Duolingo English Test setup: The ultimate 7-step guide

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Taking the Duolingo English Test (DET) from the comfort of your home is certainly convenient, but mastering your DET setup is vital for achieving the optimal, certified score. The DET’s security features, including the secondary camera, room scan and ear scan, require careful preparation.

Here is your complete 7-step guide on how to prepare for the DET and ensure a flawless test day.

1. Select a quiet, private testing space

Your testing location must be quiet, well-lit and private for the entire duration of the test.

• Be alone: Ensure no one else enters or is present in the room. You must always be visible to the camera.
• Optimal lighting: Use soft, natural light or lamps positioned directly in front of you. Avoid backlighting or shadows that obscure your face, to ensure your identity can be verified.
• Simple background: Use a plain, blank wall as your background to avoid distractions and simplify the proctoring process.

2. Prepare your computer and secondary camera equipment

Gather and test all required devices well before you take the DET.

• Computer requirements: Use a Windows or Mac computer with the official DET desktop application installed, a working microphone, speakers and a front-facing camera.
• Reliable connection: Use a stable, high-speed internet connection.
• Secondary camera: Your smartphone will serve as your secondary camera for the DET. Ensure it is fully charged or plugged in and connected to wi-fi.

3. Clear and optimise your workspace

To ensure a successful room scan prior to the start of the DET, your desk and surroundings must be completely clear of prohibited items.

• Only essentials: Keep only your computer, your phone (for the secondary camera) and something to stabilise it, and your government-issued ID on your desk.
• Remove all other materials: This includes notebooks, papers, pencils, headphones, textbooks and other electronics. A clear surface speeds up the verification process.
• Close apps: Restart your computer and close all background applications, including screen-sharing tools, to prevent disruptions.

4. Position and test your secondary camera

The correct placement of your phone as the secondary camera is mandatory for DET certification.

• Placement: Position your phone behind you, ideally at shoulder height, resting on a stable object (like a table or a pile of books).
• View: The camera must have a clear, unobstructed view that captures your entire test area, including your computer screen, your hands and your keyboard.
• Connect: You will scan a QR code in the DET app to securely link your phone and initiate its use as the security monitor.

5. Complete the room scan and ear scan

These steps are critical security measures taken at the start of your test session.

• Room scan: Using your smartphone camera, you will perform a slow, 360-degree sweep of the entire room, demonstrating the space behind and around your computer and desk.
• Ear scan: You will briefly angle the phone's camera at each ear to verify that you are not wearing any headphones or other communication devices. Completing the ear scan for the DET confirms that you are testing independently.

6. Do a complete system check and practice run

Practice is the best way to feel confident and identify any technical issues before the official test.

• System check: Use the free system check tool on the DET website before your test. Confirm that your hardware, internet speed and camera connections (both primary and secondary) are working perfectly.
• Practice test: Take a free, full-length practice test using your exact setup to feel comfortable with your environment and the security steps.

7. Review the rules and maintain focus on test day

Success depends on following the rules precisely to ensure your results are certified by the human and AI proctors.

• Stay focused: Do not look away from the screen, read questions or answers aloud, or leave your seat during the test.
• Hands and face visible: Keep your face, hands and keyboard in the view of the computer's camera and the secondary camera throughout the session.
• Silence notifications: Ensure your computer and your secondary camera device are on “do not disturb” mode to prevent interruptions that could invalidate your test.

Following these steps for your DET setup ensures a secure, stress-free testing experience, allowing you to focus on achieving the best possible score.

Find out more about the Duolingo English Test.