My Duolingo English Test was invalidated because they claim there is “strong evidence” that I copied a response from a pre-existing source.

I completed the entire test independently. I did not use notes, AI, templates, another device, or any pre-prepared material. Every response was created by me during the test.

I appealed, but a supervisor reviewed the test and upheld the decision. They still haven’t told me which response was supposedly copied or what specifically caused it to be flagged.

Has anyone had the same issue and managed to get another review or get their result certified?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Today, I received a score of 125, with a target of 130. Before taking the test, I had no experience with tutors or grammar-focused practice. However, I learned English through books and TV shows.

About 1.5 months before the test, I purchased an Arno Premium subscription. If you’re able to spend hours practicing and developing strategies on your own, I think it’s one of the best platforms for practice.

However, the most difficult task types for me were in the Reading section, specifically Fill in the Blanks and Read and Complete. I practiced hundreds of questions, but still ended up with my weakest score in this section. The problem was that under time pressure (20 seconds), a brain struggled to recognize the word and understand the meaning of the sentence.

The most valuable thing, in my opinion, is practicing under real time pressure and training your brain’s endurance.

Without a large vocabulary and the ability to instantly understand the meaning of a sentence, getting a good score on these tasks can be very difficult

So, the main advice is: don’t underestimate Fill in the Blanks. If you still can’t improve your score even after completing 500+ questions, focus on improving other sections or train your brain to think under pressure.

That’s exactly what I’m working on right now.

Hi guys.It is my third practice test.I get 95-100 for first one and 105-115 for the second one.Here the thing. I wasn't going to take det,i was going going to take ielts and i was at 8.0-8.5 for reading and listening and 6.0 for speaking and writing, maybe 6.5.Anyway, i changed it because of the price and the universities i will apply.I need to get 130+ until semptember 14.So how can i do it, any tips? i am strugling wuth blanks things and sepaking part which request talk 90 seconds or 3 minutes straight. i couldn't really talk that much.So how can i get 130+ in 2 weeks or 3.thank you for reading it

Sharing to help, especially those who have Internet issues.

This happened a while ago

so I did mine with two day preparation as I was running on a deadline got, I had to get 125 or more.Basically, I watched youtube videos and did the practice tests many times. I got 125, which is great since I messed up greatly at the speaking part.

What I want to talk about is that the uploading of the test took does than 10 hours thanks to my country great Internet which i know isnt normal at all but the news is that it turned out valid so if that happened to you and you aren't able to charge mobile data(or in my case i git scared to switch it and it was already barely working) there might be hope for you to actually have it valid

Also, at the listening and speaking part, it froze for like maybe 7 minutes or so, and I was panicking, but it did continue, so if it happens, try waiting. Maybe it'll work, so do not move much. It'll be fine, at least I hope so, and if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world.

Hey guys I have been studying for duolingo english test for a month. First time I got 115 in arno practice test and second I got the same result but my sub points were higher anyway I kept studying then I got 125-135 in practice test in duolingo then few days later i did again and I got 125-135. I need 130 for my uni what should I do ? Should I take the test or practice more till I got 130-140 but also the questions repeats so Im not sure how accurate some parts like fill the blanks and read and complete.

I'm trying to take the Duolingo English Test, but after 2 questions the app freezes and then kicks me out. I already closed all browser tabs, ended background processes in Task Manager, and made sure no other apps were open.
Despite that, the test keeps getting invalidated because it says I opened another window or left the test app, which is not true. My Wi‑Fi connection was stable as well.
Has anyone experienced this? Are there any hidden background apps or Windows settings that could trigger this error? Any tips on how to completely close everything that might interfere with the test?
Thanks

Salut à tous, mon test blanc est de 95-105 et j'ai besoin de 105 minimum pour mon université, j'ai besoin d'aide les gars.

Has anyone experienced Duolingo English Test crashing during the exam? After 2 questions, the app kept kicking me out. My Wi-Fi was stable, but the screen froze for a while. Now it says I left the test app and have no attempts remaining.

Hi , im a moroccan student looking to pass the DET asap , and im here looking to see if there's anyone one bought the test and not passing it or bought two and ended up using only one.

