Free practice tool

Fill in the Blanks practice

Unlimited Duolingo English Test Fill in the Blanks questions, built to mirror the real format. Type the missing letters, check your answer, keep your streak going. No sign-up, no limit.

  • The exact question format from the real DET, drawn from the same bank as our full mocks
  • Instant feedback and a running accuracy score — practise as long as you like
  • Free and unlimited, no account required
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Question 1 0 streak · 0/0 correct

Type the missing letters to complete the word, then check.

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What this is

Practise the DET Fill in the Blanks task, free

Fill in the Blanks is one of the fastest question types on the Duolingo English Test: a sentence appears with one word partly missing, and you type the letters that complete it. It looks simple, but it moves your Literacy and Comprehension subscores, and under a timer the small hesitations add up.

This tool drills the exact format with unlimited questions, drawn from the same item bank our full mock tests use — so the practice and the exam serve the same kind of question. Read the sentence, use the visible letters and the context, and type the rest. Your streak and accuracy update as you go.

How it scores

How Fill in the Blanks is scored

On the real test, each word you restore correctly earns credit, partial answers earn partial credit, and speed counts because the task is timed. Accuracy on the missing letters is what matters — so the skill to build is recognising a word from its context and its first letters, then spelling the rest. The context is often grammatical: knowing whether the gap wants a noun, verb or adjective narrows it fast. That is exactly what this tool trains.

For the full picture of the task — timing, scoring weight and worked examples — see the Fill in the Blanks guide. To practise every Literacy task together, take a Reading section test or a complete mock exam. For gaps inside a whole passage, see our cloze test guide with practice questions.

With answers

Fill in the blanks questions with answers

Forty questions in four sets. Write each answer down, then open the answers under the set. When you have done them, try the quiz below, which mixes them up.

Articles and prepositions

  1. It took me _____ hour to finish the report.
  2. I was born _____ 2005.
  3. The meeting is _____ Monday.
  4. The train leaves _____ 7 o’clock.
  5. _____ sun rises in the east.
  6. We walked _____ the bridge to the other side.
  7. The cat is hiding _____ the bed.
  8. I have lived here _____ ten years.
  9. She has been waiting _____ 9 a.m.
  10. Can you play _____ guitar?
Show the answers: articles and prepositions
  1. It took me an hour to finish the report.
  2. I was born in 2005.
  3. The meeting is on Monday.
  4. The train leaves at 7 o’clock.
  5. The sun rises in the east.
  6. We walked across the bridge to the other side.
  7. The cat is hiding under the bed.
  8. I have lived here for ten years.
  9. She has been waiting since 9 a.m.
  10. Can you play the guitar?

Verb tenses

  1. Yesterday I _____ (go) to the dentist.
  2. She _____ (live) in Delhi since 2019.
  3. Look! It _____ (rain).
  4. If it rains tomorrow, we _____ (stay) at home.
  5. By the time we arrived, the film _____ (start).
  6. He usually _____ (walk) to work.
  7. They _____ (play) cricket when the storm began.
  8. I _____ (never / see) snow.
  9. This bridge _____ (build) in 1990.
  10. If I _____ (be) you, I would apologise.
Show the answers: verb tenses
  1. Yesterday I went (go) to the dentist.
  2. She has lived (live) in Delhi since 2019.
  3. Look! It is raining (rain).
  4. If it rains tomorrow, we will stay (stay) at home.
  5. By the time we arrived, the film had started (start).
  6. He usually walks (walk) to work.
  7. They were playing (play) cricket when the storm began.
  8. I have never seen (never / see) snow.
  9. This bridge was built (build) in 1990.
  10. If I were (be) you, I would apologise.

Vocabulary in context

  1. The train was _____ by fog, so we waited for two hours.
  2. She _____ the exam with 95 per cent.
  3. You need a valid _____ to board an international flight.
  4. The opposite of “ancient” is _____.
  5. Water _____ at 100 degrees Celsius.
  6. A person who writes books is an _____.
  7. The shop gave me a _____ for the broken phone, so I got my money back.
  8. We could not see the road because of the thick _____.
  9. He _____ his keys and could not get into the house.
  10. The medicine worked and had no side _____.
Show the answers: vocabulary in context
  1. The train was delayed by fog, so we waited for two hours.
  2. She passed the exam with 95 per cent.
  3. You need a valid passport to board an international flight.
  4. The opposite of “ancient” is modern.
  5. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  6. A person who writes books is an author.
  7. The shop gave me a refund for the broken phone, so I got my money back.
  8. We could not see the road because of the thick fog.
  9. He lost his keys and could not get into the house.
  10. The medicine worked and had no side effects.

