Comprehension

The Comprehension component of the Duolingo English Test (DET) assesses a candidate's ability to understand spoken and written English. It involves various question types that test different aspects of language comprehension. Here's a summary of how Comprehension is evaluated, as detailed in the official guide:

1. Listening Comprehension: This aspect is evaluated through listening exercises where test-takers must understand spoken English.

- Listen and Type: Test-takers listen to a spoken sentence or dialogue and type what they hear, assessing their ability to comprehend and transcribe spoken English.

2. Reading Comprehension: In addition to the reading exercises that contribute to the Literacy score, Comprehension also includes:

- Complete the Sentences: Selecting the best word or phrase to complete sentences, which requires understanding the context and meaning of the text.

- Complete the Passage: Choosing the best sentence to fill in a gap within a longer passage, which tests the ability to comprehend the overall context and flow of information.

3. Interactive Listening: This section involves a simulated conversation where test-takers read a scenario, select the best option to start the conversation, and continue the interaction by choosing the most appropriate responses. It concludes with a summary of the conversation, which tests the ability to understand and engage in a dialogue.

4. Comprehension of Written and Spoken Information: The Comprehension score reflects a test-taker's ability to grasp the meaning of both written and spoken text, which is crucial for effective communication in English.

The Comprehension component is an essential part of the DET as it measures the test-taker's overall ability to understand English in real-world contexts, both in writing and speech. Performance in these sections contributes to the individual's Comprehension score, which is a key element of the total DET score.