Last updated: November 2026
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English test you take at home, on your own computer, in about one hour. It measures your reading, writing, listening and speaking, gives you a score from 10 to 160, and delivers your results within 48 hours. It costs $70 for one test.
The DET is a one-hour, at-home, adaptive English test: $70, score 10–160, results in 48 hours, valid for 2 years, accepted by more than 6,500 programmes and institutions. It is widely accepted for university admission — but it is generally not accepted for visas, so check your visa route before you book.
This guide covers everything: what the test is, who accepts it, the format, the scoring, how to take it, how to prepare, what it costs, and how it compares with IELTS and TOEFL. For the money details alone, read Duolingo Test Fees 2026: Full Price Breakdown. For how long results take, read How Long Do Duolingo English Test Results Take?.
Here is what we will cover:
- What the Duolingo English Test is
- Who accepts it
- Test format
- How scoring works
- How to take the test, step by step
- Test rules you must follow
- How to prepare
- Cost, results and validity
- DET vs TOEFL vs IELTS
- Who should take it — and who should not
- FAQs
What Is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test is a standardised English proficiency test made by Duolingo, the company behind the language-learning app. It is a separate product from the app: the app teaches languages, while the DET certifies your English level for universities and other institutions.
Unlike IELTS and TOEFL, there is no test centre and no fixed test date. You take the DET online, at home, whenever you are ready, on a Windows or Mac computer with a webcam and microphone. The test is computer-adaptive: the difficulty of each question adjusts to how well you are doing, so the test can measure a wide range of levels in about 45 minutes of scored questions instead of the two to three hours that IELTS and TOEFL take.
The test checks all four skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking — mixed together through the adaptive section, rather than in four separate long sections.
Who Accepts the Duolingo English Test?
More than 6,500 programmes and institutions in over 100 countries accept the DET, according to Duolingo’s own figures from 2026. That includes all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 15 members of Canada’s U15 group. Acceptance is strongest in the United States and Canada, solid in the UK and Ireland, and programme-specific in Australia, Germany and mainland Europe.
But acceptance is not universal, and a university accepting the DET does not mean every course accepts it. A university may accept it for undergraduate admission but not for a particular graduate programme, scholarship, or professional course. Always check the admissions page for your exact programme before you pay for the test, and use Duolingo’s own institution directory as a starting point, not as the final word.
For the score requirements of North American universities in detail, read Duolingo Test Requirements: North American Universities. Typical scores asked for are about 95–115 for undergraduate admission, 105–120 for graduate programmes, and 120–135 at the most competitive universities — but the exact number depends on the programme.
Test Format: What Happens in the Hour
Duolingo describes the test as a one-hour process in three parts:
| Part | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Setup and ID check | About 5 minutes | Confirm your ID, check your camera, microphone and room |
| Adaptive test (scored) | About 45 minutes | Short mixed tasks: reading, writing, listening and speaking |
| Video interview and writing sample (unscored) | About 10 minutes | Open-ended speaking and writing, sent to institutions with your score |
The adaptive section mixes many short question types: Read and Select (pick the real English words), Read and Complete (fill in missing letters), Listen and Type, Write About the Photo, Speak About the Photo, Interactive Reading, Interactive Listening and Interactive Writing. No two test-takers see exactly the same questions.
The video interview and writing sample at the end are not scored, but institutions can watch and read them — so take them seriously. They show the university your real speaking and writing, and a weak sample can raise questions even with a good score.
In July 2025 Duolingo rolled out a format update to its speaking and listening tasks, the biggest change to those sections in years. The structure above — adaptive test plus unscored samples — is unchanged, but the exact task types are updated from time to time. The free official practice test shows the current set, so take it before your real test.
How Scoring Works
Your overall score runs from 10 to 160, reported in 5-point steps. A score of 120 or higher is generally considered a strong, proficient result. Alongside the overall score you receive four integrated subscores, each also scored from 10 to 160:
- Literacy — reading and writing
- Comprehension — reading and listening
- Conversation — listening and speaking
- Production — writing and speaking
The subscores show institutions where you are strong and where you are weaker — for example, reading and writing ahead of speaking and listening. The score scale is aligned with the CEFR, the European framework for language levels, and Duolingo publishes a comparison table mapping DET scores to IELTS bands and TOEFL scores.
| DET score | Level (general guide) | Rough IELTS equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10–55 | Basic | Below 5.0 |
| 60–85 | Intermediate | About 5.0–5.5 |
| 90–115 | Upper-intermediate | About 5.5–6.5 |
| 120–160 | Advanced | About 6.5 and above |
Treat that table as a rough guide, not an official conversion. Universities set their own minimums, and they judge your DET score on its own terms, not through an IELTS equivalent. For a full guide to scores, see Duolingo English Test Score Explained: 10-160 Guide.
How to Take the Test, Step by Step
- Create a free account at englishtest.duolingo.com.
- Take the free practice test. It is unlimited, shows you the format, and gives you an estimated score range. Do this before you pay.
- Buy a test — $70 for one, or $118 for a two-test bundle. Add Fast Results ($40) only if you need results in 12 hours instead of 48.
- Prepare your room and computer. You need a quiet, well-lit room, a Windows or Mac computer with a working camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection. Since 2025 the test also requires a second camera — your phone — set up to show your workspace. Have it charged and ready.
- Have your ID ready. You need a valid government-issued photo ID for verification.
- Take the test within 21 days of purchase. After 21 days the test credit expires with no refund.
