Duolingo English Test July 2025 Major Update: Complete Guide to New Additions and Removals

The Duolingo English Test (DET) will undergo significant updates starting July 1, 2025. These changes aim to enhance the authenticity, interaction, efficiency, and user experience of the test. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of all the updates to help test-takers prepare effectively for the new Duolingo English Test format.

You can also learn about the new updates through the video below.

1. New Question Type: Interactive Speaking Added to the Duolingo English Test

One of the major highlights of this update is the introduction of a brand-new interactive speaking task called Interactive Speaking, designed to simulate real-life conversational scenarios and allow candidates to showcase their spoken English more naturally.

Key features:

Starting July 1, 2025, each test will include 2 sets of Interactive Speaking questions;

ü Each set contains 6 to 8 rounds of questions and answers;

ü Test-takers have up to 35 seconds to respond to each prompt;

ü After viewing a preparation prompt, candidates will hear questions from Duolingo characters such as Bea or Oscar;

ü Each question adapts dynamically based on previous responses to maintain a natural flow.

Skills assessed:

This task evaluates clarity of expression, thematic relevance, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation — all crucial for academic success on the Duolingo English Test.

Tip: You can submit your answer after recording for 5 seconds, but it’s recommended to speak as fully as possible unless you’ve finished your response and continuing to speak would inevitably cause long pauses or silence. In that case, submitting promptly can help maintain fluency.

2. Upgraded Listening Section: “Listen and Complete” Added to Interactive Listening

The Interactive Listening section receives an important upgrade with the addition of a Listen and Complete task, making the listening comprehension assessment more comprehensive and academic in nature.

Complete process:

ü Each conversation begins with an audio description of the scenario;

ü Candidates answer 3 to 4 fill-in-the-blank questions based on this scenario to confirm understanding;

ü Next, comes the Listen and Respond section, where questions are presented only as audio without text prompts, requiring pure listening skills to comprehend and answer;

ü Finally, test-takers write a summary of the conversation.

Abilities tested:

These three closely linked tasks evaluate detailed listening comprehension, understanding of academic vocabulary, and the ability to summarize key information — all essential for classroom and seminar success.

Note: The length of the fill-in-the-blank lines does not indicate the length of the answer; the field automatically adjusts based on the word length.

3. Removed Question Types: “Read Aloud” and “Listen, Then Speak” Dropped from the Duolingo English Test

To accommodate the new question types and keep the total exam duration under one hour, the Duolingo English Test will officially retire the following question types starting July 1, 2025:

ü Read Aloud

ü Listen, Then Speak

These previously used tasks mainly assessed basic pronunciation skills and will be replaced by the more interactive and comprehensive speaking and listening tasks.

4. Exam Mechanism Improvement: Minimum Time Requirements Removed for Some Speaking and Writing Tasks

Beginning July 2025, the Duolingo English Test removes minimum time limits on several speaking and writing tasks, allowing candidates to submit answers as soon as they finish.

Affected tasks:

ü Speak About the Photo

ü Read, Then Speak

ü Interactive Writing

ü The Writing Sample

ü The Speaking Sample

Benefits:

1. Improved exam flow and user experience;

2. Eliminates waiting after completing a response;

3. Research shows shorter answers can still reliably assess language proficiency.

Important:

Writing tasks require at least one character input before continuing;

For speaking tasks, it’s recommended to wait around 5 seconds before submitting to avoid very short recordings.

5. Preparation Tips and Official Resources for the Updated Duolingo English Test

New question types are already available in official practice tests online, with the old format still accessible until the update deadline. Candidates are encouraged to use these resources to familiarize themselves with the changes.

Recommended resources:

1. Official practice tests: Duolingo English Test Website

2. Research videos: DETPractice Research YouTube Channel

Using these, test-takers can understand scoring criteria and question formats, adjusting their study approach accordingly for success in the updated Duolingo English Test.

6. Summary: Key Takeaways and How to Adapt to the July 2025 Duolingo English Test Changes

The 2025 update to the Duolingo English Test focuses on enhancing authenticity, interactivity, and assessment efficiency. The new Interactive Speaking and Listen and Complete tasks improve evaluation of practical language skills, while removed tasks and relaxed timing constraints streamline the test-taking experience.

To excel, candidates should begin practicing the new format early and adjust their preparation to the updated test design. This proactive approach will ensure smooth adaptation and better scores on the revamped Duolingo English Test starting July 1, 2025.

7. Get Ready with DETPractice

To build a solid foundation and improve your performance, DETPractice offers a full suite of tools tailored for Duolingo English Test success, including:

ü Realistic mock exams to simulate test-day conditions

ü A rich collection of advanced vocabulary for academic settings

ü Smart AI-powered error correction for writing and speaking tasks

ü Personalized AI study plans to target your weaknesses and boost your score

Practicing consistently with DETPractice will help you master the essential skills needed for the updated Duolingo English Test — from fluency and coherence to listening accuracy and academic writing.

Further Reading:

60 Duolingo Photo Description Samples with High-Scoring Answers (Pro Tips Inside)

An article featuring 60 Duolingo Photo Description samples with high-scoring answers.