Short Answer
No. You cannot wear headphones or earbuds — wired or wireless — at any point during the Duolingo English Test. Your microphone and speakers must be your computer's built-in or external components, entirely separate from any headset.
Why Headphones Aren't Allowed
Proctors need to confirm you aren't receiving any outside audio assistance during the test. Earbuds or headphones make that impossible to verify, which is also why the test includes a mandatory ear scan at the start of every session — you hold your phone up to each ear so the app can confirm nothing is in or over it.
What to Use Instead
- Your computer's built-in speakers and microphone, or
- External desktop speakers and a standalone microphone (not part of a headset)
What Happens If You're Caught Wearing Them?
Wearing headphones or earbuds during the test is treated as a rule violation and can result in your test being invalidated, with no refund. If your ears aren't fully visible and clear during the ear scan, you'll typically be asked to remove whatever's covering them before you're allowed to continue.
Related Reading
For the full hardware and environment checklist, see our DET technical requirements guide and our room scan and ear scan walkthrough.