Duolingo English Test
A low-cost, at-home English-proficiency test accepted by 5,500+ programmes worldwide, including most US universities and growing numbers in Canada and the UK — a budget alternative to IELTS/TOEFL where accepted. Scores are valid for two years.
Eligibility
No educational qualification is required; you need a quiet room, a computer with webcam and microphone, a stable connection and a government-issued photo ID (passport preferred). Candidates under 18 need guardian consent. You may purchase up to three tests in any 30-day period, and each purchase yields only one certified result.
Age limit: None (under-18s need guardian consent)
Exam pattern
About one hour end-to-end: a 45-minute computer-adaptive test plus setup and an unscored video interview and writing sample that universities can view. Questions adapt one by one to your level and include read-and-complete (c-test), interactive reading, interactive listening (listen-and-complete, listen-and-respond, a written summary), interactive speaking and writing tasks — the July 2025 update replaced Read Aloud and Listen-Then-Speak with Interactive Speaking. Scored 10–160 in 5-point steps with eight subscores (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking plus Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, Production). The session is recorded and human-reviewed; results are certified within about two days and can be sent to unlimited institutions free.
Syllabus at a glance
There is no fixed syllabus — the test measures general English proficiency across reading, writing, listening and speaking through short adaptive tasks: filling damaged words in texts, completing conversations, responding to spoken prompts, summarising audio and writing short essays. Vocabulary breadth, grammar accuracy and fluent spontaneous speech carry the score.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Test availability | Anytime, 24/7 online — results certified within about 2 days | confirmed |
| Retake limit | Maximum three purchased tests in any rolling 30-day window | confirmed |
| Practice test | Free official practice test available anytime, unlimited attempts | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- DET Official Test Guide / Handbook — Duolingo (free PDF)
- English Grammar in Use — Raymond Murphy
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
- Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use (Upper-Intermediate) — Michael McCarthy and Felicity O'Dell
How toppers play it
- The test is question-adaptive, so early answers set your level fast — warm up with a full practice test immediately before booking the real one.
- Drill the read-and-complete (c-test) format: restoring damaged words is the most coachable task and appears repeatedly.
- Read the proctoring rules line by line — looking away from the screen, headphones, note-taking or another person's voice can void certification even after a strong performance.
- Each purchase certifies only one result and you get at most three tests per 30 days, so do not attempt casually near application deadlines.
- Confirm acceptance before relying on it: fine for most US/Canadian universities, but invalid for UK student-visa (SELT) routes and patchy for Australia.