{"id":6536,"date":"2026-07-12T03:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T03:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/duolingo-english-test-mistakes\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T14:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T14:40:15","slug":"duolingo-english-test-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/duolingo-english-test-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Mistakes That Can Get Your Duolingo English Test Invalidated (2026 Rules)"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.det-art{max-width:840px;margin:0 auto;padding:8px 16px 48px;font-family:'Plus Jakarta Sans','Segoe UI',system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;color:#1e293b;line-height:1.75;font-size:17px}\n.det-hero{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#14532d 0%,#166534 45%,#15803d 100%);border-radius:18px;padding:36px 32px;color:#fff;margin-bottom:28px}\n.det-hero .crumb{font-size:13px;opacity:.85;margin-bottom:10px}\n.det-hero .crumb a{color:#bbf7d0;text-decoration:none}\n.det-hero h1{margin:0 0 12px;font-size:clamp(26px,4.5vw,38px);line-height:1.2;color:#fff}\n.det-hero p{margin:0;font-size:16.5px;opacity:.95}\n.det-art h2{font-size:24px;margin:38px 0 14px;color:#14532d;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:3px solid #86efac}\n.det-art h3{font-size:19px;margin:28px 0 10px;color:#166534}\n.det-art h3 .n{display:inline-block;background:#14532d;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:1px 10px;margin-right:8px;font-size:16px}\n.det-note{background:#f0fdf4;border-left:4px solid #22c55e;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0;padding:14px 18px;margin:18px 0}\n.det-warn{background:#fef2f2;border-left:4px solid #ef4444;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0;padding:14px 18px;margin:18px 0}\n.det-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#f0fdf4,#dcfce7);border:2px solid #22c55e;border-radius:14px;padding:20px 24px;margin:26px 0}\n.det-cta a{color:#15803d;font-weight:700}\n.det-fix{font-size:15.5px;background:#f8fafc;border:1px dashed #94a3b8;border-radius:10px;padding:10px 14px;margin:10px 0 4px}\n.det-fix b{color:#15803d}\n.det-art details{border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;margin:10px 0;padding:0 18px;background:#fff}\n.det-art summary{font-weight:700;padding:13px 0;cursor:pointer;color:#14532d}\n.det-src{font-size:13.5px;color:#64748b;border-top:1px solid #e2e8f0;margin-top:36px;padding-top:14px}\n@media(max-width:640px){.det-art{font-size:16px}.det-hero{padding:26px 20px}}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"det-art\">\n<div class=\"det-hero\">\n<div class=\"crumb\"><a href=\"\/\">Home<\/a> &#8250; <a href=\"\/duolingo-english-test\/\">Duolingo English Test<\/a> &#8250; 12 Proctoring Mistakes<\/div>\n<h1>12 Mistakes That Can Get Your Duolingo English Test Invalidated (2026 Rules)<\/h1>\n<p>The DET is taken at home &#8212; which means the proctoring rules are strict, and breaking one can mean no score, no refund. Here are the 12 mistakes that cost test takers their $70, and how to avoid every one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Every DET session is recorded and reviewed by human proctors (with AI assistance) before a result is certified. If the review finds a rule violation, your test is simply <strong>not certified<\/strong>: no score, no refund, and serious or repeated violations can get your account banned. Most &#8220;my DET wasn&#8217;t scored&#8221; stories trace back to one of the twelve mistakes below &#8212; all grounded in Duolingo&#8217;s official rules, setup guide (updated January 2026) and help center.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"det-img\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/det-mistakes-checklist.png\" alt=\"Checklist of 12 mistakes that can get a Duolingo English Test invalidated\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"environment\">Environment &amp; equipment mistakes<\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">1<\/span>Wearing headphones or earbuds<\/h3>\n<p>The single most common violation, because everyone <em>practices<\/em> with earbuds in. On the real test, any headphones &#8212; wired, Bluetooth, anything in or over your ears &#8212; are forbidden. Audio must play through your computer speakers, and your ears must be visible on camera at all times.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> do at least one full practice test using only your speakers, at the same desk where you&#8217;ll take the real test. Check the audio is loud and clear from your seat.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">2<\/span>Someone entering the room<\/h3>\n<p>A parent bringing tea, a sibling looking for a charger, a roommate walking through &#8212; the moment another person appears (or another voice is heard), the attempt can be invalidated. You must be alone for the entire hour.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> lock the door, tell everyone in the house you&#8217;re unreachable for 90 minutes, and consider testing late at night or early morning if you share a busy home.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">3<\/span>Skipping or botching the secondary camera + room scan<\/h3>\n<p>Since January 2026, Duolingo&#8217;s setup rules are explicit: a smartphone must be positioned as a <strong>secondary camera<\/strong> showing you and your computer, and you must complete a <strong>room scan<\/strong> during setup. An incorrect setup means the test can&#8217;t be certified &#8212; even if your answers were perfect.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> read the official setup guide the day before. Prepare a phone stand (or a stack of books), fully charge the phone, enable Do Not Disturb, and do a dry-run of the room scan.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">4<\/span>Unstable internet or a laptop dying mid-test<\/h3>\n<p>A dropped connection or a laptop going to sleep burns one of your <strong>three completion\/upload attempts<\/strong> per purchased test &#8212; and rattles you for the retry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> plug the laptop into power, use wired Ethernet or sit next to the router, close every other app and tab, and disable automatic sleep\/updates before starting.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"behavior\">Behavior mistakes during the test<\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">5<\/span>Looking away from the screen<\/h3>\n<p>Glancing down at your hands, staring at the ceiling while thinking, or repeatedly looking off-screen reads exactly like checking notes or a second device. Proctors flag eye movement patterns.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> train yourself to think while looking at the screen. Keep the desk completely clear so there&#8217;s nothing to look at.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">6<\/span>Mouthing words, whispering, or speaking your own language<\/h3>\n<p>Reading questions under your breath or muttering to yourself in your native language can be flagged as receiving or seeking outside help. The only time your voice should be heard is when a speaking task asks for it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> practice reading silently. If you&#8217;re a habitual mumbler, do a full mock test while recording yourself &#8212; you&#8217;ll be surprised.