From April 02 2024, there are a few updates about question types and grading elements that DET takers HAVE TO comprehend in order to get the scores they desire.
In this article, we will analyse the grading element updates and guide you on how to utilise feedback from the DET Practice Platform to achieve your Duolingo English Test scores.
DET Grading element updates
There are also two grading categories: Question types with correct answers and Open-response question types.
cre: Duolingo English Test
Question types with correct answers
If you are new to the Duolingo English Test, Question types with correct answers include Read and Complete, Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Listen and Type, Read Aloud, Complete the Sentences, Complete the Passage, Highlight the Answer, Identify the Idea, Title the Passage, and Listen and Respond. All these test questions are graded automatically by machine and offer you accurate scores through your answers.
To comprehend clearly how each question is scored, for example, if you fill in the blanks of some missing words in Read and Complete wrong, will you get any scores from that question, read this article for a better understanding: “Will you get a partial score if your answer isn’t entirely correct?”.
After checking the newest Preparation Guide from Duolingo English Test thoroughly, there are no updates for Question types with correct answers.
Open-response question types
Open response question types include Summarize the Conversation, Write About the Photo, Speak About the Photo, Interactive Writing, Read Then Speak, Listen Then Speak, Writing Sample, and Speaking Sample.
In this category, our answers are graded through a grading engine trained to understand our English proficiency just like human examiners. However, our answers are also reviewed by human proctors later to deliver the most accurate results. Some of the grading aspects are as follows:
content: relevance, style, development, and effect on the reader;
discourse coherence: clarity, cohesion, progression of ideas, and structure (for writing questions only);
lexis (vocabulary): lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, choice of words, formation of words, and spelling (for writing questions only);
fluency (speaking questions only): speed; natural use of pauses; and reliance on filler words, repetition, and starting/ stopping;
pronunciation (speaking questions only): intelligibility, individual sounds, word stress, sentence stress, and intonation;
cre: Duolingo English Test
If we compare two versions of grading elements, there is only one new aspect, which is the discourse coherence assessing the clarity, cohesion, progression of ideas, and structure (applies for writing questions only).
However, Writing questions will no longer be evaluated based on Fluency, which was a grading aspect for both Writing and Speaking questions. Taking effect from April 02 2024, Fluency is only the grading aspect for Speaking question types.
Utilise feedback from the DET Practice Platform
We developed the DET Practice Platform primarily to support self-study students across the world who aren’t able to afford expensive training classes with detailed feedback after submitting their practice answers for all question types.
Regarding grading aspects for Open-response question types, the DET Practice Platform offers all of them for effective and transformative preparation. For details, kindly take a look at this article for a better understanding: Your instant feedback and all grading elements.
For example, this is sample feedback for Speak About the Photo. We evaluate students’ answers based on Content, Coherence, Lexical Sophistication, Lexical Diversity, Grammatical Accuracy, Grammatical Complexity, Fluency, and Acoustic features.
All of the grading aspects are the same as the newest grading elements that the Duolingo English Test uses to assess test-takers' skills. We simply deliver more detailed feedback for a more accurate result. For example, Lexical Sophistication and Lexical Diversity are from the Lexis (vocabulary), and Grammatical Accuracy and Grammatical Complexity are from the Grammar.
In case DET takers are looking for tips and strategies to deal with all question types, please visit this Tips and Strategies page and you will find everything you need to successfully obtain your desired scores.
Wait no more, let’s visit the DET Practice Platform, create your FREE account and start boosting your scores today.
