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Episode: Free vs. Premium Duolingo English Practice Test: Which Option Best Fits Your Needs?

Author: DETPractice.com
Duration: 00:24:34

Episode Shownotes

This episode will delve into the distinctions between the free and premium versions of the Duolingo English Practice Test, evaluating features, benefits, and costs to assist listeners in selecting the most suitable option for their preparation needs. Text base version here: Free vs. Premium Duolingo English Practice Test: Which Option

Best Fits Your Needs? Brought to you by DET Practice, your one-stop Duolingo English Test Prep Platform.

Full Transcript

00:00:00 Speaker_01
All right, so are you ready to dive into something pretty interesting today?

00:00:03 Speaker_00
Oh yeah, always ready to dive in.

00:00:05 Speaker_01
Okay, awesome, because today we're going to be talking about how to prep for the Duolingo English test.

00:00:13 Speaker_00
The D-E-T.

00:00:14 Speaker_01
Yeah, the D-E-T.

00:00:15 Speaker_00
I hear that a lot.

00:00:16 Speaker_01
Yeah, everyone's using it now, right?

00:00:17 Speaker_00
Oh yeah, it's becoming super popular.

00:00:19 Speaker_01
So it's this online English proficiency test that a lot of universities and even companies are starting to use.

00:00:25 Speaker_00
Right.

00:00:26 Speaker_01
And I think a big part of the reason for that is that it's so much more affordable and convenient.

00:00:30 Speaker_00
Way more convenient.

00:00:31 Speaker_01
Than some of those other big tests out there.

00:00:33 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:00:34 Speaker_01
But here's the thing, like anyone who's taking a big test like that.

00:00:37 Speaker_00
Right.

00:00:38 Speaker_01
They're thinking about practice tests.

00:00:40 Speaker_00
Right. Oh, of course. Yeah, I got to practice.

00:00:42 Speaker_01
Yeah, so that's what we're going to be looking at today. We want to figure out, are those free practice tests good enough? Or should we actually be thinking about investing in a premium option?

00:00:55 Speaker_00
Interesting.

00:00:55 Speaker_01
Yeah, so let's figure that out.

00:00:57 Speaker_00
OK.

00:00:58 Speaker_01
So, you know, one of the things that I think is really interesting about the D.T. is that it's not like just a normal, you know, pen and paper or even like a, you know, a digital version of a pen and paper test. Right.

00:01:10 Speaker_01
It's actually like this adaptive test that changes as you're taking it.

00:01:15 Speaker_00
Yeah, that's what I heard. It's like it kind of figures out your level. Yeah. As you're going in it, like adjust the questions and stuff.

00:01:20 Speaker_01
Yeah. And then it focuses a lot on like real world communication skills.

00:01:25 Speaker_00
Oh, that's important.

00:01:26 Speaker_01
Yeah. Like actually being able to use the language.

00:01:28 Speaker_00
Right. Not just like textbook grammar and stuff.

00:01:30 Speaker_01
Right. Exactly. So it's not just about, you know, can you conjugate this verb or whatever.

00:01:35 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:01:35 Speaker_01
It's more like, can you actually hold a conversation?

00:01:38 Speaker_00
Right.

00:01:39 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:01:39 Speaker_00
Can you understand a podcast like this one?

00:01:42 Speaker_01
Yeah, exactly.

00:01:43 Speaker_00
Can you, you know, read a news article? Yeah. Things like that.

00:01:46 Speaker_01
So that's really cool, and I think that's one of the things that makes it so appealing to, you know, universities and companies and stuff.

00:01:52 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:01:53 Speaker_01
But let's talk about these practice tests now, because that's kind of the meat of, you know, what we want to figure out today.

00:02:00 Speaker_00
Okay, yeah. Where do we even begin?

00:02:03 Speaker_01
Yeah, so basically you've got two main options.

00:02:06 Speaker_00
Right.

00:02:06 Speaker_01
You've got the official practice test, which is offered by Duolingo itself.

00:02:10 Speaker_00
Okay.

00:02:11 Speaker_01
And that one is free.

00:02:12 Speaker_00
Free? That's always good.

00:02:13 Speaker_01
Yeah. And then you've got these third-party practice tests, which are usually premium.

00:02:18 Speaker_00
Okay.

00:02:19 Speaker_01
And those come with, like, you know, extra features and stuff.

00:02:22 Speaker_00
So we got the basic free one and then the fancy premium one.

00:02:25 Speaker_01
Right, exactly. So let's start with the free one because, you know, everyone loves free stuff.

00:02:29 Speaker_00
For sure.

00:02:29 Speaker_01
But is it actually good enough?

00:02:31 Speaker_00
That's the question, right?

00:02:32 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:02:33 Speaker_00
Like, can we get away with just doing the free one?

00:02:35 Speaker_01
Right.

00:02:36 Speaker_00
Or do we really need to shell out the bucks for the premium ones?

00:02:39 Speaker_01
Yeah. So tell me a little bit about that free practice test. Like, what does it actually look like?

00:02:43 Speaker_00
Okay. So the free one, it's kind of like a condensed version of the real test.

00:02:47 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:02:48 Speaker_00
Fewer questions, which, you know, kind of makes sense. It's free. Yeah. But it does cover all the different question types.