- Get your results by email and in your account within 48 hours (12 hours with Fast Results), then send your certified score to your chosen institutions for free.
Test Rules You Must Follow
The DET is proctored by your computer’s camera and microphone, plus the second phone camera, and the rules are strict. Breaking them can mean your result is not certified — and you lose the $70.
- Stay alone in the room, stay in view of the camera, and keep your eyes on the screen.
- Do not use notes, books, a second screen, headphones, or another device during the test.
- Do not speak to anyone, and do not leave the room during the test.
- Do not look away from the screen for long periods.
- Each test credit gives you up to three attempts to complete and upload the test — if a technical problem interrupts you, you can restart while attempts remain. Each start counts as an attempt.
- You can buy up to 3 tests in any 30-day period, and you must wait for one result before starting the next test.
If your test is interrupted or your result is not certified, check the reason given in your account before you buy another test — the same problem can happen again. Our guide to non-certified results covers the common reasons.
How to Prepare
The DET measures your real English, so cramming vocabulary the night before will not help much. What does help:
- Take the free practice test more than once. It is the closest thing to the real test, and it shows your weak question types.
- Read the official Test Readiness Guide on the DET site for sample questions and the full rule list.
- Practise the timed writing tasks. Interactive Writing and Write About the Photo have tight time limits, and typing speed matters.
- Speak out loud, on camera. Record yourself answering a question for 30–90 seconds and listen back — most test-takers are weaker at speaking on camera than they expect.
- Fix your weakest skill first. Your subscores show which skill is holding your overall score down.
For a full practice plan, read How to Practise Mock Tests for the Duolingo English Test.
Cost, Results and Validity in Brief
- Cost: $70 for one test, $118 for two, $40 extra for Fast Results. Fee waivers (more than 10,000 a year) are available through schools and universities, not by direct application. Full details: Duolingo Test Fees 2026: Full Price Breakdown.
- Results: within 48 hours, or 12 hours with Fast Results. The add-on speeds up delivery only — it does not guarantee certification.
- Validity: 2 years from the test date. After that you can no longer share the result or view the certificate, and you must retake the test if you need a valid score.
- Score sending: free, up to 40 institutions in one go, with more available on request.
DET vs TOEFL vs IELTS
| Feature | Duolingo English Test | TOEFL iBT | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee (approx.) | $70 | About $200–$250 | About $325 in the US (Oct 2026); about $215–$340 worldwide |
| Where | At home, online, any time | Test centre or at home (Home Edition) | Test centre (computer or paper) |
| Length | About 1 hour | About 2 hours | About 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Results | 48 hours (12 with Fast Results) | 4–8 days | 3–13 days |
| Score scale | 10–160 | 0–120 (a new 1–6 scale began in Jan 2026, with both scales reported during the transition) | Band 0–9 |
| Accepted by | 6,500+ programmes and institutions | 12,000+ institutions | 12,000+ organisations |
| Visas | Generally not accepted | Accepted for most student visas | Accepted, including UKVI routes |
For the full head-to-head, read Duolingo vs IELTS 2026: Cost, Format and Which to Take.
Who Should Take It — and Who Should Not
Take the DET if you are applying to universities that accept it, you want the cheapest and fastest option, you are comfortable taking a test on camera at home, and your deadline is close. It is also a good choice as a second test alongside IELTS or TOEFL, where a university accepts either.
Do not rely on the DET if your university or programme does not list it, or if you need an English test for a visa. The DET is not on the UK’s approved SELT list, so it cannot cover a UK student visa even where the university accepts it for admission. It is also not accepted for Canada’s Student Direct Stream, and most Australian student visas do not accept it. For visas, take the test your visa route names — usually IELTS or TOEFL. The old version of this article said the DET is accepted for student visas in Ireland and New Zealand. That is no longer reliable: New Zealand immigration does not accept the DET, and we could not verify a current Irish visa acceptance, so do not book the DET for a visa on the strength of that claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Duolingo English Test?
An online, adaptive English proficiency test you take at home in about one hour. It tests reading, writing, listening and speaking, scores you from 10 to 160, and is used mainly for university admissions.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?
$70 USD for one test, $118 for a two-test bundle, and $40 extra for Fast Results. The practice test and score sending are free.
How long does the test take?
About one hour in total: about 5 minutes of setup, about 45 minutes of scored questions, and about 10 minutes of unscored video interview and writing sample.
How long do results take?
Within 48 hours as standard, or within 12 hours with the $40 Fast Results add-on.
How long are DET results valid?
Two years from the test date. After that you can no longer share the result or view the certificate.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted by universities?
Yes — by more than 6,500 programmes and institutions in over 100 countries, including all eight Ivy League universities. But acceptance varies by programme, so check your exact course requirements first.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for visas?
Generally no. It is not accepted for a UK student visa, not for Canada’s Student Direct Stream, and not by New Zealand immigration. Always check your visa route before booking.
Can I retake the test?
Yes. You can buy up to 3 tests in any 30-day period, and each retake costs a new test ($70 single, or $59 per test in the bundle). You must wait for one result before starting the next test.
The Bottom Line
The Duolingo English Test is the cheapest, fastest and most convenient English test for university admission: $70, one hour at home, results in 48 hours, accepted by more than 6,500 programmes. Its limits are just as clear: it is not a visa test, not every programme accepts it, and a broken rule can cost you the fee. Before you pay, check your programme’s admissions page, take the free practice test, and make sure your room, computer and second camera are ready. Do those three things, and the DET is a strong, low-cost way to prove your English.
