The Duolingo English Test: A Guide

Quick Answer: The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online, computer-adaptive English test you take at home, and it lasts about one hour. You get an overall score from 10 to 160 plus subscores, and results usually arrive within about two days. Many universities accept it, but not all, so confirm each program's requirement and check current fees and rules at englishtest.duolingo.com.

Key takeaways

• Score scale: 10 to 160 in steps of five, with subscores; each institution sets its own minimum.
• The test is adaptive: questions get harder or easier based on your answers, so a run of hard questions usually means you are doing well.
• You take it at home on a computer with a camera and microphone, and remote proctors review the recording.
• The writing sample and speaking sample at the end are not part of your score, but institutions can see them.
• Fees, duration and question types change, so check englishtest.duolingo.com before you book.
• Use the free official practice test at least twice before the real one.

What is the Duolingo English Test?

The DET is an English proficiency test created by Duolingo, the company behind the language app. It is separate from the app: you do not need to use the app to take or pass the test. It is used mainly for university admissions and other situations where you must prove your English level.

Its main differences from tests like IELTS and TOEFL are that it is taken at home, it is shorter, and it is fully adaptive.

How the test works

1. Setup: you check your computer, camera and microphone, show your ID and read the rules.
2. Adaptive section: a series of short questions of many types. The difficulty adjusts to your answers.
3. Writing sample and speaking sample: a longer written response and a video interview-style task. These are not scored, but they are shared with the institutions that receive your results.

The test is monitored remotely. Recordings are reviewed, and breaking rules, such as looking away from the screen often or having other people in the room, can lead to an invalid result. Read the official rules carefully before you start.

Question types

The DET uses many short, integrated tasks. Examples include:

Task type	What you do	Skills
Read and complete	Fill in missing letters in a paragraph	Reading, vocabulary
Read and select	Choose real English words from a list	Vocabulary
Listen and type	Type the sentence you hear	Listening, spelling
Read aloud	Read a sentence out loud	Speaking, pronunciation
Write about the photo	Describe an image in writing	Writing
Speak about the photo	Describe an image out loud	Speaking
Interactive reading and listening	Answer questions on a passage or conversation	Reading, listening
Writing and speaking samples	Respond to a prompt at length	Writing, speaking

Duolingo updates the question types from time to time, so use the official practice test to see the current version.

Scores

You receive an overall score from 10 to 160, in steps of five, plus subscores. Duolingo publishes a table that maps scores to CEFR levels and to other tests. Because these tables are revised, check the official website rather than relying on third-party charts.

Results are usually available within about two days, and they are generally valid for two years. Check the official site for the current policy. You can send your results to institutions from your account.

Price and practice

The DET is usually cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL, but the price differs by time and region, so check the official site. Duolingo offers free practice tests that show you the question types and give an estimated score range.

Who accepts it

Many programs list the DET as an accepted test, including many universities in the US, UK, Canada and other countries. But acceptance is not universal:

• Some universities accept it for undergraduate programs but not graduate ones, or the other way around.
• Many government immigration systems do not accept it.
• Requirements can change between application years.

Check the admissions page of each program. If you need a test that is accepted more widely, see IELTS vs TOEFL.

DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL

	DET	IELTS	TOEFL iBT
Where	At home	Test center, or IELTS Online	Test center or at home
Length	About 1 hour	Roughly 2 hours 45 minutes	Check the official ETS site, as the format was revised
Scores	10 to 160	Bands 0 to 9	Check ETS for the current scale after the revision
Speaking	Recorded on computer	With a live examiner	Recorded on computer

Preparation tips

• Take the free official practice test at least twice to learn the question types.
• Build general vocabulary. "Read and select" and "read and complete" depend on knowing real words and spelling.
• Practice typing what you hear. Use short audio clips and write them down exactly.
• Speak continuously. For photo and speaking tasks, keep talking until the time is nearly up: describe, explain, give an opinion.
• Practice writing quickly. Aim for clear, varied sentences with linking words.
• Prepare your room. Quiet, well lit, no other people, nothing on your desk.

Example speaking about a photo:

"In this picture I can see a busy market. There are several stalls selling fruit and vegetables, and a woman in the front is paying for some oranges. It looks like a sunny morning. I think markets like this are great because the food is usually fresh and you can talk to the sellers."

Practice: fill in the missing letters

In "read and complete" tasks you see words with missing letters. Try these, then check the answers.

1. I usually walk to wo__ because it is close to my house.
2. The weather was terr____, so we stayed inside all day.
3. She is very inter_____ in history and reads a lot about it.
4. Could you expl___ the question again, please?
5. We need to book the tick___ before they sell out.

Answers: 1 work, 2 terrible, 3 interested, 4 explain, 5 tickets. The skill here is spelling plus grammar: "interested" not "interesting", and "tickets" in the plural because of "they".

Common mistakes

• Breaking proctoring rules, like wearing headphones, looking away from the screen often or reading aloud during silent tasks.
• Stopping early in speaking tasks. Short answers give the system less to judge.
• Ignoring spelling. Many tasks reward accurate spelling.
• Assuming acceptance. Always confirm with your institution.

Is it right for you?

The DET is a good choice if your target institutions accept it, you want a shorter test, and you have a quiet place and a reliable computer at home. If you are not yet sure of your level, start with our guide on how to test your English level. Want to compare learning apps rather than tests? See Duolingo alternatives.

The DET measures general English, so steady study pays off. LearnLingo is a free browser-based course with short lessons, streaks and spaced review; try the free level test to see where to start.

People Also Ask

How long is the Duolingo English Test?

The test takes about one hour, including a short setup, the adaptive test section and a video interview and writing sample at the end. Check the official site for current details.

What is a good Duolingo English Test score?

It depends on the institution. Scores range from 10 to 160, and many universities set their own minimums. Look up the exact requirement for each program you apply to.

Is the Duolingo English Test accepted everywhere?

It is accepted by many universities and institutions, but not all, and it is not accepted for every visa or immigration purpose. Check with each institution or authority before taking it.

Do I need to use the Duolingo app to prepare?

No. The test measures general English ability. Official free practice tests help you learn the question types, and any good English study, including other courses, builds the skills it measures.

Related Reading

• IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Should You Take?
• Duolingo Alternatives for Learning English
• How to Test Your English Level
• B2 English Level: What You Can Do