Duolingo English Test Certify your English anytime, anywhere.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is accepted by more than 6,300+ institutions worldwide, costs about €60 and gives results in 2 days. We'll help you decide if it's right for you – and get you ready for it.
Member of the Duolingo English Test Global Partner Network
What is the Duolingo English Test?
A modern English test, taken from home, for students in their final school years and anyone applying to a university abroad.
~1 hour
on your own computer, whenever suits you
6,300+
institutions worldwide accept it
2 days
for your results
~€60
the full test, with unlimited score reports included
Adaptive
questions get harder or easier as you answer, so you don't attempt questions far beyond your English level
4 skills
reading, writing, listening and speaking, all in one test
What's in the Duolingo English Test?
The test checks all four skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking – in about an hour, in one sitting and in three parts. The number of questions varies, because the test adapts as you go.
-
Part 1 · about 5 minutes
Getting set up
Show your ID, scan the room with your phone, and set the phone up as a second camera. Nothing is scored yet.
-
Part 2 · about 45 minutes
The test itself
Short questions covering reading, listening, writing and speaking. They get harder or easier depending on your answers, and this part gives you your score.
-
Part 3 · about 10 minutes
A longer writing and speaking task
Write one short essay and record one longer spoken answer. These aren't scored, but universities receive them with your result.
Question types
- Reading – Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Read and Complete, Interactive Reading
- Listening – Listen and Type, Interactive Listening
- Writing – Write About the Photo, Interactive Writing, Writing Sample
- Speaking – Speak About the Photo, Read, Then Speak, Interactive Speaking, Speaking Sample
What Duolingo English Test score do you need?
Scores run from 10 to 160. Here's how they compare with IELTS bands and CEFR levels, according to Duolingo's official comparison. Many universities ask for a score of 105–125, and the most selective ask for more. Always check your own programme.
| Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | 8.5–9 | C2 |
| 155 | 8 | C2 |
| 150 | 8 | C1 |
| 140–145 | 7.5 | C1 |
| 130–135 | 7 | C1 |
| 120–125 | 6.5 | B2 |
| 105–115 | 6 | B2 |
| 100 | 5.5 | B2 |
| 95 | 5.5 | B1 |
| 80–90 | 5 | B1 |
| 65–75 | 4.5 | B1 |
| 60 | 4 | B1 |
| 10–55 | 0–4 | A1–A2 |
The range many universities ask for
How does the Duolingo English Test compare to other tests?
| Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic | Cambridge C1 Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | about €60, the same everywhere | €271 | €248 |
| Length | about 1 hour | about 2 hours 45 minutes | about 4 hours |
| Where and when | at home, any time | at a test centre, or online from home, on booked dates | at an exam centre, on set dates |
| Results | within 2 days | 1–5 days (computer), 6–8 days (online), about 13 days (paper) | 1–3 weeks (computer), 4–6 weeks (paper) |
| Scoring | 10–160 overall, plus a score for reading, writing, listening and speaking | bands 0–9 overall, plus a band for each skill | Cambridge English Scale 160–210, a grade (A, B or C) and a score for each skill |
| Sending your score | free, to as many universities as you like | 5 free copies, then a fee per extra copy | free online verification for universities |
Prepare with a DET partner and certified trainer
Choose the right test
Not sure which test fits your plans? In a free consultation we'll tell you honestly – DET, IELTS or Cambridge.
Free
Book a consultationPrepare 1:1
Online lessons built around the DET's question types and timing, using Duolingo's exclusive partner materials. Includes feedback on your speaking and writing from a trained speaking examiner.
€45 / 90 min
Ask about lessonsBook through us
Register with our link and we can see your official results and skill scores – so we know exactly what to work on next. It costs you nothing extra.
Official DET partner
Register with this link
Cathal (Lenny) Leonard
Duolingo English Test trainer · Trained speaking examiner (British Council ESAT-J) · CELTA-qualified
Lenny is a native English speaker from Ireland with over ten years' experience preparing students for exams, including IELTS and Cambridge C1 Advanced. As a trained speaking examiner, he knows what assessors listen for – and how to help nervous speakers show what they can really do.
Duolingo English Test: your questions answered
Not sure which test is right for you?
Book a free consultation and we'll help you choose – no commitment.