5 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Taking the Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test lets you test from home, but strict rules apply. You must set up your computer with a working camera, mic, and stable internet. Keep your eyes on the screen, avoid distractions, and set up a secondary camera properly. External help or running apps can lead to disqualification. For issues, contact support for a possible free retest.

You can take the Duolingo English Test from the comfort of your home. This helps you avoid tireless travel to test centers and standing in long queues, it also means that you are responsible for setting up the equipment and ensuring that all necessary technical steps are taken. If test rules are not properly followed, you may risk disqualification, retesting, and delays.

Common Broken Rules of DET

We have listed the five most common rules broken by test takers, along with ways to avoid them:

1. Incorrect Setup
2. Looking Away From the Screen
3. Incorrect Secondary Camera Setup
4. Outside Assistance During the Exam
5. Running External Software

Incorrect Setup

Internet speed and a working microphone are some of the things you need to arrange while taking the DET. Also, students should ensure that their computer is ready and plugged in for charging to avoid last-minute inconveniences.

How to Avoid Breaking This Rule:

• Make sure that your laptop or desktop has a working camera, mic, and speakers
• Physical government ID card ready for verification
• A stable internet connection with 2 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload
• Download the DET app in advance and check for available storage on your device

Looking Away From the Screen

Test takers need to keep their eyes on the screen throughout the test. If a test taker looks away from the screen, it can be interpreted as seeking external help. It is considered cheating. Proctors can flag this behaviour. Potentially leading to a disqualification.

How to Avoid Breaking This Rule:

• Keep your eyes on the screen.
• Only look at the keyboard while typing, do not look anywhere else
• Choose a quiet room to avoid unnecessary distractions

Remember: The test wants to assess your ability, without any outside influence. Always stay focused on the screen.

Incorrect Secondary Camera Setup

Another requirement when taking the DET is setting up a second camera, either on your phone or another device. The second camera records your test space from a different angle to ensure that no external help is being taken. An incorrect setup creates blind spots and violates test rules.

How to Avoid Breaking This Rule:

• Carefully follow instructions during setup.
• The camera should show a clear view of your screen and keyboard
• Set your phone to Do Not Disturb mode to avoid calls or notifications
• Once the test begins, don’t move or touch the phone.

Tip: Use a stand, stack of books or tripod to hold your phone steady at the right angle.

Outside Assistance During the Exam

If a roommate or family member enters the room by mistake, or if sounds such as voices, shadows, or whispers are detected, it may be flagged as receiving assistance from another person.

How to Avoid Breaking This Rule:

• Lock the door if possible.
• If someone does enter, ask them to leave immediately without taking your eyes away from the screen.
• Reminder: Any outside help, intentional or not, can invalidate your test.

Running External Software:

Some programs run automatically in the background. Make sure that not even browser extensions run in the background. These can interfere with the test or appear suspicious:

How to Avoid Breaking This Rule:

• Before launching the DET app, close all other programs.
• Temporarily disable or pause apps that start automatically, like Zoom, Slack, or Grammarly.
• Restart your computer before your test to ensure a clean setup.

Common Technical Issues

Here are some common technical issues that students can face during DET:

• Unstable internet connections
• Electricity cuts
• Laptop shutting down issue due to overheating
• Software glitches or system crashes
• Mic is not recording your audio properly
• Camera is not recording your video properly

If This Happens:

• Stay calm and do not exit the test unless necessary. Wait for a while some glitches can get resolved on their own
• Reach out to Duolingo’s support team through live chat. You can email them, too
• In many cases, if the issue is technical. You can ask for a free retest
• Prepare properly in advance and avoid these mistakes. 

About the Author

The Duolingo English Test is a modern English proficiency assessment for today’s international students and institutions. The test is available online, on demand. You don’t have to make an appointment or travel to a test centre—you can take the test from your home via a computer and webcam.  The test is administered using computer adaptive technology, meaning that the question difficulty adapts to each test taker. The test also integrates a video interview and writing sample, which are sent to an institution along with your proficiency score when you send your results. The entire test experience takes just under an hour. Test results are certified within two days, and they can be shared with an unlimited number of institutions.