The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fully remote, computer-adaptive English-language assessment administered by Duolingo, the language-learning platform. Offered entirely online and proctored via webcam, DET measures reading, writing, listening, and speaking across a 10–160 score scale. The test is accepted by over 2,000 universities globally, including many top-tier US institutions (MIT, Yale, Northeastern), UK universities, and Australian universities. Results are available within 48 hours, making DET the fastest-turnaround major English-proficiency test. Cost is approximately USD $49, the cheapest of all major English-proficiency tests.
Key facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Duolingo English Test |
| Administering body | Duolingo, Inc. |
| Format | Computer-delivered, remote (home-based), proctored via webcam |
| Total duration | 60 minutes |
| Score scale | 10–160 (5-point increments) |
| Pass/fail | No pass/fail; results reported as numeric scale and CEFR level (A1–C2) |
| Validity period | 2 years from test date |
| Cost (USD) | USD $49 (single attempt); USD $99 (2 attempts, redeemable within 30 days) |
| Number of attempts | Unlimited; retake fee USD $49 per attempt |
| Result turnaround | 48 hours (average); express scoring not available |
Score structure
DET is delivered via a computer-adaptive algorithm that adjusts question difficulty in real-time based on performance. Four skills are assessed:
-
Reading (various passages). Candidates read short to medium-length texts and answer multiple-choice or short-answer questions. Difficulty escalates based on correct responses. Assesses vocabulary, sentence comprehension, and inference.
-
Listening (audio clips, podcasts, videos). Candidates listen to recordings and answer comprehension questions. Clips range from 10 seconds to 3 minutes. Adaptive algorithm adjusts speech speed and accent complexity.
-
Writing (open-ended prompts). Candidates write short essays (100–200 words) in response to prompts. Responses evaluated by DET’s automated system for grammar, vocabulary, organisation, and topic relevance. No minimum word count enforced, but significantly shorter responses may score lower.
-
Speaking (recorded responses). Candidates record spoken responses (30–60 seconds) to prompt questions. Recordings evaluated by DET’s automated system for pronunciation, fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. Algorithm escalates complexity based on performance.
Score is not reported per skill; instead, DET provides a single composite score (10–160) mapping to CEFR levels: 10–25 (A1), 26–50 (A2), 51–75 (B1), 76–100 (B2), 101–125 (C1), 126–160 (C2).
Accepted by
-
United States: 2,000+ institutions including MIT, Yale, Northeastern, Penn State, Duke, Rice, and hundreds of state universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges (as of April 2026). Major research universities increasingly accept DET as alternative to TOEFL; some waive TOEFL/IELTS requirement if DET score submitted.
-
United Kingdom: Growing acceptance; Bath, York, Durham, and London School of Economics (LSE) explicitly accept DET. Not yet widely recognised by UKVI for visa purposes; Cambridge, IELTS, and Pearson remain primary SELT options.
-
Australia: Accepted by Macquarie University, RMIT, UNSW, and others; Department of Home Affairs does not formally recognise DET for skilled migration visas (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge remain official); university acceptance is institution-specific.
-
Canada: Most Canadian universities do not yet explicitly list DET in admissions requirements; institution-specific verification recommended.
-
Global: Accepted by over 2,000 institutions worldwide; candidate should verify institutional acceptance before registering.
-
Professional bodies: Limited acceptance for licensing (nursing, medical boards); IELTS, TOEFL, PTE remain standard.
Typical score requirements
| Institution tier | Undergraduate | Master’s/Graduate | PhD | Foundation/Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top-tier (MIT, Yale, Ivy equivalents) | 120–140 | 120–140 | 120–140 | 85–105 |
| Mid-tier (state flagships, regional universities) | 100–120 | 105–130 | 105–130 | 70–90 |
| Lower-tier / Community college | 80–100 | 90–110 | 90–110 | 60–80 |
| Business schools / MBA | — | 110–130 | — | 90–110 |
Note: DET score conversion to TOEFL/IELTS equivalence: DET 120 ≈ TOEFL 90–100 / IELTS 6.5; DET 140 ≈ TOEFL 110+ / IELTS 7.5+. Universities often specify DET scores in admissions pages alongside TOEFL/IELTS thresholds.
Registration & logistics
Registration:
- Online via englishtest.duolingo.com.
- Create account with email, verify identity via photo ID.
- Select test date and time (tests offered daily, 24 hours).
- Payment via credit card or PayPal; processing immediate.
ID requirements:
- Valid government-issued photo ID (passport, national ID, driver’s licence).
- Name on ID must match registration exactly.
- Government ID scanned and verified at start of test (photo ID shown to camera; Duolingo stores image for fraud prevention).
