DET task guide
Duolingo Read and Select: tips and examples
Read and Select preparation develops the ability to distinguish real English words from invented spellings. Use this guide to practise checking a whole word, recalling its meaning, and resisting plausible-looking distractors. When ready, use the linked exercise for 30 original items across three sets.
Searches for “Read and Select” usually mean the word recognition task. Duolingo currently describes this reading skill as Yes/No Vocabulary: decide whether each word shown is a real English word. The activity below practises the same recognition skill with original words; it is not an official test screen.
Current official terminology: Yes/No Vocabulary. See Duolingo’s guidance and the official practice test for current task instructions.
A practical method
- Read the whole word and decide whether you have encountered it in meaningful English context.
- Check familiar prefixes and suffixes, but remember that invented words can look plausible.
- After reviewing, write a short sentence with each real word you missed.
Original practice examples
Try each prompt before reading the answer and explanation.
1. reliable — real English word or invented word?
Answer: Real word
Why: Reliable means that someone or something can be trusted. Example: “We need a reliable source of information.”
2. flinter — real English word or invented word?
Answer: Invented word
Why: Flinter is not a standard English word. Its familiar-looking ending is not enough to make it real.
3. adapt — real English word or invented word?
Answer: Real word
Why: Adapt means to change in response to a new situation. Example: “Students adapt to a new learning environment.”
4. narmish — real English word or invented word?
Answer: Invented word
Why: Narmish is an invented distractor. Do not choose a word only because its spelling resembles an adjective.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Selecting every word that looks pronounceable.
- Rejecting a real but unfamiliar word without checking it after practice.
- Memorizing isolated lists without learning meaning or usage.
Continue practising
Explain a decision before moving on
For a real word, try to supply a meaning or an example sentence: ‘reliable’ describes something you can depend on. For an invented item, identify the spelling or word-building pattern that misled you. An unfamiliar word is not automatically fake, so verify unknown vocabulary during review rather than applying that shortcut to every question.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Read and Select the same as this word-recognition drill?
- The drill practises the underlying real-word recognition skill using original items. It does not reproduce the complete official test interface or timing.
- Where can I practise after reading the guide?
- Open the focused Read and Select exercise linked below. It contains three sets of ten original items with explanations and missed-question retries.
Learning material by TypoGrammar. Updated . Consult the official DET site for current test instructions and requirements.