00:02:54 Speaker_02
Okay.

00:02:54 Speaker_00
So you'll see, you know, all the things that you would see on the real test.

00:02:57 Speaker_01
Gotcha.

00:02:58 Speaker_00
Just, you know, fewer of them.

00:02:59 Speaker_01
Okay, so it's like a good overview to kind of get your feet wet.

00:03:03 Speaker_00
Exactly. It's a good way to get familiar with the format and see what kind of questions they ask.

00:03:07 Speaker_01
All right, cool. And what about the scoring? Does it give you an actual score?

00:03:11 Speaker_00
You do get a score right away, which is really nice. You don't have to wait.

00:03:16 Speaker_01
Instant gratification.

00:03:18 Speaker_00
Exactly. And they even show you how your score compares to other English tests.

00:03:22 Speaker_02
Oh, wow.

00:03:23 Speaker_00
Like TOEFL and the IELTS.

00:03:25 Speaker_02
Oh, okay, cool.

00:03:25 Speaker_00
Those are like the big international ones that you might have heard of.

00:03:28 Speaker_02
Right, right, right, yeah.

00:03:30 Speaker_00
But there's a catch.

00:03:31 Speaker_02
Uh-oh.

00:03:32 Speaker_00
The scores on the free practice test are given in ranges. So they don't tell you, like, you got exactly this score.

00:03:40 Speaker_01
Gotcha. So, like, you know you're between this and that.

00:03:42 Speaker_00
Exactly, yeah. So it's good for, like, a general idea. But if you need a very specific score, it might not be precise enough.

00:03:50 Speaker_01
Okay, that makes sense.

00:03:52 Speaker_00
And there's one more little quirk about the free test.

00:03:55 Speaker_01
Oh, there's more?

00:03:56 Speaker_00
Sometimes they sneak in some experimental questions. Like things that Duolingo is trying out.

00:04:01 Speaker_01
Oh, so they're using us as guinea pigs.

00:04:03 Speaker_00
Kind of, yeah.

00:04:04 Speaker_01
Interesting.

00:04:05 Speaker_00
So you might see a question that's totally weird.

00:04:07 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:04:08 Speaker_00
And it might not even be on the real exam.

00:04:10 Speaker_01
Gotcha. So don't freak out.

00:04:11 Speaker_00
Exactly. Yeah, just, you know, take it with a grain of salt.

00:04:14 Speaker_01
So, okay, so it sounds like the free test is a good starting point.

00:04:18 Speaker_00
Yeah, for sure.

00:04:19 Speaker_01
But maybe not the be-all and end-all.

00:04:20 Speaker_00
Right.

00:04:21 Speaker_01
Especially if you really need to, you know, get a certain score or whatever.

00:04:25 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:04:26 Speaker_01
Now let's talk about those premium practice tests.

00:04:29 Speaker_00
OK, the fancy ones?

00:04:30 Speaker_01
Yeah, the fancy ones, because, you know, we said they have all these extra features.

00:04:34 Speaker_00
Right, right.

00:04:35 Speaker_01
So, like, what are we talking about here?

00:04:37 Speaker_00
OK, so for these premium ones, we actually take a close look at one in particular.

00:04:42 Speaker_01
OK.

00:04:42 Speaker_00
It's called DET Practices Mock Test.

00:04:46 Speaker_01
BET practices mock test.

00:04:48 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:04:48 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:04:49 Speaker_00
And it has a ton of cool features.

00:04:50 Speaker_01
Okay. Like what?

00:04:51 Speaker_00
So first of all, it gives you full length exams so you can really simulate the actual test experience.

00:04:57 Speaker_01
Oh, so it's the same length as the real test.

00:04:59 Speaker_00
Yeah, exactly. Even down to the time limit.

00:05:01 Speaker_01
Oh, that's good because time limits always get me on these tests.

00:05:03 Speaker_00
Right. It's important to practice that.

00:05:05 Speaker_01
Yeah. So you're not caught off guard when you're actually taking the real thing.

00:05:09 Speaker_00
Yes. You don't want to be like, oh my God, I'm running out of time.

00:05:11 Speaker_01
Yeah. Yeah.

00:05:13 Speaker_00
So that's really helpful.

00:05:14 Speaker_01
OK. But it's got to have more than just the time limits, right?

00:05:18 Speaker_00
Oh, yeah. There's more.

00:05:19 Speaker_01
Like, what else is so special about this?

00:05:21 Speaker_00
So they have a massive database of questions.

00:05:24 Speaker_01
Right.

00:05:25 Speaker_00
Like, over 18,000 questions.

00:05:27 Speaker_02
Wow.

00:05:28 Speaker_00
Yeah. So you're definitely not going to run out of practice material.

00:05:31 Speaker_02
That's a lot of questions.

00:05:33 Speaker_00
Yeah. You could take that test, like, every day for years.

00:05:36 Speaker_02
Yeah, basically.

00:05:39 Speaker_00
And here's another really cool thing. It uses adaptive testing.

00:05:42 Speaker_01
Adaptive testing, now what is that?

00:05:44 Speaker_00
Okay, so that means that the test actually adjusts to your skill level as you go.