Linking words

  1. I was tired, _____ I went to bed early.
  2. She is rich, _____ she is not happy.
  3. _____ it was raining, we went for a walk.
  4. You can have tea _____ coffee.
  5. He stayed at home _____ he was ill.
  6. Take an umbrella in _____ it rains.
  7. _____ you study, you will not pass.
  8. She sings _____ dances beautifully.
  9. I will call you _____ I reach home.
  10. He ran fast; _____, he still missed the bus.
Show the answers: linking words
  1. I was tired, so I went to bed early.
  2. She is rich, but she is not happy.
  3. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
  4. You can have tea or coffee.
  5. He stayed at home because he was ill.
  6. Take an umbrella in case it rains.
  7. Unless you study, you will not pass.
  8. She sings and dances beautifully.
  9. I will call you when I reach home.
  10. He ran fast; however, he still missed the bus.
Quiz

Fill in the blanks quiz

Choose the word for the gap. The options come from the same set, so a tense question is tested against other tenses.

Complete the sentence

Sentence completion: 20 starters with model answers

Sentence completion gives you the start of a sentence; you write the rest so that it is correct and makes sense. The word that matters is usually near the start (if, although, unless, despite, so … that): it decides the shape of the ending. Cover the middle column, write your own ending, then compare.

Complete the sentenceA model endingWhat it tests
If I had more free time, …I would learn to play the guitar.Second conditional: if + past, would + verb
Although the exam was difficult, …most students passed it.Contrast: although + a full clause
I have been learning English since …I was twelve.since + a point in time
She was so tired that …she fell asleep on the bus.so + adjective + that
Unless you leave now, …you will miss the train.unless = if not
The best way to learn new words is …to read every day.is + to-infinitive
By the time we reached the station, …the train had left.Past perfect for the earlier action
I would rather walk …than take a crowded bus.would rather … than
Not only did he finish the work, …but he also helped his colleagues.not only … but also
Despite the heavy rain, …the match continued.despite + a noun, not a clause
If it had not rained, …we would have gone to the beach.Third conditional
I chose this course because …it leads to good jobs.Reason clause
Hardly had we sat down when …the lights went out.Inversion after hardly
I wish I …had studied harder for the exam.wish + past perfect for a past regret
As soon as she heard the news, …she called her parents.Time clause
The more you practise, …the more confident you become.the more … the more
Before you submit the form, …check every answer.Instruction after a time clause
It was such a beautiful day that …we had lunch in the park.such + a + adjective + noun + that
Even though he is rich, …he lives in a small flat.Contrast: even though
In my opinion, the most important skill is …listening, because it comes before speaking well.Opinion + reason
Compare

Fill in the blanks, sentence completion, cloze and the DET task

ExerciseWhat is missingWhat it tests
Fill in the blanksOne word in a sentenceChoosing the right word and form
Sentence completionThe end of the sentenceWriting correct grammar that makes sense
Cloze testSeveral words in a passageReading the whole text for clues (cloze test guide)
DET Fill in the BlanksThe second part of one word, first letters givenVocabulary and spelling under a timer
DET Read and CompleteParts of many words in a passageReading and spelling (the guide)
At a glance

Fill in the blanks: quick reference

QuestionAnswer
Fill in the blanksOne missing word (or part of a word) in a sentence.
Sentence completionYou write the end of the sentence yourself.
First stepRead the whole sentence; decide what kind of word fits (noun, verb, adjective).
Articlesan before a vowel sound: an hour, an honest man.
for / sincefor + a length of time; since + a starting point.
although / despitealthough + a clause; despite + a noun.
unlessmeans “if not”: Unless you study, you will not pass.
On the DETFirst letters are given; you type the rest of the word, against a timer.
Practice hereThe tool at the top (unlimited), 40 questions with answers and a quiz.
FAQ

Questions people ask

What is sentence completion?

An exercise where you are given the start of a sentence and must finish it so that it is grammatical and makes sense: “Although the exam was difficult, most students passed it.” It tests grammar patterns (conditionals, contrast, time clauses) as much as vocabulary. There are 20 to practise on this page, with model answers.

How do I complete a sentence correctly?

