Duolingo English Test
An online, at-home English-proficiency test accepted for admission by 5,000+ institutions, including many universities in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia. Check visa acceptance separately.
Eligibility
Anyone can take it; there is no qualification or age requirement, though candidates under 13 need a parent or guardian. You need a government-issued photo ID (a passport is recommended for India), a computer with a webcam, microphone and speakers, and a quiet room. You can take up to 3 tests in any 30-day period. Results are valid for two years.
Age limit: No age limit (under-13s need guardian consent)
Exam pattern
The test is taken online at home with proctoring and lasts about 1 hour. It starts with a short set-up and ID check, followed by about 45 minutes of computer-adaptive questions and about 10 minutes of writing and speaking samples. These samples are not scored but are sent to institutions. The adaptive section mixes short item types: Read and Complete, Read and Select, Listen and Type, Read Aloud, Write About the Photo, Speak About the Photo, Interactive Reading and Listening, and Writing and Speaking prompts. The overall score and subscores (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production) are reported on a 10-160 scale. There is no negative marking, and results usually arrive within 2 days.
Syllabus at a glance
There is no fixed syllabus. The test measures integrated reading, writing, listening and speaking through quick, adaptive tasks. Key skills are spelling and word-completion accuracy, recognising real English words, listening dictation, pronunciation, describing images, and short timed writing and speaking on general topics.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Test availability | Any day, 24/7, from home | confirmed |
| Results after test | Usually within 48 hours | confirmed |
| Latest sensible test date for Dec 2026-Jan 2027 university deadlines | By early Dec 2026 (allows one retake) | expected |
| Next fee or format update | TBA (check official site before booking) | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- The Official Guide to the Duolingo English Test (free PDF) – Duolingo
- English Vocabulary in Use: Upper-Intermediate – Michael McCarthy and Felicity O'Dell
- English Grammar in Use – Raymond Murphy
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English – Oxford University Press
How toppers play it
- Most DET failures are rule violations, not low scores. Look at the screen at all times, keep ears visible, wear no headphones, have no one else in the room, and keep a clean desk. Test your set-up the day before.
- In Read and Select, a single click on a fake word costs marks. Only select words you are sure are real English words.
- For Read and Complete and Listen and Type, spelling must be exact. Drill common suffixes (-tion, -ment, -ous) and double letters.
- Keep speaking and writing answers going until near the time limit. Length and range of vocabulary feed directly into the Production subscore.
- Take two or three free practice tests to check you reach your target score band (for example 120+ for many universities) before paying, and keep a second attempt in reserve within the 30-day limit.