak-about-the-photo-6