6 Smart Ways to Prepare for the Duolingo English Test in 2026
If you're planning to take the Duolingo English Test in 2026, this guide is just for you.
I'm Teacher Luke, and I’ve helped thousands of students improve their DET scores.
Today, I’ll walk you through five key tips to boost your score—plus a bonus rule you don’t want to miss.
Follow these steps and you’ll:
- Save time
- Save money
- Improve your score faster
Let’s dive in 👇
1. Know All 13 Question Types (But Focus on These 7)
The Duolingo English Test has 13 different question types, covering vocabulary, reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
But if you need to improve your score quickly, you should focus on the 7 speaking and writing question types:
- Read, Then Speak
- Listen, Then Speak
- Speak About the Photo
- Speaking Sample
- Interactive Writing
- Writing Sample
- Read, Then Write
These questions have the biggest impact on your Production and Conversation subscores. And that’s where most students can see fast improvement.
In my Score-Boosting Program, I’ve seen students increase their score by 10, 20, even 30 points just by learning smart strategies for these 7 question types.
So if you’re short on time, join the program.
2. Don’t Pay Full Price for the Test
Here’s a quick money-saving tip. You can get 10% off your official Duolingo English Test when you buy it through DET Ready.
And there's more: You’ll also get your results in just 24 hours, instead of the usual 48.
✅ Same test
✅ Cheaper price
✅ Faster results
Click here to get your 10% discount
3. Practice Every Single Day
The DET is a fast-paced exam. You only have 1 hour to finish the entire test. That means:
- Reading quickly
- Typing quickly
- Thinking quickly
- Speaking quickly
The best way to improve? Daily practice.
Here’s how:
- Use the official DET website to take practice tests and get estimated scores
- Use the DET Ready Practice Platform to access thousands of practice questions and get instant feedback
- Join my live lessons for strategy and feedback
If you want to boost your score fast, practice a little every day.
4. Use Complex Sentences in Writing
This is one of the simplest ways to boost your writing score—and most students forget it.
Duolingo will score your writing based on grammatical complexity, so if you only use short, basic sentences, your score will be lower.
Solution: Use at least one complex sentence in each writing answer.
A complex sentence includes:
- One independent clause (main idea)
- One dependent clause (extra idea)
- A connecting word (like although, even though, because, since)
Examples:
- Even though I prefer studying at home, I sometimes go to the library to stay focused.
- When I work in a quiet environment, I can concentrate better.
📚 There are full lessons on this inside the Score-Boosting Program.
5. Practice Typing in English
This may sound obvious, but it matters: If you type slowly, you’ll struggle.
The writing questions have strict time limits, and many students are used to typing in their first language, not English.
Improve your typing speed by using 10FastFingers.com. It’s a free website with fun typing games that help you type faster in English.
Practice for 10–20 minutes a day and you’ll notice big improvements.
Bonus Tip: Know the Test Rules
One great thing about the Duolingo English Test is you can take it at home. But that means you are responsible for following all the rules.
If you break a rule (even by mistake), your test can be invalidated.
Make sure to:
- Use only approved equipment (laptop + phone for secondary camera)
- Take the test alone in a quiet room
- Not use notes or external help
📌 Click here to read the official DET rules
Preparing for the Duolingo English Test doesn’t have to be stressful.
Focus on speaking and writing questions, practice daily, type faster, and learn to use complex grammar. And don’t forget to follow the rules and save money on your test.
Need help preparing? Join me inside DET Ready VIP for full courses, live feedback, unlimited practice questions, and more.
— Teacher Luke 👨🏫
Helping 1,000+ students pass the Duolingo English Test every month