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Duolingo Read and Select Guide 2025

Rina Rathod
Rina Rathod

14 Aug 2024

Hello, Dear Readers!

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is improving from time to time so that it can effectively measure the level of the English language abilities of test-taking individuals. 

One of the recent updates is a question “Read and Select” which is found first in the question paper of the exam. 

This is a guide that will give you all the necessary knowledge and tactics that you will need to tackle the current question type for this new addition successfully.

What is the “Read and Select” Question?

The ‘Read and Select’ question challenges a candidate’s capability of identifying English language words. 

For this task, a number of words will be displayed and one will have to state if any of them is a word that exists in the English language. 

  • Format: A word will be presented on the screen and the examinee has to press “Yes” if he considers it an English language word, otherwise presses “No”.
  • Number of occurrences: It is expected that this type of question will occur 15 to 18 times in the whole of the examination.
  • Duration: You are given only 5 seconds to respond to each of the given questions.
  • Subscores: This question type is assessed in the Literacy and Comprehension subscores.

The question will appear on the screen like this:

Replacement of Previous Question Type

The "Read and Select" question is a replacement for the previous "Select the real English words from the list" question. 

In the old format, students were given one minute to identify the real English words from a list, but this question no longer appears in the exam.

Sample Practice

1. Is this a real English word?

nevleor

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: No

2. Is this a real English word?

keyboard

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: Yes

3. Is this a real English word?

lost

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: Yes

4. Is this a real English word?

bokksheif

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: No

5. Is this a real English word?

putend

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: No

6. Is this a real English word?

funny

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: Yes

7. Is this a real English word?

hoken

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: No

8. Is this a real English word?

bicycle

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: Yes

9. Is this a real English word?

quiz

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: Yes

10. Is this a real English word?

evelony

  • Yes
  • No

Correct answer: No

trategies for Success:

1. Enhance Your Word Power:

  • Find time to read different genres of English literature, whether it is books, articles, or scholarly papers in order to learn new alphabets.
  • Combine the use of vocabulary learning applications with the use of flashcards, in order to widen the scope of vocabulary, and not only, learn new words but also, enhance and reinforce the knowledge of already known words.

2. Participate In Spelling Practices:

  • While reading and writing in English, try to focus on the spelling of the words.
  • Take a few spelling practice exercises and quizzes to help you develop a skill of quickly identifying correct spellings.

3. Familiarize Yourself with the Words Most People Tend to Mix up:

  • There are some words that are particularly prone to confusion having similar spellings so make an effort and learn them and their uses.
  •  Read how the meanings of different words can sound the same (homophones) but their respective uses can be totally different, for instance: ‘their’ and ‘there’.

4. Extrapolate the Meaning of New Words with the Help of Context:

  •  Do not hesitate to guess the meaning of an unknown word, if there is a specific language pattern or roots that you are familiar with as you make the guess.
  •  You may need to know some standard prefixes, suffixes, or roots of words for creating or transforming words into real ones.

5. Practice in a Timed Environment:

  • As you are given 5 seconds for each answer, it is advisable to practice using time limited vocabulary tips to increase your speed and accuracy
  • Use web-based facilities or prepare some flashcards to practice the test and enhance your self-assurance.

6. Keep It Together And Maintain Your Concentration

  • This style of questioning administered in a quick-fire form may be daunting, but if you remain calm and composed, it will give you some clarity in your answers.
  • Breathe deeply and focus on every letter emphasized on the screen.

Conclusion

The “Read and Select” segment which forms part of the Duolingo English Test enables one to gauge the readiness of test takers in terms of their vocabulary and comprehension levels. 

To help one do well in such a task, it is vital to build up one’s vocabulary, make preparations on how to spell correctly, and learn words that are often confused with each other. Please also, time yourself while practicing this section to enhance your speed and precision.

For more articles like this one, do not forget to follow D Vivid Consultant. 

Best wishes as you prepare for and take the test!

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Duolingo Read and Select section is a new question type in the Duolingo English Test (DET). It is designed to assess your ability to identify real English words by asking you to choose "Yes" or "No" for each word presented.

The Read and Select section appears first in the exam and occurs with a frequency of 15 to 18 times.

You will have only 5 seconds to answer each question in the Read and Select section.

The subscores evaluated in this section are Literacy and Comprehension.

The Read and Select section differs from the previous "Select the Real English Words" question in that you are now presented with one word at a time and must choose "Yes" or "No" to indicate whether it is a real English word. Previously, students were given a list of words and had to select the real ones from the list. This old question type is no longer included in the exam.

Effective strategies include:

  • Expanding your vocabulary by reading a variety of texts.
  • Practicing with word lists to familiarize yourself with common and uncommon English words.
  • Staying calm and focused to make quick and accurate decisions within the 5-second time limit.

To prepare:

  • Regularly read books, articles, and other written materials to improve your word recognition skills.
  • Use vocabulary-building apps and flashcards to learn new words and their meanings.
  • Take practice tests that simulate the exam environment to get accustomed to the timing and format of the questions.

Yes, there are several resources available:

  • Online practice tests and sample questions provided by Duolingo.
  • Vocabulary apps and websites that offer word recognition exercises.
  • English language learning platforms that focus on word identification and comprehension.

No, you cannot go back to previous questions in the Read and Select section. Each question must be answered within the 5-second time limit before moving on to the next one.

If you are unsure, make an educated guess based on your vocabulary knowledge. With only 5 seconds to answer each question, it's important to make a decision quickly to keep pace with the test.

Your responses will be evaluated based on the accuracy of identifying real English words. Correctly identifying real words and avoiding incorrect choices will contribute to higher Literacy and Comprehension subscores.