00:05:49 Speaker_01
Oh, wow.

00:05:49 Speaker_00
So if you're doing really well, the questions get harder.

00:05:53 Speaker_01
Interesting.

00:05:53 Speaker_00
So if you're struggling a bit, the questions get easier.

00:05:56 Speaker_01
So it keeps you on your toes.

00:05:57 Speaker_00
Exactly, yeah, it keeps you challenged.

00:05:59 Speaker_01
That's really cool.

00:06:00 Speaker_00
And it makes sure that you're always getting the most out of your practice.

00:06:03 Speaker_01
Okay, so it's like personalized.

00:06:05 Speaker_00
Yeah, kind of like having a personal tutor.

00:06:06 Speaker_01
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I like that.

00:06:09 Speaker_00
But of course, we have to talk about the cost.

00:06:12 Speaker_01
Right, because free is free.

00:06:14 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:06:15 Speaker_01
But how much are we talking about for these premium tests?

00:06:19 Speaker_00
That's a good question. So the actual DET exam itself costs around $65. Okay. So it's not cheap.

00:06:26 Speaker_02
Right. Yeah.

00:06:28 Speaker_00
But these premium practice tests, like the one from DET practice, usually cost around $5. Oh, wow.

00:06:34 Speaker_01
So it's like a fraction of the cost.

00:06:36 Speaker_00
Exactly. Yeah. So you're getting a lot more practice and a lot more detailed feedback.

00:06:40 Speaker_01
for way less money.

00:06:41 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:06:42 Speaker_01
OK, so to recap here, we've got the free test, which is kind of like the basic option.

00:06:47 Speaker_00
Right, the intro level.

00:06:48 Speaker_01
Yeah, just to kind of get a taste of things.

00:06:50 Speaker_00
Yeah, dip your toes in the water.

00:06:51 Speaker_01
Right. And then we've got the premium options, which are, you know, like the full package.

00:06:55 Speaker_00
Yeah, all the bells and whistles.

00:06:57 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:06:58 Speaker_00
All the fancy stuff.

00:06:59 Speaker_01
So how do we choose, like?

00:07:01 Speaker_00
Yeah, that's the big question.

00:07:02 Speaker_01
When does it make sense to go with the free one versus when should someone really be thinking about investing in a premium test?

00:07:10 Speaker_00
Okay, so I would say if you're just starting out, and you just kind of want to see what the DET is like, or maybe you're on a really tight budget, then the free practice test is a great place to start.

00:07:22 Speaker_01
Makes sense.

00:07:23 Speaker_00
Yeah, just to kind of get a feel for it.

00:07:25 Speaker_01
OK, but what about someone who's like really serious about getting like a top score? Like maybe they need it for a university application.

00:07:33 Speaker_00
Right.

00:07:34 Speaker_01
And something like that.

00:07:35 Speaker_00
In that case, I would say investing in a premium test is a really smart move.

00:07:40 Speaker_02
OK.

00:07:40 Speaker_00
Because you get that realistic test simulation. You get that in-depth feedback. And honestly, you get the peace of mind. Oh, yeah. Of knowing that you've done everything you can to prepare.

00:07:52 Speaker_01
Yeah, that's important.

00:07:53 Speaker_00
Yeah, so it's not just about the score itself. Right. It's about feeling confident and knowing that you've prepped properly.

00:07:59 Speaker_01
Okay, I like that.

00:08:00 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:08:00 Speaker_01
But would it ever make sense to do both?

00:08:03 Speaker_00
Oh, that's a good question.

00:08:04 Speaker_01
Like because it seems like maybe if you jump straight into the premium tests, you might not even know like what your weak areas are.

00:08:12 Speaker_00
Right. You might be wasting some of those questions.

00:08:14 Speaker_01
Yeah. Exactly.

00:08:16 Speaker_00
Yeah. That's a good point. So I think maybe a current mind approach could be the way to go. OK. So start with a free test.

00:08:21 Speaker_02
Yeah.

00:08:22 Speaker_00
Get a baseline.

00:08:23 Speaker_01
Get your feet wet.

00:08:24 Speaker_00
Exactly. And then use those premium tests strategically to really hone in on the areas where you need the most help.

00:08:31 Speaker_01
I like that.

00:08:32 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:08:32 Speaker_01
So use the free one as kind of like a diagnostic tool.

00:08:35 Speaker_00
Yeah, exactly.

00:08:35 Speaker_01
And then the premium ones are like your secret weapon.

00:08:38 Speaker_00
Yeah, like your training montage.

00:08:41 Speaker_01
I like that.

00:08:42 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:08:42 Speaker_01
But before we get like, you know, too deep into the weeds of, you know, what score you need to get and all that.

00:08:48 Speaker_00
Right.

00:08:48 Speaker_01
Let's take a step back for a second.

00:08:49 Speaker_00
OK. Yeah. Bigger picture. Yeah. What are we really doing here?

00:08:52 Speaker_01
Yeah. Because I think, you know, sometimes we get so caught up in like the test taking and the scores and all that for sure. Yeah.

00:08:59 Speaker_00
It's easy to get lost in the numbers.

00:09:01 Speaker_01
Right, but ultimately, you know, language is about so much more than that.