Retake rules:
- No mandatory waiting period; may retake immediately (next available test date).
- Typical retake timeline: 24 hours after previous test completion (varies by regional demand).
- Previous scores remain valid and can be sent alongside new scores.
Test-day procedures:
- Candidate sets up private room with desk, chair, webcam, microphone, internet.
- System check performed 15 minutes before test start (camera, microphone, browser compatibility).
- Proctor validates identity via photo ID and webcam check.
- Test link sent; candidate clicks to begin.
- No breaks during 60-minute test; must remain visible to webcam throughout.
- No notes, external materials, or second monitor permitted.
Rescheduling:
- Free to reschedule or cancel up to 24 hours before scheduled test time (via account portal).
- If cancelled within 24 hours, fee forfeited; must pay USD $49 again to register new test.
Preparation
Official materials:
- Duolingo English Test website sample questions and video introduction (englishtest.duolingo.com).
- Duolingo free language app (duolingo.com) offers beginner-to-intermediate English lessons; not directly aligned to DET but builds vocabulary and grammar.
- DET official sample video showing test interface and question types.
Recommended materials:
- Magoosh DET YouTube channel and blog (free and premium content aligned to DET format).
- Duolingo English Test preparation course (Udemy, $10–15; covers all four skills with sample tasks).
- Practice tests via DET official website (limited free samples).
- TOEFL/IELTS preparation materials (reading, writing, listening skills transfer well).
Realistic prep time:
- Starting from B1/B2 (intermediate–upper-intermediate): 4–8 weeks, 1 hour daily (focused on speaking and writing, which are novel to casual English learners).
- Starting from B2/C1 (upper-intermediate–advanced): 2–4 weeks, 30 minutes daily for targeted weak-skill practice.
- Starting from C1+ (advanced): 1–2 weeks, minimal preparation; focus on computer-adaptive strategy and time management.
Common pitfalls:
- Underestimating speaking and writing sections; automated scoring may penalise non-native accents or minor grammar errors more harshly than expected. Practice recording voice responses.
- Poor internet stability; test requires continuous connection; lagging or dropout causes test failure/restart.
- Camera and microphone issues; system check must pass before test starts. Test webcam and mic 30 minutes prior.
- Writing responses too short; 100–200 word target expected for each prompt; very short responses (< 50 words) often score poorly.
- Not practising under time pressure; 60 minutes is tight; pacing (reading/listening ~20 min, writing ~20 min, speaking ~20 min) essential.
Comparison with similar tests
| Test | Format | Duration | Score | Accepted | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo English Test | Computer-delivered, remote | 1h | 10–160 | 2,000+ institutions (US, growing global) | Cheapest (~USD $49); fastest turnaround (48h); fully adaptive |
| TOEFL iBT | Computer-delivered (centre/home) | 2h 30m | 0–120 | 11,000+ institutions globally | Longer, non-adaptive; widely accepted; faster test-centre booking |
| IELTS | Paper/Computer + face-to-face speaking | 2h 45m | 0–9 bands | 140+ countries, universities globally | Most universally accepted; face-to-face speaking |
| PTE Academic | Computer-delivered | 3h | 10–90 | Aus, UK, NZ, Canada (growing US) | Faster results (5 days); strong automation; less widely accepted in US |
Recent changes
-
Institutional acceptance expansion (2022–2026): DET acceptance among US universities grew from ~400 institutions (2021) to 2,000+ (2026). MIT, Yale, Northeastern, and other elite institutions added DET to acceptable tests around 2022–2023.
-
CEFR mapping alignment (2024): Duolingo officially published CEFR alignment (DET 10–25 = A1, etc.) to clarify international comparability with IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge tests.
-
Pricing consistency (2023–2025): DET pricing remained stable at USD $49 per attempt globally, with periodic bundle offers (2-pack at USD $99). No significant fee increases through April 2026.
-
Automated grading improvements (2024–2025): Duolingo upgraded AI-based scoring for Writing and Speaking to reduce variance and improve accuracy; changes reflected in reduced score volatility across retakes.
Primary sources
- Official Duolingo English Test: englishtest.duolingo.com; accessed 16 April 2026.
- DET sample questions and format guide: englishtest.duolingo.com/about; accessed 16 April 2026.
- DET institutional acceptance list: englishtest.duolingo.com/institutions; accessed 16 April 2026.
- Duolingo English Test blog: englishtest.duolingo.com/blog; accessed 16 April 2026.
- MIT admissions: Duolingo English Test: mitadmissions.org (policy pages confirming DET acceptance as TOEFL alternative); accessed 16 April 2026.
- Yale admissions: English language testing: yale.edu/admissions (policy pages); accessed 16 April 2026.
Last updated: 2026-04-16.