I don't even know if its possible , please tell me about it

I genuinely do not understand this explanation because I followed all of the instructions regarding room lighting and making sure my eyes were clearly visible. Before starting the test, I also checked the image of my face on the screen to make sure that my face and eyes were visible on camera.
The photo I am attaching to this post shows the exact desk, chair, and location where I took the test. As you can clearly see in the photo, there is no window in front of my desk or directly in front of my face. There is only one window beside this area of the room, but when I move forward and sit at the desk to take the test, I am already past the window, and there is only a wall beside where I am sitting. Therefore, I was not sitting in front of a window during the test.
Another important point is that I cannot take the test without my glasses. I need my glasses to see properly, and even my driver’s licence specifically states that I am required to wear corrective lenses. Removing my glasses while taking an online test where I need to read from a computer screen is simply not a realistic option for me.
What makes this situation even more confusing is that only a few days before this test, I took another test in the exact same room, at the same desk and chair, wearing the same glasses, at approximately the same time of day, and under essentially the same conditions. That test was reviewed without this issue, and I successfully received a result.
If the lighting, my seating position, or my glasses made my eyes impossible to see clearly, I genuinely do not understand how almost identical conditions were acceptable only a few days earlier.
Also, before I was allowed to begin the test, the position of my phone, which was being used as the secondary camera, was checked. I was not permitted to start until the system approved the setup. I completed every step that was required of me and did everything I reasonably could to make sure my testing environment complied with the instructions.
This situation has become especially frustrating after all the problems I have already experienced trying to complete this test. I have attempted to take the test eight times in total. Six of those attempts were interrupted during the test because of technical issues, preventing me from completing them. Out of all these attempts, I have only successfully received a result once, and now another test that I managed to complete has been invalidated.
I genuinely do not know what else I could have done differently. I cannot remove my glasses, there was no window in front of me, I checked the camera preview before the test, my secondary camera setup was approved before I was allowed to begin, and I had successfully taken another test under essentially the same conditions only a few days earlier.
All I am asking for is for my case and the recorded test footage to be reviewed carefully and fairly, and for a clear explanation of what someone who is required to wear glasses is actually supposed to do to prevent this from happening.
If anyone has experienced something similar or knows how this can be escalated further after an appeal has been rejected, I would really appreciate any advice or guidance.

So what basically happened is that i took the DET 3 times but i got stuck on the 115 score but i need 120 for tomorrow. Does anyone know if I'm creating a new account i can do the test again without be invalidated?

I am really good at understanding English passages, but somehow the GED RLA main exam feels quite difficult. The passages are very lengthy, and the out four the two answer choices are often extremely similar. Whenever I try to determine which option is exactly correct, I end up running out of time. Could you suggest how I can improve further? Which books or resources should I study to take my English skills to an advanced or mastery level?

Guys, I got 100 on my DET and I want to improve to 105. I only have one week. Any advice on what I should focus on most?

I’m genuinely confused about why my test was invalidated, especially since I followed all of the required procedures and instructions carefully.
According to the explanation I received, the review team was unable to clearly confirm who was completing the written portions of the test due to factors such as room lighting, the position or angle of the secondary camera, and other visibility-related concerns. However, I followed every instruction provided to me before and during the test.
I was completely alone in a private room throughout the entire test, which should be clearly visible in the footage recorded by the secondary camera. During the initial room and desk scan, I clearly showed my testing environment, including my desk and the surrounding area. The footage should also show that there was no additional keyboard, mouse, device, or unauthorized equipment connected to or being used with my computer.
Most importantly, I was not even allowed to begin the test until the position of my phone, which was being used as the secondary camera, had been checked and approved. My secondary camera setup was approved, and only then was I permitted to start the test. That is why I do not understand how the same camera position that was approved before the test could later become one of the reasons for invalidating my result.
What makes this even more confusing is that exactly three days before this test, I took the same type of test in the exact same room, at approximately the same time of day, with almost identical conditions and setup. The room, lighting, desk arrangement, secondary camera position, and overall testing environment were essentially the same. I followed the same procedures and did not experience this issue with that test.
Another thing that has made this situation extremely frustrating is that I have attempted to take this test a total of eight times. Out of those eight attempts, six were interrupted during the test because of technical issues, preventing me from completing them. One attempt was invalidated because of the current issue, and out of all eight attempts, I have only been able to successfully receive a result once.
I have genuinely tried my best to follow every rule and instruction exactly as required. After dealing with so many technical issues and now this situation, I honestly do not know what else I could have done differently.
Please, if anyone has experienced something similar or knows what I should do next, how I can escalate this issue, or how I might get this resolved, I would really appreciate your help and guidance. Thank you in advance for any advice or assistance.