00:09:06 Speaker_00
Absolutely, yeah.

00:09:07 Speaker_01
It's about connection.

00:09:08 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:09:08 Speaker_01
It's about communication.

00:09:09 Speaker_00
Communication.

00:09:10 Speaker_01
It's about, you know, experiencing the world in a different way.

00:09:14 Speaker_00
Right, and like actually using the language. Exactly. Not just, you know, passing a test.

00:09:18 Speaker_02
No.

00:09:18 Speaker_00
Think about, like, why are you taking the DET?

00:09:21 Speaker_02
Yeah.

00:09:22 Speaker_00
Is it to study abroad? Is it to get a job overseas? Is it to travel the world and talk to people? Keep that end goal in mind as you're prepping.

00:09:34 Speaker_01
I love that.

00:09:35 Speaker_00
Yeah, let it fuel your passion.

00:09:36 Speaker_01
Yeah, don't lose sight of the why. OK, so let's say someone aces the DET. OK. Awesome. They've got the skills.

00:09:45 Speaker_00
They've got the skills. But then what would they do with it? Like, how do they actually apply that fluency in real life?

00:09:51 Speaker_01
Right. How do you bridge that gap?

00:09:53 Speaker_00
Yeah. Any tips on that?

00:09:54 Speaker_01
OK. So one thing that I think is really important is to actively seek out opportunities to use your English.

00:10:02 Speaker_02
OK.

00:10:02 Speaker_01
Don't just let it sit there in your brain.

00:10:04 Speaker_02
Right.

00:10:04 Speaker_01
Like, you've got to get out there and use it.

00:10:06 Speaker_02
Yeah.

00:10:06 Speaker_01
So join online communities.

00:10:08 Speaker_02
OK.

00:10:08 Speaker_01
Find language exchange partners.

00:10:10 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:10:11 Speaker_01
Watch movies and TV shows in English.

00:10:14 Speaker_00
I love that.

00:10:14 Speaker_01
Yeah, all those things will help.

00:10:16 Speaker_00
So it's like, you know, you've got this shiny new tool. Right. Now go build something with it.

00:10:19 Speaker_01
Exactly. And it doesn't have to be like this big intimidating thing. Just start small.

00:10:23 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:10:23 Speaker_01
Take little steps.

00:10:24 Speaker_00
Little by little.

00:10:25 Speaker_01
Yeah. And don't underestimate the power of immersion.

00:10:28 Speaker_00
Ooh, immersion. That's a good one.

00:10:30 Speaker_01
Yeah. Surround yourself with the language as much as possible.

00:10:33 Speaker_00
Okay. So like, what does that look like in practice? So like change your phone settings to English.

00:10:38 Speaker_02
Oh, okay.

00:10:39 Speaker_00
Listen to English podcasts. Yeah. Read English books and articles. Right. Even try thinking in English. Whoa, thinking in English. Yeah, that's next level.

00:10:49 Speaker_01
That's like you're in the matrix now.

00:10:50 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:10:51 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:10:51 Speaker_00
But it really helps to make the language feel more natural.

00:10:56 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:10:57 Speaker_00
Less like you're constantly translating in your head.

00:11:00 Speaker_02
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes sense.

00:11:02 Speaker_00
And the more you immerse yourself, the more intuitive the language becomes. And here's another thought. The D-E-T is like a snapshot of your English proficiency at a specific moment in time. But language learning is a journey.

00:11:16 Speaker_01
It's a marathon, not a sprint.

00:11:18 Speaker_00
Exactly. Yeah, it's like fitness. You don't just go to the gym once and call it a day.

00:11:22 Speaker_01
You've got to keep going.

00:11:23 Speaker_00
You've got to keep at it. So language is like a muscle. You've got to keep flexing it to stay sharp.

00:11:29 Speaker_01
So even after you conquer the D.E.T. Right. Don't just stop there.

00:11:34 Speaker_00
Keep going.

00:11:34 Speaker_01
Keep learning.

00:11:35 Speaker_00
Keep exploring.

00:11:36 Speaker_01
Keep pushing yourself.

00:11:37 Speaker_00
Exactly. I like that. Yeah.

00:11:39 Speaker_01
OK. So I think that kind of ties back to what we were talking about earlier.

00:11:42 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:11:43 Speaker_01
About you know having that end goal in mind.

00:11:46 Speaker_00
Right.

00:11:46 Speaker_01
Like the D.E.T. is a step.

00:11:48 Speaker_00
Yeah. It's a tool. It's a stepping stone.

00:11:50 Speaker_01
But it's not the destination.

00:11:51 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:11:52 Speaker_01
Yeah. And I think that's a really important thing to remember.

00:11:55 Speaker_00
For sure.

00:11:55 Speaker_01
Especially when you're feeling stressed about the test or whatever.

00:11:59 Speaker_00
Right. Yeah.

00:12:00 Speaker_01
And you know what? Here's a little bonus tip for our listeners. Right. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

00:12:06 Speaker_00
Oh yeah. That's a good one.

00:12:08 Speaker_01
Because that's how we learn, right?

00:12:10 Speaker_00
Absolutely.

00:12:11 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:12:11 Speaker_00
Mistakes are our friends.