Read the starter and find the word that decides the grammar: if, although, so … that, unless, despite. That word fixes the shape of the ending (a full clause after although, a noun after despite). Then add an ending that makes sense, and check the tense matches the start.

What is the difference between fill in the blanks and sentence completion?

Fill in the blanks asks for one missing word (or part of a word) in a gap; sentence completion asks you to write the rest of the sentence yourself. The first tests whether you can recognise the right word; the second tests whether you can produce correct grammar. The DET’s Fill in the Blanks is the first kind, with the first letters given.

Should I use British or American spelling in Fill in the Blanks?

Both are accepted, so "colour" and "color" each count as long as the word is spelled correctly and consistently. The grader checks your missing letters against valid spellings, not against one national standard. Use the spelling you are surest of, and keep to it.

What should I do if more than one word seems to fit the visible letters?

Let the sentence decide — the visible letters alone rarely pin down a single word, but the meaning of the sentence almost always does. If two candidates fit both the letters and the sense, choose the more common one. Then check the grammar: tense, number and part of speech usually rule one out.

How advanced is the vocabulary in Fill in the Blanks?

Mostly everyday and mid-frequency words rather than rare ones, because the task tests whether you can recover a word from its context, not whether you know obscure vocabulary. Wide general reading prepares you far better than memorising long word lists.

What is the Fill in the Blanks question type on the Duolingo English Test?
You are shown a sentence with one word partly deleted — the first few letters remain and you type the rest. It tests vocabulary and spelling in context, and it feeds your Literacy and Comprehension subscores. This free tool drills the exact format with unlimited questions.
Is this Fill in the Blanks practice free?
Yes, completely. There is no sign-up, no card and no limit — the tool reshuffles and keeps serving questions for as long as you want to practise. It runs in your browser, so you can practise a few questions whenever you have five minutes.
How is Fill in the Blanks scored on the real test?
Each word you restore correctly earns credit; partial answers earn partial credit. Speed matters too, because the task is timed on the real exam. Accuracy on the missing letters is what the graders reward. Duolingo does not publish a per-question formula, so treat every missing letter as worth getting exactly right.
How many questions does this tool have?
It draws from the same bank our full mock tests use, and loops indefinitely, so you can do as many as you like. Your streak and accuracy update as you go. If you start recognising questions in a long session, take a break and come back later.
What is the best strategy for Fill in the Blanks?
Read the whole sentence first — the context usually makes the word obvious. Then check the visible letters and the length of the gap, which narrow it further. Do not leave a blank empty; a sensible guess can still be right.
Does Fill in the Blanks test grammar or vocabulary?
Mostly vocabulary and spelling, with grammar as a hint — the surrounding sentence tells you which word fits, and you must spell the missing part correctly. Reading widely is the single best preparation. Grammar still matters: the sentence often shows whether you need a noun, a verb or a plural.
How is this different from Read and Complete?
Read and Complete damages many words across a whole passage; Fill in the Blanks damages one word in a single sentence. Both restore missing letters, and practising one helps the other. This tool focuses on the single-sentence version. On the real test, Fill in the Blanks gives you about twenty seconds per sentence.
Will practising here improve my real DET score?
It builds the specific skill the task measures — recognising a word from its context and its first letters, and spelling the rest — which is exactly what test day asks for. Pair it with a full mock test to see the subscore move.
Can I practise Fill in the Blanks on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in any mobile browser with no install. The real test is taken on a computer, so do at least some practice on a keyboard before test day. Typing speed and accuracy on a keyboard are part of the skill.
How long should I practise Fill in the Blanks?
Short, frequent sessions beat long ones for vocabulary. Ten questions a day for two weeks moves the skill more than one long session, because spacing is what fixes words in memory. Review the words you missed the next day, then again a few days later.
Is this the same as the official Duolingo practice?
No. This is an independent tool built to mirror the real question format. It is not made by or affiliated with Duolingo. Duolingo offers its own free practice test on the official site. Use both: the official practice shows the real interface, and this tool gives you many more questions.
What score do I need on the Fill in the Blanks section?
There is no separate Fill in the Blanks score — it contributes to your Literacy and Comprehension subscores, which roll into your overall 10–160 score. Aim for consistent accuracy here as part of a balanced Literacy result. Universities set minimums for the overall score and sometimes for subscores, never for a single question type.

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SCORE REPORT 155 C2 of 160 Reading 160 Listening 160 Writing 150 Speaking 150 FEEDBACK 8 SUBSCORES