DET Test Setup Checklist: Room Scan, Camera & Rules Guide (2026)

Your Duolingo English Test score means nothing if your test gets invalidated.

Every week, students contact us after their results were cancelled — not because of their English, but because their phone slipped, their room scan was blurry, or they didn't know about the new ear scan requirement.

This guide gives you the exact setup we recommend to our students: step-by-step positioning, official requirements, and a checklist you can use on test day. Bookmark this page and complete each step before you click "Start Test."

What's New in December 2025

Duolingo has added three security layers since September 2025. If you took the test before then, the process has changed significantly:

• Secondary Camera (October 2024): Your phone must record your screen and keyboard throughout the entire test.
• 360° Room Scan (September 2025): Before starting, you must use your phone to show your entire testing room — every wall, corner, and the area behind your monitor.
• Ear Scan (December 2025): You must scan both ears with your phone camera to prove you're not wearing earbuds. This is rolling out gradually, so you may or may not see it yet.

Equipment You Need

Before test day, gather everything in one place. Don't assume you have it — physically check each item.

Computer Requirements

Your computer must have (according to Duolingo's official requirements):

• Front-facing webcam (built-in or external)
• Microphone (built-in or external)
• Speakers (you cannot use headphones or earbuds)
• Windows 10+ or macOS 10.15+
• Latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, or the DET desktop app
• Chromebooks (limited support — check Duolingo's official requirements)

Phone Requirements (Secondary Camera)

• Any smartphone with a working camera
• iOS or Android
• DET mobile app installed (required as of December 2025)
• Fully charged or plugged into charger
• Do Not Disturb enabled with no exceptions

You can borrow a phone if you don't have one. Tablets work as secondary cameras, but a second laptop does not.

Valid ID

Your ID must be:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Original document (not a photocopy or digital image)
• Unexpired
• Matching the name you registered with

Accepted ID by Country (according to Duolingo's official ID policy, December 2025)

Country/Region	Accepted ID Types	NOT Accepted
India	Passport ONLY	Aadhaar, PAN card, driver's license, voter ID
China	Passport, National ID card (居民身份证)	—
USA, Canada, UK, EU	Passport, driver's license, national ID card	—
Most other countries	Passport, driver's license, government-issued photo ID	Student IDs, photocopies, digital images

Not sure about your country? Check Duolingo's official ID list.

Room Setup

Official Duolingo Requirements

According to Duolingo's official rules, your testing environment must meet these requirements:

• Quiet, private, well-lit room
• You must be alone for the entire test
• No phones, notepads, or writing materials near you
• Your face must be clearly visible and well-lit
• Ears, eyes, and mouth must remain uncovered

That's all Duolingo officially specifies. But in our experience teaching DET preparation, students who follow these additional guidelines have fewer setup issues and failed scans.

Our Recommendations (What Works for Our Students)

Room Selection

Best choices: Private bedroom, home office, or dedicated study room with a door you can close.

Avoid: Shared living spaces, rooms without doors, spaces where family members or roommates might walk through, rooms with multiple entrances.

Desk Setup

Clear your desk completely. Remove everything except:

• Your computer
• Your phone (as secondary camera)
• Your ID (within arm's reach)
• One clear water bottle (optional)

Lighting Setup

Poor lighting is one of the most common reasons for failed room scans. The official rule is simply "well-lit" — here's what that means in practice:

The key principle: Light should hit your face, not come from behind you.

Recommended setup:

• Main light source in front of you or above you
• Window to your side, not behind you
• If window is behind you, close blinds/curtains completely
• Desk lamp pointing at your face from an angle if room is dim

Test your lighting before test day:

1. Open your laptop camera
2. Look at your face on screen
3. If your face is darker than your background, adjust lighting
4. Your face should be clearly visible with no shadows across your eyes

Background

Ideal: Plain wall with no decorations

Also fine:

• Bookshelf
• Window with blinds closed
• Normal bedroom/office furniture

Can cause problems:

• Mirrors (can show hidden objects)
• Posters with text (proctors may think you're reading them)
• Second monitor (even if off, disconnect it)
• Another person visible in background

Secondary Camera Setup

This is where most students make mistakes. Follow these steps exactly.