00:12:12 Speaker_01
Yeah. Embrace those awkward moments.

00:12:14 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:12:15 Speaker_01
The fumbles.

00:12:16 Speaker_00
The times when you completely blank on a word.

00:12:18 Speaker_01
Right.

00:12:19 Speaker_00
It's all part of the process.

00:12:20 Speaker_01
Yeah. You're not going to be perfect all the time. No one is. And it's okay.

00:12:24 Speaker_00
Yeah. And in fact, the more you embrace those moments and learn from them, the faster you'll progress.

00:12:30 Speaker_01
OK. And remember, the journey of language learning is so rewarding.

00:12:34 Speaker_00
It is.

00:12:34 Speaker_01
It's like it opens up doors to new cultures, new perspectives, new friendships, even new career opportunities.

00:12:41 Speaker_00
Yeah. Wow. I'm feeling really motivated now. I am too.

00:12:45 Speaker_01
Let's go learn some English.

00:12:46 Speaker_00
Yeah. All right. Before we get too carried away, let's do a quick recap of our deep dive into DET practice tests.

00:12:54 Speaker_01
OK. So we've got two main options.

00:12:56 Speaker_00
Two main options.

00:12:57 Speaker_01
Free and premium.

00:12:58 Speaker_00
Free and premium.

00:12:59 Speaker_01
Okay, so the free practice test, that's your go-to for a quick preview of the DET format.

00:13:05 Speaker_00
Right.

00:13:05 Speaker_01
And just to get a general sense of your skill levels. General idea. Yeah. And it's a great starting point, especially if you're on a budget.

00:13:12 Speaker_00
Right.

00:13:13 Speaker_01
Then we've got those premium practice tests.

00:13:15 Speaker_00
Premium practice test.

00:13:17 Speaker_01
Which give you that full-fledged exam experience.

00:13:20 Speaker_00
The real deal.

00:13:21 Speaker_01
Yeah, tons of practice questions.

00:13:22 Speaker_00
Yeah, we're talking 18,000.

00:13:26 Speaker_01
18,000 questions. Wow. And that awesome adaptive technology.

00:13:30 Speaker_00
That's the best part. Yeah, to keep you on your toes.

00:13:32 Speaker_01
Yeah, like a personal trainer for your English.

00:13:35 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:13:35 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:13:36 Speaker_00
So when it comes to choosing, it really all boils down to your individual goals and needs. So if you're just starting out or you have limited funds, the free test is a solid choice.

00:13:48 Speaker_00
But if you're really aiming for that high score, you need that detailed analysis. and you want to practice under realistic conditions, then investing in a premium test is definitely worth considering.

00:14:02 Speaker_01
OK. Yeah.

00:14:02 Speaker_00
But no matter which path you choose, don't forget the bigger picture.

00:14:06 Speaker_01
The bigger picture.

00:14:07 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:14:08 Speaker_01
Learning English isn't just about passing a test.

00:14:10 Speaker_00
Right.

00:14:11 Speaker_01
It's about unlocking a world of possibilities.

00:14:14 Speaker_00
I like that. Yeah. Beautifully said. Thank you. And on that inspiring note, We've reached the end of our deep dive into DET practice tests.

00:14:24 Speaker_01
Sad to see it go.

00:14:25 Speaker_00
But we hope this has given you the knowledge and the motivation to not just rock your DET prep, but to actually use your English skills to make your mark on the world.

00:14:37 Speaker_01
That's what it's all about. Awesome. All right.

00:14:40 Speaker_00
So until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep diving deep into the topics that matter to you.

00:14:47 Speaker_01
Yes, and we will be back next time with another fascinating topic.

00:14:51 Speaker_00
Can't wait.

00:14:52 Speaker_01
To explore. Me neither. All right, happy learning, everyone. Happy learning. Yeah, that is so important.

00:14:59 Speaker_00
It really is.

00:15:00 Speaker_01
Because it's so easy to get caught up in the test scores and like, oh, I need to get the score for this thing. But at the end of the day, it's like, what are you going to do with that? What are you going to do with that English fluency?

00:15:12 Speaker_00
Right, can you actually go out and have a conversation?

00:15:14 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:15:15 Speaker_00
Can you? Do you travel to a new country and actually order food or ask for directions?

00:15:22 Speaker_01
Yeah, and like not even just that, like can you, you know, watch a movie and understand it?

00:15:27 Speaker_00
Yes.

00:15:28 Speaker_01
Can you... Can you read a book? Yeah, can you read a book and actually enjoy it? Right. You know, like without having to look up every other word.

00:15:35 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:15:36 Speaker_01
So I think that's a really important thing to keep in mind.

00:15:39 Speaker_00
Yeah, for sure.

00:15:39 Speaker_01
So let's say, you know, someone's listening to this and they're like, okay.

00:15:42 Speaker_00
Okay.

00:15:43 Speaker_01
I'm going to ace this D-E-T.

00:15:45 Speaker_00
Right.

00:15:46 Speaker_01
I'm going to get that score.

00:15:48 Speaker_00
Awesome.

00:15:48 Speaker_01
I'm going to have the skills.

00:15:50 Speaker_00
You got the skills.

00:15:51 Speaker_01
But then what's next?

