Duolingo English Test Read and Complete — Practice and Examples
A short paragraph is shown with letters missing from several words. You complete each damaged word. The last sentence is left intact to give you context.
What it tests
Reading for meaning and spelling at the same time. Each gap is guessable only if you have understood the sentence around it.
Worked example
The pool opens early
The town pool now opens at six in the morning, two hours earl___ than before. The change was reque___ by shift workers who finish at dawn and by swimmers training for a summer compet___. Running the building for the extra hours costs money, so the council raised the price of a single tic___ and left the monthly pass at the old rate. Early swimmers use the side door, because the main recep___ is not staffed until eight. A notice on the glass expl___ where to leave a bag while the lockers are still locked. Numbers in the first fortnight were small, but almost everyone who came once came back.
Show the missing words
earlier, requested, competition, ticket, reception, explains
How to do well
- Skim the whole paragraph once before filling anything in — the topic tells you what kind of words to expect.
- Use word form: after "the" you need a noun, after "was" often a past participle.
- Do the easy gaps first and come back. The intact last sentence often confirms a guess.
Practice at three levels
Our practice for this task comes in three levels you choose yourself: Foundation teaches the format, Standard is 12 sessions plus 12 full tests at the level most candidates aim for, and Hard is another 12 + 12 with academic topics and tighter wording. Progress is kept per level, so you can move up when the current one feels easy.
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