Exam practice
Duolingo English Test: listen-and-type practice
The DET’s listening task IS dictation. Practice the literal test format, scored word by word, on unlimited audio.
The Duolingo English Test is unusually direct about listening: its core listening item shows you a play button and a text box — listen to the sentence, type exactly what you heard. There is no multiple choice to lean on. Either your ear resolves every word or the item is wrong.
ListenSlice practice is that task, one to one: a sentence plays, you type it, and a word-level diff scores you instantly — the same skill, the same format, repeated across any audio at your level. Train on the built-in library’s graded episodes, from slow VOA news up to natural-speed conversation, and the real test items feel familiar instead of frantic.
live demo — real audio, real scoring
How it works
01Start at your level
Pick a graded library episode — Beginner to Advanced, all free.
02Listen and type
Exactly the DET task: hear the sentence, type it, Enter to check.
03Climb the ladder
When a level runs clean, move up. Weak sentences auto-collect for review.
Spelling counts — train it with your ears
DET scoring cares about exact words, and typing is part of the task. Dictation practice trains hearing and spelling as one motion: "their/there", plural -s at speed, weak-form articles. The diff highlights precisely these near-misses so they stop leaking points.
A difficulty ladder, not a difficulty wall
DET sentences range from simple statements to fast complex clauses. The library mirrors that ramp: Beginner-level VOA programs for clean fundamentals, Intermediate news for pace, natural-speed stories and interviews for the hardest items. Move up when a level stops producing misses.
Free episodes to start with
browse all →As It Is
The Brooklyn Bridge: A Symbol of New York City - March 14, 2025
3:39·Intermediate
Arts & Culture
Mount Vernon - George Washington’s Virginia Home - March 14, 2025
4:21·Intermediate
Science & Technology
Barbara McClintock, Geneticist and Nobel Prize Winner - March 14, 2025
4:10·Intermediate
Ask a Teacher
Still and Unless - March 12, 2025
3:48·Beginner
Health & Lifestyle
Containers for Planting Seeds That Cost (Almost) Nothing - March 11, 2025
4:37·Intermediate
America's National Parks
Yosemite: One of America’s Most Famous National Parks - March 07, 2025
3:35·Intermediate
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the real DET listening task?
The task format is identical — listen to a sentence, type what you heard, exact words matter. The real test adds adaptive difficulty and time pressure, which is why practicing above your comfort level here pays off.
What score component does this improve?
Primarily Comprehension and Literacy: listen-and-type items draw on both. Learners also report the confidence effect — the format holds no surprises on test day.
How much practice before the test?
The DET can be taken quickly, so plans are short: 30 minutes daily for 2–3 weeks of laddered dictation is a common pattern before a booking.
Do I need to upload anything to practice?
No — the 600+ episode library is free, unlimited, and does not touch your upload quota. Signup is not required to start.
Ready to try it with your own audio?
free to start no sign-up audio never uploaded
related:IELTS Listening dictation practice·TOEFL Listening practice that matches the test·Turn any audio into dictation exercises