Free interactive practice
One word in each sentence is missing its second half. Type the missing letters before the clock runs out, about 20 seconds per sentence, just like the real test. Built to the official 2026 Duolingo English Test format.
Fill in the Blanks is a reading and vocabulary question type on the Duolingo English Test (DET). You see a single sentence in which one word has lost its second half, and you type the missing letters to complete it. Per Duolingo's official DET guide, this type appears six to nine times, gives you about twenty seconds per sentence, accepts American spelling only, and feeds your Reading, Literacy, and Comprehension subscores.
These two look similar and use the same letter-box mechanic, so students mix them up. The difference is scope. Fill in the Blanks gives you a single sentence with one damaged word and about twenty seconds. Read and Complete gives you a whole paragraph with several damaged words and about three minutes. If it is one sentence and one word, it is Fill in the Blanks.
1. Read the whole sentence before you type. The surrounding words almost always fix the answer to one word. 2. Move fast. Twenty seconds is tight, so read, decide, type, and do not linger. 3. Use American spelling. Forms like "colour" and "centre" are marked wrong here.
Fill in the Blanks is one of several reading-focused question types on the DET. Practice the others too:
Comparing the DET with the TOEFL? Our TOEFL vs DET 2026 comparison covers which test is right for you. For TOEFL scoring, see the TOEFL 2026 score guide. For TOEFL practice, visit the free TOEFL practice test.
If you want an expert to help you prepare, Epic Exam Prep has prepared students for English proficiency exams since 2010.
Fill in the Blanks shows a single sentence with one word missing its second half. The first letters are shown locked, and you type the remaining letters. You have about 20 seconds per sentence. It counts toward your Reading, Literacy, and Comprehension subscores. Only American English spelling is accepted.
Fill in the Blanks uses a single sentence with one missing word and gives you about 20 seconds. Read and Complete uses a full academic paragraph with many missing words and gives you about 3 minutes. Fill in the Blanks tests quick word recognition; Read and Complete tests sustained reading comprehension and vocabulary in context.
The Duolingo English Test typically includes 6 to 9 Fill in the Blanks sentences. The exact number depends on the adaptive routing of your specific test.