In this article
- What the plan targets, and why
- Training plan: week by week
- Mistakes to avoid during your preparation
- Less than 4 weeks to prepare for the DET?
- What our students and their parents say
- FAQ
Do you have 4 weeks to prepare for the Duolingo English Test? That is enough time to make real progress, provided you focus on the right skills and practice with the right format. Here is a week-by-week plan, with the priority exercises for each stage.
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What the plan targets, and why
The DET is an adaptive test: it assesses Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production in a single session. Three things make the difference between a prepared candidate and one caught off guard:
- Familiarity with the adaptive format. Questions adapt in real time. Knowing that the difficulty rises when you answer correctly, and not panicking, makes all the difference.
- The Video Interview and the Writing Sample. They are not scored, but they are sent to universities. A rushed Video Interview hurts your application even with a good score.
- Consistency. Four weeks at 1 hour a day beat one intensive session the weekend before the test.
Training plan: week by week
| Day | Exercise | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Take an official practice test on the Duolingo English Test website. Note your starting score and your subscores in each area. | 70 min |
| Tue | Review the questions where you lost time or hesitated. Identify your weakest area (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production). | 30 min |
| Wed | Literacy practice: real-word recognition exercises, sentence completion, short dictation. | 45 min |
| Thu | Comprehension practice: short listening exercises (B2/C1 podcasts in English), with written answers summarizing the key points. | 45 min |
| Fri | Written Production practice: write 2 paragraphs on an open topic (education, technology, the environment). Time yourself: 5 minutes max. | 30 min |
| Sat | First Video Interview practice: record yourself on your phone answering 3 typical questions such as “Tell me about yourself / Describe a challenge you overcame”. Play it back and note where you hesitate. | 40 min |
| Sun | Rest or light review (academic vocabulary: the Academic Word List). | 20 min |
| Day | Exercise | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Intensive Literacy: practice recognizing real English words (dictionaries, lists of false friends). Fill-in-the-blank text completion exercises. | 45 min |
| Tue | Comprehension: listen to an excerpt from a TED Talk (7-10 min) and write a 5-sentence summary. Then read a short academic article (The Economist / BBC) and answer comprehension questions. | 50 min |
| Wed | Conversation: answer 5 open-ended questions out loud, 30-45 seconds each. Record yourself. Goal: fluency, not perfection. | 40 min |
| Thu | Written Production: write a complete Writing Sample (free topic, 50-100 words) in 5 minutes flat. Correct it: structure, cohesion, varied vocabulary. | 45 min |
| Fri | Partial practice test (30 minutes of adaptive questions on the official platform or a third-party simulator). Focus on your weakest area. | 40 min |
| Sat | Video Interview x 3: one academic topic, one personal topic, one current-events topic. Keep each answer to 90 seconds. Play them back: diction, eye contact with the camera, no verbal tics. | 50 min |
| Sun | Vocabulary review: 20 new academic words, with example sentences and context. | 25 min |
| Day | Exercise | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Full simulation under real conditions: quiet room, webcam, timer. Take a complete practice test without interruption. Note your score. | 75 min |
| Tue | Practice test debrief: which question types took you the most time? Where did you lose points? Plan the next 4 days accordingly. | 30 min |
| Wed | Targeted practice on your weakest area (see debrief). C1-level exercises. | 50 min |
| Thu | Advanced Written Production: two Writing Samples on abstract topics (ethics, innovation, society). Compare them with high-scoring examples available online. | 45 min |
| Fri | Intensive listening comprehension: audio played at slightly faster speed (1.1x), partial dictation, questions on overall and detailed understanding. | 45 min |
| Sat | Video Interview x 4: varied topics (travel, career, technology, education). Goal: answers without “um”, eye contact with the camera, starting your answer within 5 seconds. | 50 min |
| Sun | Reread the guide to the 5 mistakes to avoid: Duolingo English Test: 5 mistakes to avoid on test day → | 20 min |
| Day | Exercise | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Final practice test under real conditions. Compare this score with your week 1 score. If your progress falls short, pick one skill to boost urgently. | 75 min |
| Tue | Light review: academic vocabulary, 10 Literacy questions, 10 Comprehension questions. No intense effort. | 35 min |
| Wed | Technical check: test your webcam, microphone and internet connection. Install the Duolingo-compatible browser if needed. Have your ID ready. | 30 min |
| Thu | Last Video Interview practice: 3 topics. Focus on fluency, not perfection. Play it back only once and note what went well. | 35 min |
| Fri | Rest and mental preparation. Reread your notes on the test format. Go to bed early. | 20 min |
| Sat/Sun | Test day. Eat beforehand, find a quiet room and keep your ID within reach. You’re ready. | – |
Mistakes to avoid during your preparation
- Ignoring the Video Interview because it’s “not scored.” Universities review it. A candidate who stumbles over their words or looks away from the camera rules themselves out, even with a good score.
- Taking 10 practice tests without analyzing them. Reviewing your results is worth as much as the test itself.
- Preparing only for the written sections. The speaking component (Conversation, Video Interview) is often underprepared and drags candidates down on test day.
- Studying until the last minute. Week 4 is for consolidating what you know, not for learning new vocabulary. Arrive well rested.
For a closer look at the most common test-day mistakes: Duolingo English Test: 5 mistakes to avoid →
Less than 4 weeks to prepare for the DET?
If you have 2 weeks, focus on weeks 2 and 3 of the plan above. If you have less than 10 days, prioritize in this order: (1) a full practice test to find out your level, (2) Video Interview x 5, (3) Writing Sample x 5, (4) daily listening comprehension.
Short on time? A coach helps you make every session count. See our packages below.
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FAQ
Is 4 weeks enough to prepare for the DET?
Yes, for most candidates at B2 level or above. The goal isn’t to raise your general level of English: it’s to get familiar with the adaptive format, strengthen your spoken answers and practice for the Video Interview. All three can be worked on in 4 weeks.
How many hours a day should you plan for?
About 1 hour a day in weeks 1 to 3, and 30 to 45 minutes in week 4 (fine-tuning). Consistency matters more than volume: 45 minutes every day gets better results than a single 4-hour session on Saturdays.
Should you use the Duolingo app to prepare for the DET?
No. The Duolingo app helps you practice vocabulary and grammar, but its game-like format and exercises don’t match the DET. Instead, use the test’s official platform, TED Talks and The Economist for comprehension, and recorded speaking sessions.
Should you prepare differently depending on your target score?
Yes. If you’re aiming for 100–110, focus on Literacy and Comprehension. If you’re aiming for 120–130, the Production component (writing and speaking) and the Video Interview make the difference. Above 130, a consistent academic register and a fluent Video Interview are what count most.
How do I know if I’m ready to take the test?
Take a practice test under real conditions (webcam, timer, quiet room) in week 3 or 4. If your score is within 5–10 points of your target, you’re ready. If the gap is bigger, add a week of preparation or consider working with a coach.
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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