MY Experience With the Duolingo English Test(DET)

I recently achieved a score of 140/160 on the Duolingo English Test (DET) after two unsuccessful attempts. I'm sharing my experience and the resources I used to prepare for the test.

I was selected as a Principal Ugrad Grantee for spring 2025 this year, which means I'll have the opportunity to study for a semester at an institution in the USA. To take advantage of this opportunity, I needed to submit my Duolingo English Test score to the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) by April 5, 2024.

I took my first test on April 2nd, thinking that I would receive my results in two days and could then share them with USEFP before the deadline. However, things didn't go as planned. I got my connection disrupted due to an unprecedented electricity outage, which led to my WiFi going off. Then, my cursor moved out of the window for too long because I was using an external mouse. When I started writing, the cursor moved out for too long. A warning popped up on my screen, and my test was cancelled.

On the very next day April-3, I attempted the test again. This time, I didn't close some background applications, and the DET supervisor deemed my test uncertified.

I contacted the support team, who listened to my issue and allowed me to retake the test without paying again. This was a one-time courtesy, and I would have to pay again if anything went wrong on my side. Meanwhile, I spoke with the USEFP program officer, who was kind enough to extend the deadline for me.

I attempted the test again on April-7, but unfortunately, the result was still uncertified. This time, it was due to glare on my glasses. I contacted the support team again, and they advised me to change my sitting position and ensure that I checked myself in the camera before starting the test. They also informed me that I would have to purchase the test again if I wanted to take another attempt.

I bought the test again and attempted it on April 15th. This time, I used eye lenses instead of glasses to avoid any glare issues. I also made sure there were no apps or processes running in the background. Thankfully, I received an exceptional score of 140/160 which is equivalent to 7.5 bands in IELTS! ??

?? To prepare for the test, I used the following resources:

? Followed Teacher Luke's YouTube channel and watched almost 4-5 long-form videos.

? Attended a session regarding Duolingo preparation at iCodeGuru .

? Solved almost 8 practice tests from the official website.

?? Now that I've shared my experience, I'd like to advise you on what mistakes to avoid to prevent your test from getting invalid:

? Don't take the test rules lightly. Understand them fully and make sure you're following each and every rule.

? Don't give the test without some preparation, thinking it would be easy. It's not that easy, but also not very difficult.

? Don't remember sample answers. Try to maintain your natural tone during the test.

? Practice speaking and writing questions mainly, as well as the picture description part. The other portions of the test are relatively easy to tackle.

?During the writing part of the test, it's important to avoid using an external mouse. This is because there's a high chance that your cursor may move out of the window, leading to the cancellation of the test. Instead, it's recommended to use the keyboard's arrow keys to navigate and the built-in mouse pointer to click on the answer choices.

?Make sure to have a stable internet connection.

Lastly, I'd like to express my gratitude to Sir Zafar Shahid, PhD, Sir Rizwan Ghaffar and the moderators at iCodeGuru, Usama Zafar and Ayesha Arif, for their support. Additionally, I'd like to mention Muhammad Tanveer, who was a selfless support and motivator for me throughout my preparation journey.

I hope my experience and tips help you in your preparation for the Duolingo English Test. Good luck!