Are you a future international student who needs to include proof of English language skills in your applications? The Duolingo English Test (DET) could be a great option. It measures your English-language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and can be taken anywhere with a stable internet connection. The DET is accepted by academic institutions worldwide: as of 2026, over 6,500 institutions accept these test results. Below, we’ll take a closer look at what the Duolingo English Test looks like, how it’s scored, and how it can help international students get one step closer to their academic goals.
About the Duolingo English Test
The DET might be a perfect fit for students seeking a flexible English proficiency test option. All tests are completed online, and don’t require pre-scheduling an appointment or traveling to a test centre.
To take the test, students must have a computer with a camera, microphone, and speakers, as well as a phone with a camera and a fully charged battery. They’ll also need to have an official form of government ID (like a passport or driver’s license) handy. Duolingo uses test-takers’ phone and computer cameras to monitor their test area.
Test Structure
Test-takers have one hour to complete the DET. The hour is divided into three segments: first, a five-minute setup period, followed by 45 minutes of different questions. The DET is adaptive, which means that questions later in the test may change depending on how participants do early in the test.
Some of the question types in the Duolingo English Test include:
- Choosing whether the word on screen is a real word in the English language
- Completing a sentence with the right word
- Completing a paragraph by filling in key words
- Typing what you hear (you’ll get a couple of replays to check your answer)
- Choosing the right sentence from a series of options to fit into a longer text
- Participating in conversations about theoretical situations, like getting a job
- Summarizing text or conversations
- Writing descriptions of an image
- Writing longer-form answers to broader questions
After this section is complete, students will have 10 minutes to complete different writing and speaking samples. Note that some of these samples will be shared alongside your test scores with any institution you share your DET scores with, so it’s wise to get lots of writing and speaking practice in before the test.
Pro Tip: Don’t treat the real test like practice! Duolingo offers free practice sessions, which can be accessed on their website but which require registration.
Duolingo English Test Scoring
After completing the test, you’ll receive a score between 10 and 160. Generally, test-takers receive their results within two days.
Scores are given in intervals of 5. So, with a top score of 160, the next highest score is 155. Below, we’ve shown how DET test scores compare to IELTS test scores:
In your scoring package for the DET, you may also receive subscores which measure your strengths in specific communication areas. Individual subscores in speaking, writing, reading, and listening average out to give you your overall score.
Meanwhile, Duolingo calculates integrated subscores by averaging two individual subscores:
- Comprehension is the average of your listening and reading scores
- Conversation is the average of your speaking and listening scores
- Literacy is the average of your reading and writing scores
- Production is the average of your writing and speaking scores
Curious about how other English-language proficiency tests are scored? Learn more about the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scoring systems on our blog.
Ready to take the next step? Use the ApplyBoard platform to find study programs which accept the DET, and take practice tests so you’re prepared for the real thing.
Did you know that you can purchase discounted test vouchers for the DET through ApplyBoard? Vouchers are valid for up to 12 months, so you can book your test once you’re ready.
