Duolingo

Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test (DET)

An online, on-demand, computer-adaptive English proficiency test accepted by thousands of universities worldwide. Its low cost and at-home delivery make it a popular admissions alternative to TOEFL and IELTS for non-native speakers.

$70About 60 minutes (5 min onboarding; ~45 min adaptive test; ~10 min writing and speaking sample)Career gateway

What's on the exam

Duolingo English Test — subscore structure

Literacy (Reading & Writing)

25%

Reading comprehension · Vocabulary recognition (real vs. fake words) · Interactive reading passages · Written production · Grammar and spelling accuracy

Comprehension (Reading & Listening)

25%

Listening for detail · Dictation tasks · Reading comprehension · Inferring meaning · Following spoken and written input

Conversation (Listening & Speaking)

25%

Listen and respond · Interactive listening dialogue · Spoken interaction · Comprehension of speech · Responding appropriately in context

Production (Writing & Speaking)

25%

Extended writing sample · Spoken response to a prompt · Topic development · Fluency and coherence · Range of vocabulary and grammar

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?

The Duolingo English Test costs $70. Single global price set by Duolingo; occasionally adjusted.

How long is the Duolingo English Test and how many questions does it have?

Adaptive mix of reading, writing, listening, and speaking item types (counts vary as difficulty adapts) — About 60 minutes (5 min onboarding; ~45 min adaptive test; ~10 min writing and speaking sample).

What do you need to pass the Duolingo English Test?

No pass/fail — overall score on a 10–160 scale with subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production; institutions set their own requirements.

Can you retake the Duolingo English Test?

Up to a limited number of certified tests per period (commonly 3 per 30 days).

What is the best way to study for the Duolingo English Test?

Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Literacy (Reading & Writing) 25%, Comprehension (Reading & Listening) 25%, Conversation (Listening & Speaking) 25%, Production (Writing & Speaking) 25%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.

Program in development

We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.

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