Duolingo English Test: Can You Really Replace IELTS and TOEFL?

Duolingo English Test is increasingly seen as a more convenient, faster, and affordable alternative to IELTS and TOEFL. But is it really up to the task? What are its strengths, and where does it fall short compared to its more “traditional” rivals? And finally, in which situations does it actually make sense to take the Duolingo test? Let’s dive in.

Contents:

• How the Duolingo English Test Works
• Advantages of the Duolingo Test
• How It Differs from IELTS and TOEFL
• Where the Duolingo English Test Is Accepted
• When It Makes Sense to Take the Duolingo Test

How the Duolingo English Test Works?

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency exam you can take from home — or anywhere suitable — with a computer, a camera, a microphone, and a stable internet connection.

The test takes just one hour and consists of three stages:

1. Preparation (5 minutes) — familiarizing yourself with the test rules, checking your equipment (camera, microphone), and uploading ID documents.
2. Adaptive Test (45 minutes) — questions are randomly selected and cover reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The difficulty adjusts based on your answers.
3. Writing Task & Interview (10 minutes) — you’ll receive two prompts for extended written and spoken responses. The essay takes 3–5 minutes, while the spoken video response takes 1–3 minutes. These answers don’t affect your overall score but are sent to universities for evaluation.

Scoring: 10–160 points.

Validity: Test results are valid for two years.

Advantages of the Duolingo English Test

1. Accessibility and сonvenience

• You can take the test anytime without a prior booking. After purchasing, you have 21 days to complete it.
• Take it from home or anywhere convenient — no need to travel to a testing center.
• You can send your results to multiple universities (up to 40) for free, without extra fees.

2. Low Cost

• You only pay for the test itself, with no center fees or logistics costs. The test costs around 70 USD.
• By comparison, traditional tests like IELTS and TOEFL often cost several times more due to infrastructure and administrative fees.

3. Speed

• The test itself takes just one hour, and results are available within 48 hours.
• Expedited reporting is available (24 hours) via partner platforms—perfect for students on tight deadlines.

How the Duolingo English Test Differs from IELTS and TOEFL

1. Duration. The Duolingo English Test usually takes about 1 hour (~45 minutes for the test section, ~10 minutes for spoken and written responses). For comparison: IELTS Academic lasts 2 hours 45 minutes, and TOEFL iBT takes around 2 hours (plus roughly 30 minutes for registration).

2. Structure and question format. DET uses an adaptive format — the difficulty of tasks changes depending on the candidate’s answers. In IELTS and TOEFL, the tasks are fixed in difficulty — all candidates receive the same sections (with different questions, but not in an adaptive format).

3. Scoring system. The Duolingo test is scored on a 10–160 point scale. IELTS scores range from 0 to 9, and TOEFL from 0 to 120 (from 2026, 0–6 points). Unlike IELTS and TOEFL, which assess the “classic” skills (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing), DET reports may include so-called integrated subscores:

— Literacy (Reading + Writing)

— Comprehension (Reading + Listening)

— Conversation (Listening + Speaking)

— Production (Writing + Speaking)

These integrated subscores show how a candidate uses combined skills in real-life situations.

4. Speed of results. DET results are available within 48 hours after completing the test. IELTS and TOEFL scores take much longer: depending on the format (paper or computer), results are usually available after several days or weeks.

5. Academic level of tasks. IELTS Academic is specifically oriented toward academic English — with more complex texts, abstract topics, and tasks requiring argumentation and analysis. TOEFL iBT tasks are also closely tied to academic contexts. DET uses comparatively more familiar and less “academic” language in its texts, with simpler and clearer formulations. Therefore, Duolingo results may provide a less precise assessment of a candidate’s readiness for higher education compared with IELTS or TOEFL.

Where the Duolingo English Test Is Accepted?

Despite some limitations, the Duolingo English Test is now recognized by thousands of universities worldwide. As of August 2025, over 6,000 programs officially accept DET as proof of English proficiency.

Here are some examples of top universities across different countries that accept Duolingo results, along with approximate minimum scores*:

USA:

• Yale University — 120
• Harvard University — 125
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) — 120–125
• University of California, Berkeley — 115
• University of Pennsylvania — 130
• Cornell University — 120
• Northeastern University — 105

* These scores are indicative and may vary depending on the faculty or specific admission requirements.

United Kingdom:

• London School of Economics — 125–130
• Imperial College London — 115
• University of Bath — 120
• Loughborough University — 120
• University of Sussex — 120
• City University of London — 115–120

Canada:

• University of Toronto — 120
• McGill University — 115–125
• University of British Columbia (UBC) — 100–115
• University of Alberta — 120
• University of Waterloo — 120–125

Australia:

• Australian National University (ANU) — 100–115
• University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) — 100
• University of Melbourne — 110

Europe:

• HEC School of Management, Paris — 135
• University of Amsterdam — 110–120
• Humboldt University of Berlin — 100–120
• ESADE Business School (Barcelona) — 160
• University of Helsinki — 95–105

You can check whether your chosen university accepts the Duolingo test on the official DET website.

When to Take the Duolingo Test?

The Duolingo English Test can be the optimal choice in situations when:

• Speed is crucial: the test can be completed online in a short time, with results available within a couple of days.
• Budget is limited: DET is significantly cheaper than IELTS and TOEFL.
• Flexibility is needed: the test can be taken from home — all you need is a computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection.
• An additional certificate is required: Duolingo can serve as an extra proof of English proficiency when submitting applications.

Important: Make sure that the university you want to apply to accepts DET results.

Still have questions?

The specialists at Education Explorer can guide you every step of the way — from choosing the country, university, and exam format to preparing your application documents.

You can request an individual consultation anytime:

— directly in your personal account,

— on the page of your chosen university,

— or by emailing us at support@ed-ex.com.