Learning Hub/Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Quick, affordable, at-home English proficiency test accepted by 3000+ universities. 1 hour adaptive exam with 12 question types.

DET Overview

Duration

1 hour

Adaptive (shorter if strong performance)

Cost

$49

Most affordable option

Score Range

10-160

Subscores for 4 areas

Valid For

3 years

Universities worldwide

4 Subscore Areas

Literacy (Reading & Writing)

Reading comprehension, writing accuracy, vocabulary

Comprehension (Listening & Reading)

Understanding spoken and written English

Conversation (Speaking & Writing)

Fluency, pronunciation, communicating ideas

Production (Speaking & Writing)

Quality of generated spoken and written content

12 Question Types in DET

Read and Complete

Fill in missing letters in words

⏱️ ~1 min per item

Read and Select

Identify real vs fake English words

⏱️ ~1 min per item

Listen and Type

Type sentences you hear

⏱️ ~1-2 min

Write About Photo

Describe an image in 50+ words

⏱️ ~1 min

Speak About Photo

Record yourself describing an image

⏱️ ~1 min

Speak Reading

Read a short paragraph aloud

⏱️ ~40 sec

Speak Free Form

Record yourself speaking on a topic

⏱️ ~1 min

Dictation

Listen and type longer passages

⏱️ ~2 min

Multiple Choice

Select correct answers from options

⏱️ ~30 sec

Listening Comprehension

Answer questions about listening passages

⏱️ ~1 min

Interactive Conversation

Have conversational exchanges with AI

⏱️ ~2 min

Sentence Builder

Arrange words to form correct sentences

⏱️ ~30 sec

DET Score Scale (10-160)

Advanced

Near-native proficiency across all skills

160

Proficient

Strong command of English; ready for university

140-159

Intermediate

Good grasp of English; some gaps in complex communication

120-139

Elementary

Basic English; functional in familiar contexts

100-119

Beginner

Limited proficiency; significant support needed

80-99

Novice

Very limited English; cannot communicate effectively

10-79

DET Score Requirements by University

University	Min Score	Status
University of Pennsylvania (USA)	130+	Required
MIT (USA)	125+	Accepted
UC Berkeley (USA)	130+	Required
University of Toronto (Canada)	120+	Accepted
University of Melbourne (Australia)	130+	Accepted
LSE (UK)	140+	Required
University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)	125+	Accepted
National University of Singapore	130+	Accepted

DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL Comparison

Aspect	Duolingo (DET)	IELTS	TOEFL iBT
Duration	1 hour (adaptive, adaptive)	Total: 2 hrs 45 min (Listening 40 min, Reading 60 min, Writing 60 min, Speaking 11-14 min)	Approx 3 hours
Cost	$49 USD (cheapest)	$215-250 USD	$210 USD (iBT)
Format	Mobile app only; async speaking and writing	Pen/paper (written) or computer-based; face-to-face speaking	Computer-based only; speaking with microphone
Acceptance	Accepted by 3000+ universities (growing)	Accepted by 3000+ universities	Accepted by 3000+ universities
Score Validity	3 years	3 years	3 years (some universities accept 5 years)
Best For	Quick, affordable screening; US universities	Commonwealth countries (UK, Australia, Canada)	USA; some require specifically iBT
Preparation Time	2-4 weeks (shorter test)	8-12 weeks recommended	8-12 weeks recommended
Retake Policy	Unlimited retakes	Can retake every 2 weeks	Can retake after 12 days; 5 times per year max

Test Integrity: What the AI Proctor Monitors

🔍The Duolingo proctor uses AI and live monitoring to detect cheating

🔍Your environment is scanned for multiple monitors, mirrors, or other devices

🔍Hands must be visible at all times during the test

🔍Audio and video are recorded for the entire duration

🔍If you look away or off-screen repeatedly, you may be flagged

🔍Writing responses are scanned for plagiarism (AI detection)

🔍Speaking is recorded and analyzed for authenticity of accent/proficiency

🔍Any suspicious activity may result in score cancellation and ban from retaking

⚠️ Important:

Taking the test in a quiet, well-lit environment with no distractions is essential. The AI proctor is very sophisticated and flags suspicious behavior.