Phone Position: What Must Be Visible

Your phone must capture three things simultaneously:

1. Your entire computer screen
2. Your entire keyboard
3. Your upper body (shoulders and arms while typing)

Official Duolingo guidance:

• Position phone to the left or right of your computer
• Place it far enough away to capture your entire screen and keyboard
• You may need to position it slightly behind you for a wider angle
• Place phone horizontally (landscape mode) for stability
• During setup, your phone's video feed displays on your computer — adjust until everything is visible

How to find the right position:

1. Lean phone against a sturdy object (mug, books, phone stand)
2. Check the video feed on your computer screen
3. Verify full screen is visible in frame
4. Verify full keyboard is visible in frame
5. Sit in your chair — your hands on keyboard should be visible
6. Adjust until all three elements are clearly in frame

Securing Your Phone

Your phone cannot move for 60+ minutes. Test stability before your exam.

Best method:

1. Stack 2-3 hardcover books to create a stable base
2. Lean phone against the stack at the correct angle
3. Place a heavy object (mug, paperweight) in front to prevent sliding
4. Use a rubber phone case for grip

Test stability:

1. Set up your phone
2. Type vigorously on your keyboard for 30 seconds
3. Bump your desk lightly
4. If phone moves or falls, adjust setup

Phone Settings Before Test

Do Not Disturb — this is critical:

iPhone:

1. Settings → Focus → Do Not Disturb → Enable
2. Turn OFF "Allow Calls From" exceptions
3. Turn OFF "Allow Repeated Calls"
4. Enable "Silence Notifications"

Android:

1. Settings → Sound → Do Not Disturb → Enable
2. Set to "Total Silence" or "Alarms Only"
3. Disable all exceptions

Alternative: Enable Airplane Mode, then turn WiFi back on.

Other settings:

• Brightness: 50% or higher (auto-brightness off)
• Auto-lock: Disabled for the test duration
• Volume: Muted

Room Scan: The 360° Process

As of September 2025, you must scan your entire room before starting the test.

What the Room Scan Checks

Duolingo is looking for:

• Other electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops)
• Other people in the room
• Notes, papers, or study materials
• Unusual objects that could hide cheating devices

Step-by-Step Room Scan Process

1. Start in the DET desktop app. Log in and proceed until prompted to set up your phone.
2. Scan the QR code. Use your phone's camera app (not a third-party scanner). Enter the 4-digit code if prompted.
3. Enable permissions. Allow camera, microphone, and motion sensor access when prompted.
4. Stand up from your chair. You'll need to move around the room.
5. Point phone at your computer first. Show the full screen and keyboard in frame.
6. Rotate slowly — 360° full circle.
   • Move at walking pace, not running
   • Keep the phone steady (no shaking)
   • Show every wall, corner, and doorway
   • Open closet doors if they're in the room
7. Show behind your monitor. Move phone above and behind your computer to show there's nothing hidden there.
8. Return to your computer. Point phone at screen/keyboard again to confirm position.
9. Place phone in secondary camera position. Verify the feed appears on your computer screen.

Common Room Scan Failures

• Scan too fast: The system couldn't capture clear images. Slow down.
• Missed areas: You didn't show a corner or behind furniture. Be thorough.
• Blurry footage: Hold phone steady. If your hands shake, brace your elbow against your body.
• Poor lighting: Room too dark for camera to capture details. Add lighting.
• Objects visible: If the system flags something, you may need to remove it and rescan.

Ear Scan: The New December 2025 Requirement

This is the newest security feature. It's rolling out gradually — you may or may not see it in your test.

Why Ear Scanning Exists

Wireless earbuds have become small enough to be nearly invisible. Some test-takers were using them to receive answers through audio. The ear scan proves you're not wearing any audio devices.

