August 31, 2026

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency test that assesses reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. It is accepted by more than 6,500 programs and institutions worldwide, but acceptance varies by institution, programme and purpose. Always check the requirements of your chosen university or institution before booking the test.Unlike traditional test-centre exams, the DET is taken online from home. You need a compatible computer, a smartphone for the secondary-camera requirement, a stable internet connection, valid identification and an appropriate testing environment.This guide explains how the DET works, how it is scored, what equipment you need and what you should check before using the test for a university application. How Do Universities Use English Proficiency Tests? Many universities offer programmes taught in English and may require international applicants to demonstrate English proficiency. The exact requirement depends on the institution, programme and applicant’s academic background.Universities establish which English-proficiency tests they accept and what scores they require. Requirements can differ by institution, programme and level of study. Some institutions may also use English-proficiency results for placement or academic-readiness decisions. These policies vary, so applicants should follow the requirements of their chosen institution.Before booking the DET, check the official DET accepting-institutions information and your chosen university’s admissions requirements to confirm that the test is accepted for your specific programme and purpose. How the Duolingo English Test Scoring System Works The DET reports an overall score on a scale from 10 to 160. It also provides individual subscores for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, together with integrated subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production.The test is adaptive. The difficulty of questions can change according to the test taker’s performance, allowing the assessment to measure English proficiency efficiently.There is no universal “good” DET score. Universities and programmes establish their own requirements. A score that is sufficient for one programme may not meet the requirement of another, so applicants should always check the exact requirement of their chosen institution. What Is Evaluated in the Duolingo English Test? The DET assesses four individual language skills: Reading: Understanding written English, including vocabulary, grammar and written information. Writing: Expressing ideas clearly and effectively in written English. Listening: Understanding spoken English. Speaking: Expressing ideas orally and responding appropriately to spoken prompts. Many DET tasks integrate more than one language skill, reflecting the way English is used in academic and real-world communication.The current speaking assessment includes tasks such as Picture Description, Extended Speaking, Speaking Sample and Interactive Speaking. Interactive Speaking simulates a conversation in which follow-up questions can adapt to the test taker’s responses. At the end of the test, you also complete an ungraded Writing Sample and Speaking Sample. These samples can be shared with institutions that receive your results. Test Format The DET takes about one hour of uninterrupted time. The test includes identity verification and setup, the adaptive test and ungraded Writing and Speaking Samples. As the main test is adaptive, the number and difficulty of questions can vary.You need: A compatible computer A working camera, microphone and speakers A stable internet connection A smartphone used as the secondary camera A valid form of identification A quiet, private and well-lit room You must take the test alone. Current testing rules also require the phone camera to capture the required view of your computer, screen and keyboard. Extra devices, paper, notes and headphones or earbuds are not permitted in the testing environment. How to Take the Duolingo English Test Visit the official Duolingo English Test website and create an account. Purchase the test online. The current standard test price is US$70. After purchasing the test, complete it within 21 days. Unused test credits expire after this period. Complete the required system and equipment checks. Prepare a quiet, private testing environment that meets the current DET rules. Complete the identity-verification and testing procedures. Follow all test-day security requirements. Certified results are typically available within about two days. Once your result is certified, you can send your score to institutions through the DET score-sharing system.The DET does not operate like a conventional test centre requiring applicants to reserve a physical seat. It is designed to be taken online from an appropriate private testing environment. Why Choose the Duolingo English Test? The DET may be convenient for applicants because it is taken online, does not require travel to a conventional test centre and typically provides certified results within about two days.However, convenience should not be the only consideration. Applicants should first confirm that their chosen university, programme and intended immigration route accept the DET for the purpose for which they need an English-proficiency result. A DET score should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with an IELTS or TOEFL score because institutions can establish different test and score requirements. Duolingo Compared with Other English Proficiency Tests Feature Duolingo English Test IELTS TOEFL iBT / PTE Academic Standard test fee US$70 IELTS fees vary by test type and booking location; British Council Bangladesh currently lists IELTS Academic at BDT 29,600 Fees vary by country and test location Duration About 1 hour About 2 hours 45 minutes for the main IELTS sections, plus Speaking TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic are approximately 2 hours Where you take it Online from home Official test centre; delivery options vary by country and test TOEFL iBT: test centre or Home Edition where available; PTE Academic: Authorised test centre Typical result time About 2 days IELTS Online 6-8 days, IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) up to 13 days TOEFL iBT: approximately 3 days; PTE Academic: typically, about 2 business days, although some results may take longer Score scale 10–160 0-9 bands TOEFL iBT: 1-6 scale from January 2026, with a comparable 0-120 overall score during the transition; PTE Academic: 10-90 Benefits of the Duolingo English Test Broad institutional acceptance: More than 6,500 programs and institutions worldwide accept DET scores, although acceptance varies by institution and programme. Online delivery: The test is taken from home rather than at a conventional test centre. Fast results: Certified