00:15:53 Speaker_00
What's step two?

00:15:54 Speaker_01
How do you actually apply that fluency to real life?

00:16:00 Speaker_00
How do you bridge that gap between textbook English and real world English?

00:16:04 Speaker_01
Yes, exactly. That's a tough one. Any tips on that?

00:16:09 Speaker_00
So I have a few ideas.

00:16:11 Speaker_01
Okay.

00:16:11 Speaker_00
One thing that I think a lot of people overlook is just like actively seeking out opportunities to use your English.

00:16:17 Speaker_02
Okay.

00:16:18 Speaker_00
Like don't just keep it locked up in your brain.

00:16:21 Speaker_02
Right.

00:16:21 Speaker_00
Like you got to get out there and use it.

00:16:22 Speaker_02
Yeah.

00:16:23 Speaker_00
So like join online communities. Okay. Where people are speaking English.

00:16:26 Speaker_02
Okay.

00:16:27 Speaker_00
You know, find language exchange partners. Yeah. Like someone who wants to learn your native language. Right. And you can practice with them. Yeah. Watch movies and TV shows in English.

00:16:37 Speaker_01
I love that.

00:16:37 Speaker_00
Yeah, because it's fun.

00:16:39 Speaker_01
It's fun and you're learning at the same time.

00:16:41 Speaker_00
And it's like you don't even realize you're learning. Right. It's sneaky learning. Sneaky learning. I like it.

00:16:46 Speaker_01
So all of those things will help you to kind of like get more comfortable using the language in a real world setting.

00:16:54 Speaker_00
So it's like, you know, you've been working out.

00:16:56 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:16:56 Speaker_00
You've got these big muscles. You're ripped. Yeah. You're ripped.

00:16:59 Speaker_01
You're ready to go.

00:17:00 Speaker_00
Now it's time to actually go out and like, you know, do something with it.

00:17:03 Speaker_01
Exactly. Yeah. Put those muscles to work.

00:17:05 Speaker_00
Yeah. Exactly.

00:17:06 Speaker_01
And another thing that I think is really powerful is immersion.

00:17:09 Speaker_00
Immersion.

00:17:11 Speaker_01
Yeah, like surrounding yourself with the language as much as possible.

00:17:14 Speaker_00
Okay.

00:17:14 Speaker_01
So like change your phone settings to English.

00:17:17 Speaker_00
Oh, okay.

00:17:18 Speaker_01
Listen to English podcasts.

00:17:20 Speaker_00
We're helping with that.

00:17:21 Speaker_01
We are, we are.

00:17:22 Speaker_00
Little sneaky plug there.

00:17:25 Speaker_01
Read English books and articles. Okay. Even try thinking in English. Whoa, thinking in English.

00:17:32 Speaker_00
I know, it sounds crazy.

00:17:33 Speaker_01
That's like next level.

00:17:34 Speaker_00
It is, but it really helps to like make the language feel more natural.

00:17:39 Speaker_01
Right.

00:17:40 Speaker_00
And less like you're constantly translating in your head.

00:17:43 Speaker_01
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like you're not having to go back and forth between your native language and English all the time.

00:17:48 Speaker_00
Exactly, and the more you immerse yourself, the more intuitive the language becomes.

00:17:52 Speaker_01
So it just starts to flow.

00:17:53 Speaker_00
Yeah, exactly.

00:17:55 Speaker_01
Okay, I like that. And here's another thought I just had about this whole thing. The D-E-T is like a snapshot of your English proficiency at a specific moment in time.

00:18:07 Speaker_00
At that moment.

00:18:08 Speaker_01
Right. But language learning is a journey.

00:18:10 Speaker_00
It is a journey.

00:18:11 Speaker_01
It's not just like a one and done.

00:18:13 Speaker_00
No, you don't just take the test and you're done.

00:18:15 Speaker_01
Right.

00:18:16 Speaker_00
You got to keep going. Yeah. It's like fitness.

00:18:18 Speaker_01
Yes. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

00:18:21 Speaker_00
Exactly. You don't just go to the gym once and you're like, all right, I'm fit now.

00:18:26 Speaker_01
Right. I'm done. I can eat whatever I want.

00:18:28 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:18:29 Speaker_01
I can, you know, sit on the couch all day.

00:18:30 Speaker_00
You got to keep at it.

00:18:31 Speaker_01
You got to keep going.

00:18:32 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:18:33 Speaker_01
So language is like a muscle.

00:18:35 Speaker_00
It is a muscle.

00:18:36 Speaker_01
You got to keep flexing it.

00:18:37 Speaker_00
You got to keep using it.

00:18:39 Speaker_01
To stay sharp.

00:18:40 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:18:40 Speaker_01
So even after you conquer the D.E.T.

00:18:43 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:18:43 Speaker_01
Don't just stop there.

00:18:45 Speaker_00
Don't stop.

00:18:46 Speaker_01
Keep learning.

00:18:47 Speaker_00
Keep exploring.

00:18:48 Speaker_01
Keep pushing yourself. Exactly. I like that.

00:18:50 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:18:51 Speaker_01
So I think that kind of ties back to what we were talking about earlier.

00:18:53 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:18:54 Speaker_01
About having that end goal in mind.

