Interactive Reading

Interactive Reading: General Information

• What is the Interactive Reading section? The Interactive Reading section is a part of the Duolingo English Test that assesses your reading comprehension skills through interactive question types.
• How many times does the Interactive Reading section appear in the test? It appears twice in each Duolingo English Test.
• How many questions are in each Interactive Reading section? There are a total of six sub-questions across five different question types in each section.
• How much time is allotted for the Interactive Reading section? You will have 7 to 8 minutes to complete each Interactive Reading section.

The Duolingo English Test (DET) includes an "Interactive Reading" section designed to evaluate your English literacy skills. This adaptive component assesses your reading comprehension and ability to analyze text through various engaging tasks. Let's break down what you need to know:

What to Expect: Engaging Reading Tasks

This section requires you to actively engage with different types of reading materials. These tasks are specifically designed to test your overall literacy, including your ability to understand what you read and how well you can analyze the information presented.

Question Format: Passages and Answers

In the Interactive Reading section, you will typically encounter a passage of text followed by questions related to it. For example, one question asks you to:

• Select the best answer from multiple-choice options.
• Fill in missing words within the passage.

For more details on question types, read our introductory post: Duolingo English Test Question Type Intro 5: "Interactive Reading" to gain a thorough understanding.

Skills Assessed: More Than Just Reading

This section evaluates a range of your English reading abilities. This includes your capacity to:

• Extract specific information from the text.
• Grasp the main ideas and supporting details.
• Understand the overall structure and organization of the passage.
• Interpret the meaning conveyed in written English.

Adaptive Learning: Questions That Adjust to You

Like other parts of the DET, the Interactive Reading section is adaptive. This means the difficulty of the questions you encounter will change based on your performance. If you answer correctly, the questions may become more challenging, and vice versa. This ensures the test accurately reflects your true English proficiency level.

Time Management: Focus and Efficiency

The time allocated for this section can vary depending on the number and complexity of the questions you receive. However, each individual question will have its own specific time limit within which you need to provide your answer. Therefore, it's important to manage your time effectively.

Key Strategies for Success

To perform well in this section, remember these important strategies:

• Read Carefully: Take your time to read the passages thoroughly before attempting to answer the questions.
• Understand the Context: Pay attention to the overall context of the passage to better understand the meaning.
• Identify Key Information: Pinpoint the most important details and information within the text.

By focusing on these strategies, you'll be better equipped to select the correct answers.

How Your Score is Calculated

Your performance in the Interactive Reading section contributes to your overall literacy and the reading score on the DET. Your score is based on the accuracy and level of comprehension you demonstrate in your answers. If you want to know more about DET scores, you may refer to these two articles: "Duolingo English Test Scores: Insights and Comparisons" and "What is Duolingo English Test Score?"

Mastering Interactive Reading

The "Interactive Reading" section of the Duolingo English Test provides a comprehensive assessment of your reading abilities. It offers a snapshot of how well you can understand and engage with English text across different levels of difficulty. By understanding the format, the skills being assessed, and effective strategies, you can approach this section with confidence. DET Practice offers a free video course on "Interactive Reading" questions. Watch now to learn how to deal with this kind of question:

Of course, if you need a text-based version of the course, you can find it here: DET Prep Course: Interactive Reading. We offer detailed illustrated tutorials and interactive exercises (free and without registration or login) to help you strengthen your understanding of how to answer Interactive Reading questions.

Interactive Reading FAQs:

Question Types

• What are the different types of questions in the Interactive Reading section?

There are five question types:

• Complete the Sentences
• Complete the Passage
• Highlight the Answer
• Identify the Idea
• Title the Passage
• What do I need to do in the "Complete the Sentences" question type?

You need to fill in the blanks in a paragraph by selecting the correct words from a drop-down menu.

• What is the "Complete the Passage" question type?

You will be given a paragraph with a missing sentence, and you need to choose the most appropriate sentence to insert from four options.

• How does the "Highlight the Answer" question type work?

You need to use your mouse to highlight the specific text in the provided passage that directly answers the given question.

• In the "Identify the Idea" question type, what am I looking for?

You need to choose the option that best summarizes the main idea of the entire passage from the four given options.

• What is required in the "Title the Passage" question type?

You need to choose the best title for the given passage.

Strategies and Tips

• Should I read the entire passage before attempting to answer the "Complete the Sentences" questions?

Yes, it is recommended to read the entire passage first to understand the overall context before filling in the blanks.

• What should I focus on in the "Highlight the Answer" question type?

You should pay close attention to the question words and keywords to locate the relevant information in the passage.

• Is it helpful to use the elimination method in the "Identify the Idea" question type?

Yes, using the elimination method to rule out incorrect options can help you identify the best summary of the main idea.

• What should I consider when choosing the best title for a passage?

You should focus on identifying the core topic and main subject of the passage to select the most appropriate title.

• Is time management important in the Interactive Reading section?

Yes, it's crucial to allocate your time wisely for each question type to ensure you can attempt all of them within the given time limit.

• Can I go back and review my answers in the Interactive Reading section?

No, once you have answered a question and moved on, you cannot go back to review or change your answer.

• Should I consider the context of sentences and paragraphs while answering?

Yes, always consider the surrounding context of sentences and paragraphs to help you understand the meaning and choose the correct answers.

• What should I do if I am unsure about an answer?

If you are unsure, try to use the elimination method to narrow down your choices and make an educated guess.