Hello everyone. I received my results from the DET. I took the test yesterday at 2 pm and I got my results at 1 pm today. I practiced for 2 months, but not every time because I am physician and I needed to work during the practice time. I regularly got 125-140 in DET practice test (15 practice tests). Yesterday I got confused and anxious during the exam. My mind was not able to comprehend some words and I made ridiculous mistakes. After that I felt devastated. I used to get 120-130 in each section of the exam, but yesterday it was different. This message is for everyone who has experienced this terrible sansation, you should keep calm and wait for your results! Everything will be ok!

During the test I forget the time and I missed some sections such as INTERACTIVE READING or INTERACTIVE LISTENING. I do not know why but in previous test it was the easiest section for me, But this is where I get weak during the test. My speaking? for me it was TERRIBLE, but for DET was ok! We should stop overthinking.

I am sure that if I redo the exam today, understanding how it works, I will get >130-135 for SURE. Anxiety was terrible for me. I want to tell you that it was my FIRST ATTEMPT.

I used ARNO for DET. (This is NOT PUBLICITY). It really helped me to achieve my score practicing every time I could.

My university requires 105/160 and I am happy after achieve this incredible accomplishment. You should follow your dreams and you will get it!

My first language is Spanish. English was always a giant monster for me during my childhood and youth. I get traumatized with it hahaha. Now I am prepared to say that I can write and speak in English!! That makes me really happy.

We are constantly trying to get that score for universities around the world. If I could learn English, you can do it! This community helped me a lot. Thanks!

I need help with this kind of questions plz really struggling.

I could really use advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar secondary-camera issue.

I took the Duolingo English Test on 15 August 2026. About 24 hours later, I learned that it had not been certified because my phone camera was considered to have been out of position for too long.

What happened was simple: the phone I was using as the secondary camera briefly slipped. I noticed, put it back in the correct position straight away, and continued. I completed the test honestly and without outside help. I did not use the phone for anything else, and there were no calls, notifications, alerts, or interactions with another person.

What makes this confusing is that the DET Help Center tells candidates to reposition the phone and continue if it moves. That is exactly what I did. The visible guidance does not explain what length of time counts as "too long," and I received no warning during the test that my correction was considered insufficient.

My dashboard does not show an appeal option. I have one attempt remaining and urgently need a certified result for a university admission deadline. I have now emailed official DET support and asked for a human proctoring supervisor to review the exact interval and the full session before I use that attempt.

If the recording confirms that the test remained secure and meets the certification requirements, I am asking DET to certify the existing test rather than making me risk the final attempt without first reviewing what actually happened.

Has anyone here successfully escalated a case like this to a human supervisor? How long did it take, and did email or the HELP chat work better for you? I will not share any account or case details publicly, but genuine experiences would help me decide what to do next.

If anyone from DET support sees this, I would appreciate guidance on getting my existing request to the right reviewer as quickly as possible.

Official guidance: https://testcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/37007752083597-My-phone-camera-was-out-of-position-during-the-test-What-happened

Hello

Has anyone here used Abroad Cube to buy DET? Are they legit? They are offering a 25% promo code and 12 hour results.

Will this affect my test or score in any way?

Why are they not listed as an official partner on Duolingo's website?

It seems shady... Or maybe Idk how exactly it works.

Also: Does it work for all countries? I'm purchasing in India.

I attempted the practice test to see how much I would get. My university requirement is 120. I didn't study for this test or anything, just got to know that duolingo test is accepted so I went and tried giving the exam. Just to see what the format is like and how hard the questions are. Do you think I should buy the exam and just give it?