00:18:56 Speaker_00
The bigger picture.

00:18:57 Speaker_01
Yeah, like the D.E.T. is a step. It's a tool.

00:19:00 Speaker_00
It's a stepping stone.

00:19:01 Speaker_01
But it's not the destination.

00:19:02 Speaker_00
Exactly. Yeah. Don't lose sight of like why you're doing this. Right. In the first place.

00:19:07 Speaker_01
Yeah. And I think that's a really important thing to remember.

00:19:10 Speaker_00
For sure.

00:19:11 Speaker_01
Especially, you know, when you're feeling stressed about the test.

00:19:14 Speaker_00
Yeah, it can be overwhelming.

00:19:15 Speaker_01
Or you're feeling discouraged or whatever.

00:19:18 Speaker_00
It's a journey.

00:19:19 Speaker_01
It's a journey. And you know what? Here's a little bonus tip.

00:19:22 Speaker_00
OK. I like bonus tips.

00:19:23 Speaker_01
For our listeners, don't be afraid to make mistakes.

00:19:28 Speaker_00
Oh, that's a good one.

00:19:29 Speaker_01
Because that's how we learn, right?

00:19:30 Speaker_00
It is. It is.

00:19:31 Speaker_01
Like, if you're not making mistakes, you're not pushing yourself.

00:19:34 Speaker_00
You're not growing.

00:19:35 Speaker_01
You're not growing. So embrace those awkward moments.

00:19:38 Speaker_00
Yes.

00:19:39 Speaker_01
You know, the fumble.

00:19:40 Speaker_00
The times when you totally blank on a word and you're like, I know this word. It's on the tip of my tongue.

00:19:47 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:19:48 Speaker_00
But I can't remember.

00:19:49 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:19:50 Speaker_00
It's OK.

00:19:51 Speaker_01
It's all part of the process.

00:19:52 Speaker_00
That's all part of the process.

00:19:53 Speaker_01
And you know, like, no one's perfect.

00:19:55 Speaker_00
No one is perfect.

00:19:56 Speaker_01
At language learning.

00:19:57 Speaker_00
Right.

00:19:58 Speaker_01
Or anything, really.

00:19:59 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:20:00 Speaker_01
So just embrace it.

00:20:01 Speaker_00
Embrace the mistakes. Yeah. Learn from them.

00:20:04 Speaker_01
And you know, the more you do that.

00:20:05 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:20:06 Speaker_01
The faster you'll progress.

00:20:07 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:20:08 Speaker_01
So don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

00:20:10 Speaker_00
Put yourself out there.

00:20:11 Speaker_01
Make those mistakes.

00:20:13 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:20:13 Speaker_01
And learn from them.

00:20:15 Speaker_00
And remember, the journey of language learning is so rewarding. It is. It's so much more than just getting a score on a test. It's about connecting with people, exploring new cultures, new perspectives, new friendships, even new career opportunities.

00:20:32 Speaker_01
Yeah, you can literally change your life.

00:20:34 Speaker_00
You can change your life.

00:20:35 Speaker_01
By learning a new language.

00:20:36 Speaker_00
That's amazing.

00:20:37 Speaker_01
Yeah, wow, I'm feeling inspired. Me too. Okay, so before we get too carried away with all the possibilities here.

00:20:47 Speaker_00
The possibilities are endless.

00:20:49 Speaker_01
Yeah, let's do a quick recap.

00:20:50 Speaker_00
Okay, good idea.

00:20:51 Speaker_01
Of our deep dive into DET practice tests.

00:20:56 Speaker_00
Okay, so we've talked about two main options.

00:20:58 Speaker_01
Two main options.

00:20:59 Speaker_00
Free and premium.

00:21:00 Speaker_01
Free and premium.

00:21:01 Speaker_00
The free practice test is great for a quick preview of the DET format and to get a general sense of your skill level.

00:21:11 Speaker_01
General idea.

00:21:12 Speaker_00
Yeah, and it's especially good if you're on a budget.

00:21:15 Speaker_01
Write-free is always good.

00:21:17 Speaker_00
Always good.

00:21:18 Speaker_01
Then we've got the premium practice tests.

00:21:21 Speaker_00
Premium practice tests.

00:21:22 Speaker_01
Which give you that full-fledged exam experience. Yeah, the real deal.

00:21:26 Speaker_00
Tons of practice questions.

00:21:27 Speaker_01
We're talking 18,000.

00:21:29 Speaker_00
18,000 questions. And that awesome adaptive technology.

00:21:33 Speaker_01
I love the adaptive technology.

00:21:35 Speaker_00
It's pretty cool.

00:21:35 Speaker_01
Yeah, it's like it knows what you need.

00:21:37 Speaker_00
It's like magic.

00:21:39 Speaker_01
Before you even know you need it.

00:21:40 Speaker_00
Exactly. So when it comes to choosing, it really depends on your individual goals and needs. So if you're just starting out, you have limited funds, the free test is a solid choice.

00:21:53 Speaker_00
But if you're really aiming for that high score, you need that detailed analysis and you want to practice under realistic conditions. then investing in a premium test is definitely worth considering.

00:22:06 Speaker_01
OK.

