Sample Questions

Duolingo English Test Sample Questions

6 practice questions with complete answer explanations.

Sample Questions

Question 1real-words

Which of the following is a real English word?

A.ubiquitous✓ Correct

B.flentoric

C.prismatic

D.vabulence

Explanation

'Ubiquitous' means present everywhere. 'Flentoric' and 'vabulence' are invented; 'prismatic' is also real but 'ubiquitous' is the clear test word here.

Question 2conditionals

Complete: She would have passed the exam if she ___ more time to prepare.

A.had had✓ Correct

B.has had

C.would have

D.was having

Explanation

Third conditional: 'If + past perfect, would have + past participle.' 'Had had' is correct.

Question 3dictation

You hear: 'The researchers concluded that further investigation was warranted.' Type what you heard.

A.The researchers concluded that further investigation was warranted.✓ Correct

B.The researcher concluded that further investigation was warranted.

C.The researchers concluded that further investigations were warranted.

D.The researchers concluded further investigation was warranted.

Explanation

Listen and Type: exact transcription required. 'Researchers' (plural) and 'investigation was' (singular) are the key discriminators.

Question 4writing-quality

Which response to 'Write about a challenge you overcame' best demonstrates C1+ English?

A.When I relocated abroad for university, the cultural disorientation I experienced proved more daunting than I had anticipated, yet it ultimately fostered resilience.✓ Correct

B.I moved to another country for school. It was hard but I learned a lot and got better.

C.Challenges are everywhere in life. I overcame many of them.

D.My biggest challenge was studying a lot every day.

Explanation

The first response uses subordination, complex vocabulary (disorientation, daunting, fostered resilience), and nuance.

Question 5vocabulary

The word AMELIORATE most nearly means:

A.Improve✓ Correct

B.Worsen

C.Evaluate

D.Describe

Explanation

Ameliorate: to make something bad less severe, or better.

Question 6relative-clauses

Choose the most natural sentence:

A.The policy, which was introduced last year, has had mixed results.✓ Correct

B.The policy which was introduced last year has had mixed results.

C.The policy, that was introduced last year, has had mixed results.

D.The policy that was introduced it last year has had mixed results.

Explanation

Non-restrictive relative clause with commas uses 'which', not 'that'. The others have errors.

Test-Taking Tips

1.Use the official Duolingo practice test at englishtest.duolingo.com — identical format.
2.'Read and Select' tests vocabulary breadth — use Quizlet decks for academic word lists.
3.For 'Listen and Type', practice by transcribing English podcasts at 1x speed.
4.Speaking sections favor natural fluency over perfect grammar — aim for 4–5 complex sentences.
5.The video interview affects admissions decisions — prepare 2–3 personal anecdotes in English.
6.Score comparison: 110 ≈ IELTS 6.5, 120 ≈ IELTS 7.0, 135 ≈ IELTS 7.5.

Ready to practice more?

Take an interactive quiz with these questions.

Start Quiz →