Step-by-Step Ear Scan Process

The app will guide you through this process. Generally:

First Ear:

• Hold your phone so your ear is clearly visible on screen
• Tilt your head slightly away from the phone to expose your ear canal
• Hold still until the system confirms capture
• You may need to move the phone closer for verification

Second Ear:

• Repeat the same process for your other ear

Ear Scan Technique Tips

Show the inside of your ear canal clearly:

• Use your free hand to gently pull your ear up and back
• This opens the ear canal for the camera
• Don't insert anything into your ear — just expose the opening

Good lighting matters:

• Face a light source so your ear is illuminated
• If your ear is in shadow, the scan may fail

Hair considerations:

• Pull long hair behind your ear before scanning
• The camera needs a clear view — hair covering your ear will cause failures

If you wear hearing aids:

• You may need to remove them for the scan
• Contact Duolingo support before test day if you have accessibility concerns

Pre-Test Checklist

Use this checklist on test day. Complete every item before clicking "Start Test."

24 Hours Before

• ☐ Download and install DET desktop app on computer
• ☐ Download and install DET mobile app on phone
• ☐ Run a test of your webcam, microphone, and speakers
• ☐ Check internet speed (minimum 2 Mbps up, 5 Mbps down recommended)
• ☐ Locate your ID and verify it's not expired
• ☐ Identify which room you'll use and check lighting

1 Hour Before

• ☐ Close all other applications on your computer
• ☐ Disable notifications on your computer
• ☐ Charge phone to 100% or plug into charger
• ☐ Clear desk of all unauthorized items
• ☐ Set up phone stand/support in position
• ☐ Close door and inform household not to enter
• ☐ Put "Do Not Disturb" sign on door
• ☐ Go to the bathroom (test is 60 minutes with no breaks)

10 Minutes Before

• ☐ Enable Do Not Disturb on phone
• ☐ Disable auto-lock on phone
• ☐ Position phone and verify all three elements visible (screen, keyboard, you)
• ☐ Test phone stability — bump desk lightly
• ☐ Check lighting on your face
• ☐ Have ID within arm's reach
• ☐ Sit in your chair and adjust position
• ☐ Take three deep breaths

Final Checks

• ☐ Ears clear and visible (no earbuds, hair pulled back)
• ☐ Face clearly lit on camera
• ☐ Screen and keyboard visible in phone camera
• ☐ Phone secure and stable
• ☐ Room door closed
• ☐ You are alone
• ☐ ID ready

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Phone Falls During Test

• Don't panic or leave your chair
• If you can reach it without leaving frame, quickly reposition
• If you can't, continue the test but expect possible cancellation
• Your test may be invalidated — you'll need to retake

Room Scan Fails

• Read the error message carefully
• Usually: rescan slower, add lighting, or remove flagged objects
• You get multiple attempts before the test starts

Ear Scan Fails

• Pull hair back completely
• Add more light to your face/ears
• Pull ear gently to expose canal
• Move phone slightly closer

Internet Drops

• Test pauses automatically
• Reconnect as quickly as possible
• Don't leave your chair or touch your phone
• If it reconnects, continue from where you stopped

Someone Enters Room

• Brief interruption (family member called for meal): Usually not invalidated if proctor sees it was genuine
• Extended interruption or conversation: Likely invalidation
• Prevention is key — lock door if possible, use a sign

What Won't Invalidate Your Test

According to official Duolingo guidance (from their September 2025 proctor training), these situations typically don't cause invalidation:

• Brief family interruption (e.g., being called for a meal) — as long as the proctor can see it was genuine
• Environmental noise outside your room (car horns, firecrackers, distant conversations) — as long as your speech is still audible
• Pet briefly appearing (e.g., cat jumps on desk) and you glancing at it — as long as proctors can see it was a pet
• Brief keyboard glances while typing — keep them short and infrequent

The key principle: proctors are humans reviewing footage. If your behavior looks like honest test-taking with minor life interruptions, you're usually fine. If it looks like cheating, you're not.

Summary

A valid DET score requires more than good English — it requires a proper test setup. Get this right, and you can focus entirely on demonstrating your language skills.

The essentials:

• Computer with webcam, mic, speakers (no headphones)
• Phone as secondary camera, stable and charged
• Private, well-lit room with clear desk
• Complete room scan before test
• Complete ear scan if prompted
• Do Not Disturb enabled on all devices

Run through the checklist above on test day. When every box is checked, you're ready.

Good luck with your test.