DUOLINGO

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Duolingo English Test (DET) OVERVIEW

Fast, Flexible & Globally Accepted

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The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a modern and innovative English proficiency assessment designed for today’s international students and global applicants. With the convenience of taking the test from anywhere, combined with AI-powered accuracy and fast results, the Duolingo English Test has quickly become one of the most popular alternatives to traditional English language exams like IELTS and TOEFL.

 

Whether you’re planning to study abroad, apply for scholarships, or demonstrate your language skills to an institution, the Duolingo English Test offers a simple, secure, and affordable way to prove your English proficiency.

Why Choose Duolingo English Test?

Close-up of lettered dice spelling 'WHY' on a neutral background, ideal for concepts of inquiry or curiosity.
  • 100% Online: Take the test from the comfort of your home

  • Affordable: Just $59 USD, making it accessible to everyone

  • Fast Results: Get your score in 2 days or less

  • Widely Accepted: Recognized by over 5,000 institutions worldwide, including top universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe

  • One Hour Only: The entire test takes just under 60 minutes

  • Integrated Skills Testing: Evaluates all four skills—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking

Understanding the Duolingo Test Format

Unlike traditional English proficiency tests, Duolingo uses a computer-adaptive format that adjusts the difficulty of questions based on your performance in real time. It provides a comprehensive measure of your language ability in a shorter and more efficient testing process.

 Test Structure

SectionDescription
Adaptive TestMeasures Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking through a series of interactive and adaptive questions (45 minutes)
Video Interview & Writing SampleA non-graded section where you respond to open-ended prompts. Institutions receive these along with your scores. (10 minutes)

What Does Duolingo English Test Assess?

The Duolingo English Test evaluates four core English language skills in an integrated manner:

 Reading

You’ll encounter exercises like identifying real English words, completing missing letters in sentences, and answering comprehension-based questions from short texts.

 Writing

Tasks include writing short answers, filling in the blanks, describing images, and composing responses to questions with correct grammar, coherence, and clarity.

 Listening

You’ll be tested on your ability to understand spoken English by listening to words or sentences and identifying them correctly. You may also transcribe spoken sentences and respond to audio prompts.

 Speaking

Speaking exercises require you to read sentences aloud, describe images, respond verbally to questions, and record short monologues about personal or general topics.

Scoring and Result Breakdown

Duolingo uses AI and human proctoring to ensure accuracy and fairness. Scores are reported on a 160-point scale, with subscores in:

  • Literacy (reading and writing)

  • Comprehension (listening and reading)

  • Conversation (listening and speaking)

  • Production (writing and speaking)

Here’s a general guideline to interpret scores:

Duolingo ScoreEquivalent Proficiency (approximate)
155–160Very High Proficiency (IELTS 8.5–9)
135–150Advanced (IELTS 7–8)
115–130Upper Intermediate (IELTS 6–6.5)
90–110Intermediate (IELTS 5–5.5)
Below 90Basic to Low Intermediate

Scores are valid for 2 years and securely shared with institutions through Duolingo’s official portal.

Who Accepts the Duolingo English Test?

More than 5,000 institutions across 90+ countries now accept the Duolingo English Test. Some top universities include:

  • USA: Columbia, Yale, NYU, University of Chicago

  • UK: University of Glasgow, University of Southampton, Leeds Beckett University

  • Canada: University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, Concordia University

  • Australia: University of Canberra, Central Queensland University

  • Europe: IE University (Spain), Jacobs University (Germany)