DET Requirements 2026: ID, Secondary Camera & Rules That Invalidate Your Test

Most students read a requirements page, skim the bullet points, and think they're ready. Then they sit down on test day and find out their Chromebook doesn't work, their phone needs to be a camera (not hidden in another room), or their result gets flagged because they kept glancing left while thinking.

These aren't edge cases. They're the most common reasons students lose $65 and a month of preparation.

The DET has changed significantly since 2024. There's now a mandatory secondary camera, a 360° room scan, and an ear scan — all required before the adaptive test even begins. This guide covers what actually matters in 2026: the rules, why they exist, and what gets you flagged.

Why the Rules Are So Strict

Matías sent me a message after his third DET attempt. Speaking score: 85. Writing score: 115. Same person, same English knowledge, 30-point gap between two sections of the same test.

He wrote: "Cuando escucho una oración completa, hay palabras que se me pasan... pero si las escucho con el subtítulo, las puedo entender."

When I hear a full sentence, words pass me by. But with subtitles, I understand them fine.

That's the retrieval problem the DET is specifically designed to test. It doesn't want to know what English you recognize — it wants to know what English you can access under pressure, in real time, without support. Notes, a second screen, someone whispering help — these don't just break the rules. They break what the test is measuring.

That's why the proctoring is strict. And that's why the secondary camera, the room scan, and the eye-tracking rules exist. Once you understand that, the requirements stop feeling arbitrary.

Eligibility Requirements

The DET has almost no restrictions on who can take it:

• Age: No minimum. Test takers under 13 require parental consent via an online form during registration.
• Nationality: Available in every country — no passport or citizenship restrictions.
• Education: No qualifications, grades, or prior English study required.
• English level: No minimum. The adaptive format adjusts to your level in real time.

ID Requirements

You need a valid, government-issued photo ID showing your full legal name, a photo of your face, your full date of birth, and an expiration date.

Accepted ID types

• Passport (universally accepted — always the safest choice)
• National ID card (accepted in many countries)
• Driver's license (accepted in some countries)
• Resident permit (accepted in some countries)

Country-specific ID rules

This is where students get caught out. ID acceptance varies significantly by country:

Verify your country's exact requirements at englishtest.duolingo.com/ids before test day. Using the wrong ID invalidates your session with no refund.

Computer and Technical Requirements

Device

You need a laptop or desktop computer. These will not work:

• Phones or tablets (including iPad)
• Chromebooks
• Linux systems
• 2-in-1 devices like Surface Pro (may not function correctly)

Since 2025, the DET runs through a desktop app — not a browser. You download it after purchase. Compatible operating systems: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Hardware

Internet connection

• Minimum: 2 Mbps download / 1 Mbps upload
• Recommended: 10 Mbps or faster
• Wired ethernet strongly preferred over Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot

Close before starting

Close everything before launching the test app: all browsers and extensions (including Grammarly), VPNs, remote access tools, screen sharing software, third-party keyboard tools, background sync services. VPNs cause immediate invalidation.

The Secondary Camera Requirement (2025)

Since September 2025, every DET test requires a smartphone as a secondary camera. This is mandatory — there is no opt-out, and you cannot start the test without completing the setup.

Your phone sits beside your computer and records your screen, keyboard, and upper body from a second angle throughout the entire session. The primary reason: remote-access cheating, where someone controls a test taker's screen from another location. The camera footage is cross-checked against what your computer webcam records.

What you need

• A smartphone with a working camera (any model)
• Fully charged, or plugged in during the test
• Connected to Wi-Fi
• Do Not Disturb mode on (ensure no contacts can bypass it)
• The Duolingo English Test mobile app installed

Tablets are also accepted. A second laptop cannot be used. If you don't own a phone, you can borrow one.

Setup steps

1. Start the DET desktop app and reach the secondary camera step
2. Scan the QR code shown on your screen with your phone
3. Download the DET mobile app if needed and grant camera and motion permissions
4. Enter the code shown on your computer screen
5. Position your phone horizontally to the left or right of your computer — both your full screen and keyboard must be in frame
6. Use a stable support (a mug, stack of books, or phone stand)
7. Do not touch the phone again once the test begins

If your phone falls over mid-test, quit and restart. If the recording is interrupted or obscured, your session may be cancelled and you will need to retake from the beginning.

Room Scan and Ear Scan

Before the adaptive test begins, you complete two checks using your phone's camera.

360° Room Scan

1. Point the camera at your computer
2. Spin a full 360°, keeping the on-screen arrow centered
3. Point the phone down at your keyboard
4. Scan the area behind your laptop
5. The scan ends automatically

Ear Scan

After the room scan, briefly hold your phone up to each ear. This confirms you're not wearing earbuds or any audio device. Quick, straightforward — just show each ear to the camera.

Environment Requirements

Your room

• Completely alone. Anyone entering — even briefly, even a child — can invalidate your session.
• Quiet. Background sounds (dog barking, traffic) are generally fine as long as you don't respond. Any conversation directed at you is a violation.
• Well-lit. Place a lamp in front of you, not behind. Shadowy or backlit footage fails the identity check.
• Clear desk. Remove notes, books, papers, and second screens before the room scan.

The only three things allowed on your desk

Your computer. Your phone (in its stable secondary camera position). Your ID. Everything else should be cleared before the scan starts.

Prohibited items

• Notes, papers, or notebooks
• Any additional electronic devices beyond the secondary camera phone
• Smartwatches or wearables
• Headphones that cover your ears
• Face masks (religious headwear allowed if your face is fully visible)
• Sunglasses

Behaviour During the Test

The 6 Most Common Violations

From Duolingo's official partner sessions, these are the six violations that most often invalidate results:

1. Frequent gaze diversion — eyes moving off-screen repeatedly, even while thinking
2. Exam interruptions — anyone entering the room, or responding to background voices
3. Background programs running — VPNs, remote software, browser extensions, or pop-ups
4. Copying and pasting — any detected copy event causes automatic invalidation
5. Unauthorized items on the desk — pens, paper, books, or extra devices
6. Improper phone placement — secondary camera not capturing the full testing environment

Consequences for Breaking Rules

A pattern of violations across multiple tests within 365 days results in a one-year account suspension. Creating multiple accounts to bypass a ban is grounds for permanent ban.

Score Requirements for Universities

Always check your target institution directly. Scores are valid for 2 years. For a full comparison with IELTS and TOEFL, see our DET score guide.

Visa Acceptance by Country

University acceptance and visa acceptance are two different things. Getting into a university that accepts DET does not mean DET counts for your visa.

Registration

1. Create a free account at englishtest.duolingo.com using your exact legal name
2. Purchase the test ($65 USD) — you have 21 days from purchase to start
3. Download the DET desktop app
4. Run the system check 1–2 days before test day
5. On test day: ID ready, phone charged with DET app installed, clear desk, quiet room

Retake Policy

• Credit validity: 21 days from purchase
• Frequency: Up to 2 certified attempts in any 30-day window
• Invalid attempts count toward your 30-day limit
• Must receive results before scheduling another attempt
• Score validity: 2 years from test date
• Score sends: Free and unlimited

What to Have Ready on Test Day

• Original government-issued ID (not a copy)
• Phone — charged, Do Not Disturb on, DET mobile app installed
• Login credentials for englishtest.duolingo.com

No admission ticket. No printout. No pencils or scratch paper.