00:22:06 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:22:06 Speaker_01
But no matter which path you choose, don't forget the bigger picture.

00:22:10 Speaker_00
The bigger picture. Yeah. Learning English is about so much more than just passing a test. It's about unlocking a world of possibilities.

00:22:18 Speaker_01
I love that.

00:22:19 Speaker_00
Yeah, it's beautiful.

00:22:20 Speaker_01
Beautifully said.

00:22:21 Speaker_00
Thank you.

00:22:21 Speaker_01
OK, so that's it, right?

00:22:23 Speaker_00
I think we covered it pretty well.

00:22:24 Speaker_01
Yeah, free or premium.

00:22:25 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:22:26 Speaker_01
You've got options.

00:22:27 Speaker_00
You do.

00:22:28 Speaker_01
But it's like you said.

00:22:29 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:22:29 Speaker_01
Don't just let that English proficiency sit there.

00:22:32 Speaker_00
Right, like get out there and use it.

00:22:34 Speaker_01
Yeah, what's the point of learning a language if you're not going to actually use it?

00:22:38 Speaker_00
It's like having a Ferrari.

00:22:39 Speaker_01
OK.

00:22:40 Speaker_00
And just keeping it in the garage.

00:22:41 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:22:42 Speaker_00
What's the point?

00:22:43 Speaker_01
You could take it for a spin.

00:22:44 Speaker_00
You've got to take it for a spin.

00:22:45 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:22:46 Speaker_00
Get it out on the open road.

00:22:47 Speaker_01
Exactly.

00:22:48 Speaker_00
So same thing with English.

00:22:49 Speaker_01
I like that analogy.

00:22:51 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:22:51 Speaker_01
So it's like we were saying earlier.

00:22:52 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:22:53 Speaker_01
The DET is just one step.

00:22:55 Speaker_00
It's a stepping stone.

00:22:56 Speaker_01
On a much bigger adventure.

00:22:58 Speaker_00
Exactly. And who knows where that adventure might take you.

00:23:01 Speaker_01
Ooh, that's exciting.

00:23:03 Speaker_00
Yeah. Maybe you'll land your dream job.

00:23:05 Speaker_01
OK.

00:23:06 Speaker_00
In a foreign country.

00:23:08 Speaker_01
Ooh.

00:23:08 Speaker_00
Or start a blog that's read by people all over the world.

00:23:11 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:23:12 Speaker_00
Or even just have a conversation.

00:23:14 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:23:14 Speaker_00
With someone you never thought you could.

00:23:16 Speaker_01
That's powerful.

00:23:18 Speaker_00
It is. It is.

00:23:19 Speaker_01
Yeah. Those are some pretty amazing possibilities.

00:23:21 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:23:22 Speaker_01
And it all starts with taking that first step.

00:23:26 Speaker_00
Right.

00:23:26 Speaker_01
Whether it's, you know, downloading that free practice test. Yeah. Or investing in a premium option.

00:23:33 Speaker_00
Yeah, the important thing is to get started.

00:23:35 Speaker_01
Yeah, just get started.

00:23:36 Speaker_00
And keep that momentum going.

00:23:38 Speaker_01
Keep the ball rolling.

00:23:39 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:23:39 Speaker_01
And you know what? We're here to support you.

00:23:41 Speaker_00
We are.

00:23:42 Speaker_01
Every step of the way.

00:23:43 Speaker_00
Along the journey.

00:23:44 Speaker_01
So keep those questions coming.

00:23:46 Speaker_00
Yeah.

00:23:46 Speaker_01
Keep pushing yourself.

00:23:47 Speaker_00
Keep learning.

00:23:48 Speaker_01
And most importantly, have fun with it.

00:23:51 Speaker_00
Have fun.

00:23:52 Speaker_01
Because learning English should be fun.

00:23:54 Speaker_00
It should be.

00:23:55 Speaker_01
It shouldn't be a chore.

00:23:56 Speaker_00
No, it should be enjoyable.

00:23:58 Speaker_01
Yeah.

00:23:58 Speaker_00
Absolutely.

00:23:59 Speaker_01
All right, so on that note, I think it's time to wrap up today's deep dive.

00:24:04 Speaker_00
Another one down.

00:24:06 Speaker_01
Into the world of DET practice tests.

00:24:10 Speaker_00
Been a good one.

00:24:10 Speaker_01
Yeah. We hope you learned a thing or two. And most importantly, that you're feeling inspired.

00:24:15 Speaker_00
Inspired.

00:24:16 Speaker_01
To take your English skills to the next level.

00:24:19 Speaker_00
That's what we like to hear.

00:24:20 Speaker_01
Yes.

00:24:22 Speaker_00
Awesome.

00:24:22 Speaker_01
So until next time.

00:24:23 Speaker_00
Until next time.

00:24:24 Speaker_01
Keep exploring.

00:24:25 Speaker_00
Keep learning.

00:24:26 Speaker_01
And keep diving deep.

00:24:28 Speaker_00
Deep dive.

00:24:29 Speaker_01
Into the topics that matter to you.

00:24:30 Speaker_00
That's right.

00:24:31 Speaker_01
All right. Happy learning, everyone.

00:24:33 Speaker_00
Happy learning.