Duolingo English Test · Item-type guide 2 · 4 min read
Duolingo English Test reading questions: every task type explained
The reading tasks on the Duolingo English Test: completing words in a passage, spotting real English words, and the interactive reading section.
How reading is tested
The Duolingo English Test does not have one long reading section. Instead, reading is tested through several short, timed tasks spread across the test, plus a longer interactive reading section built around a passage. Some tasks focus on recognizing words; others test whether you can follow the meaning of a full text.
Because the test is adaptive, the difficulty of the texts and words you see depends on how well you are doing. Each task has its own timer shown on screen.
| Task | What you do | Main skill |
|---|---|---|
| Read and Complete | Fill in missing letters to complete words in a short passage | Vocabulary, grammar and reading in context |
| Read and Select | Pick out the real English words from a list | Vocabulary recognition |
| Interactive Reading | Answer a series of questions about one passage | Reading for detail and for main ideas |
Reading also plays a part in tasks such as Read Aloud and Read, Then Write, which are covered in the speaking and writing guides.
The official site, englishtest.duolingo.com, lists the current question types. Check it before your test, as tasks can be added or changed.
Read and Complete
You see a short paragraph in which some words are incomplete. Only the first part of each word is shown, and you type the missing letters.
An invented example:
Many people enjoy walking in the par\_\_ on weekends. It is a quiet pla\_\_ to relax.
The answers are park and place. To get them right, you need to understand the sentence, not just recognize the start of the word. The grammar around the gap matters too. If the gap comes after "they have", you are probably looking for a past participle.
Exam tip: read the whole paragraph once before you start typing. Context from later sentences often tells you what an earlier word must be.
Read and Select
You see a set of words on the screen. Some are real English words; others are invented words that look English but do not exist. You select only the real ones, within a short time limit.
An invented example of what the screen might contain: garden, plorish, quickly, threnk, believe, mustle. The real words are garden, quickly and believe.
This task tests how well you know English spelling patterns and vocabulary. Wrong selections count against you, so guessing wildly does not help.
Exam tip: if you are not sure whether a word is real, it is often safer to leave it unselected. Invented words are designed to look believable.
Interactive Reading
Interactive reading is a longer section built around a single passage. Instead of one question, you work through several steps that test different reading skills, and the passage is gradually revealed or reused as you go.
The steps can include tasks such as:
- choosing the best word to complete gaps in the passage;
- choosing the sentence that best fits a gap in the passage;
- highlighting the part of the text that answers a question;
- identifying the main idea of the passage;
- choosing the best title for the passage.
An invented example of the "highlight the answer" style: the passage says, "The library first opened in 1902, when a local businessman donated the building." The question asks, "Who provided the building?" You would highlight a local businessman.
The section has an overall time limit, so you need to keep moving. The early steps help you understand the passage, which makes the later questions about main ideas and titles easier.
Exam tip: when choosing a title or main idea, avoid options that describe only one detail. The right answer covers the passage as a whole.
Skills that help across all reading tasks
- Vocabulary breadth. Many tasks reward knowing a wide range of everyday and academic words, including their correct spelling.
- Grammar awareness. Word endings such as -ed, -ing, -ly and -tion help you complete words correctly.
- Reading speed. Timers are short. Regular reading of articles, short stories and news in English builds speed.
- Reading in chunks. Practice understanding phrases rather than single words.
Common mistakes
- Spelling errors in Read and Complete. A misspelled word is marked wrong.
- Selecting too many words in Read and Select. Invented words are meant to tempt you.
- Spending too long on one step of interactive reading. The section is timed as a whole.
- Answering from general knowledge. In interactive reading, answers come from the passage, not from what you already know.
For the current list of tasks and time limits, check englishtest.duolingo.com.
Check yourself
- In Read and Complete, what part of each word do you need to type?
- In Read and Select, what happens if you select an invented word?
- Name three kinds of question you might meet in interactive reading.
- When choosing a title for a passage, what should the right answer cover?
- Where can you find the official, current list of question types?
More guides are on the Duolingo hub.