- The Duolingo English Test now costs USD 70 for a single attempt, a price unchanged since February 2025
- It is scored on a 10 to 160 scale and is accepted by more than 5,500 universities across over 50 countries, including MIT, Arizona State University and many Canadian and UK institutions
- Scores stay valid for two years, and you can buy up to three tests in any 30-day period.
What Is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test is an online, computer-adaptive English proficiency exam accepted for university admissions worldwide. It assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening in roughly one hour, is taken from home with a webcam, and is scored on a 10 to 160 scale. Results usually arrive within two days.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) measures how well you can use English for study in an English-medium setting. Unlike IELTS or TOEFL, it needs no testing centre or fixed appointment; you sit it on your own computer, at any time of day, and it uses adaptive questions that adjust to your ability to measure proficiency efficiently in about an hour.
How Much Does the Duolingo English Test Cost?
The Duolingo English Test costs USD 70 for a single attempt, a price in effect since February 2025. Sending your score report to universities is free and unlimited, which keeps the test cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL. The fee is non-refundable if you do not test within 21 days.
At USD 70 the DET is significantly cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL, and because there is no charge for additional score reports you can send your certified result to as many institutions as you like at no extra cost. An optional faster 12-hour scoring upgrade is available at checkout for an additional fee if you need results quickly.
How Many Times Can You Take the Duolingo English Test?
You can purchase up to three Duolingo English Tests in any 30-day period, and you may take the test as often as you like overall. Each certified score stays valid for two years from the test date, after which you must sit the exam again to apply.
The 30-day window counts from the day you buy each test, and you must wait for your results before starting a new attempt. If Duolingo cannot certify a result and asks you to retake, that attempt does not count against your limit. Only your certified scores are sent to institutions, so you can choose which result to share.
Duolingo Approved Universities in CanadaRead →Who Accepts the Duolingo English Test?
More than 5,500 universities and programmes across over 50 countries now accept the Duolingo English Test, including most of the top United States institutions such as MIT, Yale, Columbia and Duke. Universities in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada also accept it for many degree programmes.
Acceptance has grown rapidly since the pandemic. Institutions may accept the DET either to meet their English requirement fully or as a supplement, so always confirm on the specific programme page. For example, MIT graduate admissions recommends a minimum DET score of at least 135, while Arizona State University sets a graduate minimum of 105.
- United States: MIT, Yale, Columbia, Duke and most top-ranked universities
- United Kingdom: many universities, though the DET is not a UKVI-approved SELT for visa purposes
- Ireland, Australia and New Zealand
- Canada: Toronto, McGill, UBC, Waterloo and 450+ programmes
- Selected universities across Europe and Asia
Is the Duolingo Test Accepted in Canada?
Yes. Many Canadian universities now accept the Duolingo English Test, including the University of Toronto, McGill, UBC and Waterloo, with over 450 programmes recognising it. IRCC does not mandate a specific test, so a Letter of Acceptance based on your DET score generally supports a study permit application.
Older guidance that Canada rejects the Duolingo test is out of date. Canadian universities set their own English requirements, and most now list the DET as an accepted option, typically asking for a score between 105 and 125. Once a designated learning institution issues your Letter of Acceptance, that letter is generally sufficient proof of English for your study permit.
- University of Toronto
- McGill University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Waterloo
- University of Alberta
How Is the Duolingo English Test Scored?
The Duolingo English Test is reported on a scale from 10 to 160, in increments of five. A score of about 120 corresponds roughly to IELTS 6.5 to 7.0, while 125 to 130 aligns with IELTS 7.0. Most universities ask for scores between 105 and 125.
Your overall score is accompanied by four subscores for literacy, comprehension, conversation and production, which some universities check individually. A result of 120 or above is widely regarded as strong. The concordance below shows how DET scores map approximately to IELTS bands and CEFR levels, but you should always confirm the exact requirement for your target programme.
| Duolingo Score 2026 | IELTS Band (approx.) | CEFR Level |
|---|---|---|
| 120-160 | 7.0-8.5 | C1-C2 |
| 105-115 | 6.5 | B2 |
| 90-100 | 6.0 | B2 |
| 75-85 | 5.0-5.5 | B1 |
| 60-70 | 4.5-5.0 | B1 |
What Is the Duolingo English Test Pattern?
The Duolingo English Test lasts about one hour and has two parts: a graded adaptive section and an ungraded video interview. The adaptive section adjusts difficulty to your answers and mixes reading, writing, listening and speaking tasks, while the interview asks you to speak on a chosen topic for a few minutes.
The graded adaptive section takes roughly 45 minutes and draws on a wide range of question types. The video interview and writing sample at the end are not scored but are shared with universities alongside your certified result, giving admissions officers a fuller picture of your spoken and written English. Common task types include:
- Listening to spoken words and selecting the real ones
- Reading written words and selecting the real ones
- Completing missing letters in a passage
- Describing an image in writing or aloud
- Reading a displayed sentence aloud
- Answering a spoken or written question
- Writing a short response to a prompt
- Recording a one to three minute video interview response
How Should You Prepare for the Duolingo English Test?
There is no fixed syllabus for the Duolingo English Test, so the best preparation is strengthening overall English. Read quality articles and books, listen to English podcasts, and practise speaking aloud. Most importantly, take the free official practice test on the Duolingo website to get familiar with the question formats.
Because the adaptive questions can draw on almost any topic, broad reading and regular listening practice help more than memorising answers. Improve your typing and speaking fluency, learn how each task type works, and set up a quiet room with a working webcam and microphone before test day, since rule violations can void your result.