DET Practice vs. DET Ready: An In-Depth Look at Your Duolingo English Test Prep Options

Choosing the right preparation platform is critical for success on the Duolingo English Test (DET). With its unique format and adaptive nature, targeted practice is key. Two platforms vying for your attention are DET Practice and DET Ready.

While both aim to help you prepare, they offer significantly different experiences, features, value, and pricing structures. This article dives deep into the specifics to help you make an informed decision based on what truly matters for effective DET preparation.

What Makes for Great DET Prep?

Effective preparation requires more than just glancing at question types. You need:

1. Sufficient Practice Volume: Enough questions to master each format.
2. Realistic Simulation: Mock tests that mimic the real DET's scoring, timing, and adaptive difficulty.
3. Targeted Feedback: Insights into your performance, especially on subjective tasks like speaking and writing.
4. Comprehensive Skill Coverage: Resources addressing all aspects of the test.
5. Accessible Trial: The ability to properly evaluate a platform before committing.
6. Value for Money: Pricing that reflects the features and benefits offered.

Let's see how DET Practice and DET Ready compare on these crucial elements.

DET Practice: The Comprehensive & Feedback-Driven Choice

DET Practice is designed as an all-encompassing solution focused on maximizing your score through extensive practice and intelligent feedback.

• Massive Question Bank: DET Practice offers a significantly larger pool of practice questions – approximately double the volume found on DET Ready (stated as 18,000+ questions). This ensures ample opportunity to practice every question variation.
• True-to-Life Mock Tests with Detailed Reports: A standout feature is the availability of full-length DET mock tests ($4.99 each, or included in packages) that not only simulate the adaptive experience but also provide detailed score reports mirroring the official DET breakdown. Results are delivered quickly (5-30 minutes).
• AI-Powered Speaking & Writing Feedback: DET Practice leverages advanced AI to provide instant scoring and specific feedback on your speaking and writing responses. This crucial feature is included even in basic practice plans and significantly expanded in packages.
• Generous Free Trial & Accessibility: Offers a full 24-hour free trial (via social media/WhatsApp) with unlimited practice questions and 2 trial uses of the AI feedback service.
• Free, Comprehensive Self-Study Course: Provides a completely free DET self-study course covering all DET question types (video, text, interactive exercises), accessible without needing to log in or register.

DET Ready: A Different Approach

DET Ready also offers resources, but they differ significantly.

• Limited Question Volume: Provides roughly half the number of practice questions.
• Absence of Detailed Mock Test Reports: Lacks the detailed, official-style score reports offered by DET Practice.
• No AI Feedback for Speaking/Writing: Does not offer AI-driven scoring or feedback for these crucial skills.
• Restricted Free Access: Free access is limited to only 15 practice questions.
• Offers VIP Live Lessons: Provides paid VIP Live Lessons, workshops, and courses as its premium offering ($29.99/month).

Head-to-Head: Key Differences Summarized

Pricing and Value Comparison: Getting the Most for Your Money

Beyond features, the cost structure reveals significant differences in value:

• Pure Practice Access:
• DET Ready: Offers basic unlimited question access plans (e.g., $12.97/month). However, these plans do not include AI feedback or mock tests.
• DET Practice: Offers comparable monthly access ($11.97/month or cheaper quarterly) that includes unlimited practice, 18000+ questions, AND 5 AI-powered corrections per month, plus access to study plans and word books. DET Practice provides more features at a similar or lower price point for dedicated practice.
• Comprehensive Packages:
• DET Ready VIP: Costs $29.99/month and focuses on access to live lessons, courses, and workshops.
• DET Practice Packages: Range from 13.97/month (Basic) to 29.97/month (Pro). These packages bundle unlimited practice, AI corrections (up to 60/month), full mock exams with detailed reports (up to 5/month), AI speaking evaluations, study plans, and even free guidebooks.
• Value: While DET Practice's top 'Pro' package ($29.97/month) matches DET Ready's VIP price, it delivers significantly more practice-oriented value: numerous mock tests, extensive AI feedback, and study guides, which are arguably more critical for DET success than live lessons. Even lower-priced DET Practice packages offer a combination of mock tests and AI feedback not available through DET Ready's basic access plans.
• Mock Exams:
• DET Ready: Does not seem to offer standalone mock tests with detailed, official-style reports.
• DET Practice: Offers mock exams as a standalone purchase ($4.99) or includes them generously within its packages, complete with rapid, detailed scoring.

In summary, DET Practice consistently offers more features and practice-focused tools (like AI feedback and detailed mock reports) for your investment, whether you need basic practice access or a comprehensive package.

Live Lessons vs. Practice & Self-Study: What's Best for DET?

While DET Ready offers VIP Live Lessons ($29.99/mo), the DET format emphasizes quick, accurate responses under adaptive, timed conditions. Extensive practice is paramount. DET Practice focuses on this, enhancing it with AI feedback and supplementing with a comprehensive free self-study course accessible to everyone. This combination targets the core requirements for DET success more directly.

Why DET Practice (detpractice.com) is the Stronger Choice

Based on features and pricing, detpractice.com provides a more robust, user-centric, and cost-effective platform:

• Far More Practice: Double the questions.
• Realistic Assessment: Mock tests with detailed reports.
• Actionable Feedback: AI scoring included in plans.
• Superior Trial Access: Try everything that matters.
• Value-Added Free Resources: Comprehensive free course.
• Better Pricing Value: More features (AI feedback, mocks) included at comparable or lower price points than DET Ready's basic or VIP tiers.

Conclusion

While DET Ready provides an alternative, DET Practice offers a significantly more comprehensive, feedback-rich, practice-oriented, and cost-effective environment tailored to the demands of the Duolingo English Test. Its larger question bank, realistic mock tests with detailed reports, unique AI feedback system included in affordable plans, generous free trial, and free self-study resources present a clear advantage for test-takers aiming for their best score without overspending.

Don't just take our word for it. Experience the DET Practice difference yourself!

Sign up to activate your FREE 24-hour trial via our social channels today and get unlimited practice + AI feedback now!