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">7<\/span>ID that doesn&#8217;t match your account name<\/h3>\n<p>If the name on your Duolingo account doesn&#8217;t exactly match your government ID &#8212; different order, missing middle name, different spelling &#8212; verification can fail before the test even begins.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> use your passport, and type your name into the account exactly as printed in it &#8212; same order, same spelling.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">8<\/span>Covering your face or ears<\/h3>\n<p>Resting your chin on your hand, hair covering your ears, hats or hoods &#8212; your face and ears must be fully visible for the whole test so proctors can confirm no earpiece is in use.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> tie hair back, no hats, and keep your hands away from your face &#8212; put them on the keyboard.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"strategy\">Strategy mistakes (these waste money, not just rules)<\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">9<\/span>Believing &#8220;you can retake it unlimited times&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p>You can purchase at most <strong>3 tests in any 30-day period<\/strong>, each purchase must be used <strong>within 21 days<\/strong> (no extensions), and every certified result &#8212; including its video interview &#8212; goes to schools you send it to. &#8220;I&#8217;ll just spam retakes&#8221; is neither possible nor wise.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> use the free unlimited practice test until your estimated range comfortably covers your target, then book the real thing.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">10<\/span>Buying &#8220;guaranteed score&#8221; services or leaked questions<\/h3>\n<p>Sellers in social-media groups promise real exam questions or someone to &#8220;help&#8221; during your at-home test. Duolingo&#8217;s security team bans accounts for this and can notify institutions &#8212; and because the test is adaptive with an enormous item bank, leaked questions are nearly useless anyway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> if a service&#8217;s pitch involves breaking test rules, walking away protects not just $70 but your entire application.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">11<\/span>Ignoring the ungraded Video Interview and Writing Sample<\/h3>\n<p>The final ~10 minutes are ungraded, so many test takers visibly switch off &#8212; one-word answers, slouching, rambling. But admissions officers <strong>watch these recordings<\/strong> alongside your score. A polished 130 with a careless interview sends a mixed message.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> treat the last 10 minutes as a mini admissions interview. Sit up, answer fully, finish strong.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"n\">12<\/span>Taking the DET for the wrong destination<\/h3>\n<p>The most expensive mistake isn&#8217;t a rule violation &#8212; it&#8217;s passing the test and discovering it doesn&#8217;t count. Australia&#8217;s student visa doesn&#8217;t accept the DET at all, and Canada&#8217;s PGWP doesn&#8217;t either. Test takers heading there end up paying for a second exam.<\/p>\n<div class=\"det-fix\"><b>Avoid it:<\/b> before buying, read <a href=\"\/duolingo-english-test-australia-canada\/\">where the DET is and isn&#8217;t accepted<\/a>, and verify your university on the official acceptance search.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"checklist\">Test-day checklist<\/h2>\n<div class=\"det-note\">\n<strong>The night before:<\/strong> read the official rules PDF &#183; set up the phone stand + charge the phone &#183; test speakers (no headphones!) &#183; clear the desk &#183; check your account name = passport name.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Right before starting:<\/strong> lock the door &amp; brief the family &#183; plug in the laptop &#183; wired internet or best Wi-Fi spot &#183; close all apps &#183; Do Not Disturb on both devices &#183; passport on the desk &#183; water&#8230; on the floor, not the desk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>During:<\/strong> eyes on screen &#183; silent except for speaking tasks &#183; face and ears visible &#183; full effort through the final interview.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"det-cta\">&#127919; New to the test? Start with the complete guide: <a href=\"\/duolingo-english-test\/\">What Is the Duolingo English Test? Structure, Scores &amp; Fees (2026)<\/a> &#8212; and check <a href=\"\/det-ielts-toefl-score-conversion\/\">what your target score means in IELTS\/TOEFL terms<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"det-cta\">&#127919; <strong>Rules memorized? Now train the format:<\/strong> our <a href=\"\/det-mini-practice-test\/\">free DET mini practice test<\/a> gives you 18 questions under the real test&#8217;s time pressure &#8212; no signup.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>What happens if my DET is not certified?<\/summary>\n<p>You get no score and no refund. Technical upload failures are covered by your 3 attempts per purchase, but conduct violations can void the attempt entirely, and serious cases can lead to an account ban.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Can I drink water during the Duolingo English Test?<\/summary>\n<p>The safest approach is to drink before the test &#8212; the rules require your face visible and hands away from your face, and reaching off-screen repeatedly can be flagged. The test is only about an hour.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How many times can I actually take the DET?<\/summary>\n<p>You can purchase up to 3 tests in any 30-day period. Each purchase must be used within 21 days and includes 3 attempts to complete and upload (for technical failures).<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Does Duolingo really check the recordings?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes. Every certified result passes human proctor review with AI assistance. Results are typically released within about 48 hours precisely because of this review step.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"det-src\">Sources: Duolingo English Test official Test Rules (PDF), official setup guide &#8212; secondary camera &amp; room scan (Jan 2026), help center (testcenter.zendesk.com &#8212; retake &amp; purchase rules, articles 360011075451, 8599807800205, 360012468631). Accessed July 2026.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[\n{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happens if my DET is not certified?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You get no score and no refund. 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Here are the 12 mistakes that cost test takers their $70, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-with-title","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6536","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6536"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6629,"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6536\/revisions\/6629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allenglish4u.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}