Duolingo English Test: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility

The Duolingo English Test is one of the most commonly taken English Proficiency Tests. The DET exam is conducted online and can be taken from anywhere in the world. This English proficiency test has grown in popularity among students worldwide due to its convenience and affordable fees. In 2014, Duolingo launched an online English language proficiency exam to come out as an alternative to other English language proficiency exams such as IELTS/TOEFL. This blog covers all the Duolingo-accepted universities across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Europe, and New Zealand.

Name of Exam	Duolingo English Test
Exam Fee	$59
Number of Attempts	3 (within a month)
Duration	1 Hour
Section	2
Difficulty Level	Moderate to Tough

Duolingo Exam: An Overview

Just like other proficiency exams, Duolingo assesses candidates on four criteria which are reading, writing, listening and speaking. Most universities today accept Duolingo English Test Scores. This English proficiency test has garnered a fair share of popularity among students due to its convenience and affordability.

The cost of the test is $59 and takes about 45-60 minutes to complete. To take the test, candidates need to have a passport and a government ID proof ready for identity verification. Any person with a camera, microphone, speakers, and reliable internet can take the test from the comfort of their home. 

Why Should You Take the Duolingo English Test?

The Duolingo English Test is one of the most convenient and affordable English proficiency tests for those who want to study overseas. The test helps secure admission to various international schools. Duolingo English test is accepted in Canada, the USA, China, Japan, Germany and many more countries. Coming to its difficulty level, the Duolingo English test is much more easier to crack than the IELTS or TOEFL exam.

Duolingo vs IELTS vs TOEFL

Currently, the Duolingo English Test scores are accepted by many top universities around the world. This makes the test equally competitive with IELTS and TOEFL. Here is a detailed comparison between the Duolingo English Test, IELTS, and TOEFL. This will help you decide which exam to take.

How To Take the Duolingo Test in India?

Candidates can take this test online anywhere, anytime. They do not have to travel to the exam centre to take the test. They can easily appear for the exam from the convenience of their home. Aspirants should have a computer, a high-speed internet connection, and a webcam to take the Duolingo exam. Moreover, candidates need to make sure that they are the only ones in the room while they are taking the Duolingo test.

Benefits of Taking the Duolingo English Test

There are various benefits of taking the Duolingo test. We have listed them below for your reference.

• Accessibility– The biggest advantage of the Duolingo English Test is that it can be taken from the comfort of our home. It has become the most feasible option, especially in the post-COVID era. Duolingo has taken a big share in the market and has become one of the easiest options for students as well as schools.
• Affordability– While other English proficiency exams cost around $200 or above, Duolingo costs just $59. This comes as a major relief to students trying to study abroad as they have to face many expenses and anything that can cut those expenses down to even a little bit makes a lot of difference for them.
• Faster Results– This test provides the result within 24-48 hours as compared to IELTS/TOEFL which takes about 4-5 days to announce the results. The results provided by Duolingo are much faster as compared to other English proficiency exams.
• Time Duration- The duration of the test is much shorter than IELTS or TOEFL. The DET test lasts for around an hour. Therefore, the time commitment is much lower in comparison to other traditional tests.
• Flexibility– Flexibility is yet another factor that differentiates this English test from the other ones. A Duolingo test can be taken anywhere, anytime. All you’ll need is a reliable internet connection and a computer with a webcam to take the exam.
• Mock Tests– This test also offers the option of attempting multiple mock tests before taking the actual test which gives students all the relevant knowledge regarding the final test. 

Duolingo English Test Exam Pattern 2024

The test offered by Duolingo is adaptive test. It is designed to measure different aspects of the language such as English reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Some of the common types of questions asked in a Duolingo English Test are:

• Completing missing letters from the section of a text
• Finding out real English words from the fake ones
• Typing the statement that the candidates hear
• Describing an image

After this, the candidates are required to take a video interview wherein they can speak on any one of the two topics and the same process happens with writing as well. The results are provided within a day or two after the test is conducted. The score range of the DET exam lies between 0 to 160. Schools accepting Duolingo scores benefit from a much larger applicant pool, providing them with a comprehensive approach to evaluate students by going through their video interviews, written samples and their scores.

Duolingo English Test Syllabus

One of the main reasons students today choose to take the Duolingo English Test is due to its simple and straightforward exam syllabus. The syllabus is simple to follow and prepare for. 

The DET syllabus is designed to assess your command of the English language as well as your ability to answer difficult questions. 

Your overall performance in the DET exam is discerned by the AI algorithm of the test that evaluates your scores based on certain criteria. These criteria, or ‘sub-scores’ in the context of the DET exam, reflect your ability to naturally use the language. You can work on these aspects to improve your overall grasp on the English language. The Duolingo Exam Syllabus evaluates your overall performance on the basis of the following sub-scores: 

Sub-Score	Detail
Production	This section of the exam requires individuals to convey their feelings and ideas eloquently through writing and speaking.
Literacy	This section evaluates your reading and writing skills in the English language.
Conversation	This section analyzes your prowess in English listening and speaking.
Comprehension	This section evaluates your proficiency in English reading and listening skills.

Duolingo Exam Subject-Wise Exam Syllabus

The Duolingo English Test syllabus is divided into two major sections, namely the Adaptive test section and the Writing/Speaking Section. 

Duolingo Exam Syllabus for Adaptive Test

There is no set syllabus for the Adaptive section. However, certain types of questions are frequently asked in the Adaptive Section of the DET exam. Refer to the following table to go through the types of questions asked in the DET Adaptive section. 

Question Type	Duration	Sub-Score	Frequency	Detail
Read and complete	3 Minutes	Literacy and Comprehension	6 times on average	Complete the missing letters in the given text.
Listen and speak	30 Sec- 1 Minute	Conversation and Production	2 times on average	Speaking on the given topic/audio.
Listen and select	1.5 Minutes	Comprehension and Conversation	6 times on average	Select the correct English words from the list after listening to the given audio clip.
Read aloud	20 Seconds	Comprehension and Conversation	6 times on average	Students are required to record themselves reading out loud.
Write about the photo	1- Minute	Production and Literacy	3 times on average	Describe the image through your writing.
Speak about the photo	30 Sec-1 Minute	Production and Conversation	1 time on average	Describe and speak about the given image.

Duolingo Exam Syllabus for Writing and Speaking

This section lasts for 10 minutes. In this section, students are required to show their proficiency in English writing and speaking. This section requires you to describe an image, situation or a topic for sometime. You will be given three to four minutes to complete the video-speaking task and five minutes for the writing task. 

Duolingo Registration Process 2024

The registration process for the Duolingo English Test is fairly simple. All students are required to create an account on the official website, provide simple details like confirmation of Email ID, Age and create a password. You can also register with a Google Account.

Once you have an account, you can purchase the test at $49 (INR 3,632.77) and you have 21 days to take the exam. You can also take a practice test for 15 mins before taking your test.

Duolingo Eligibility Criteria

Duolingo English Test is open to all candidates. The only eligibility criteria are that candidates are required to provide a government-approved ID, passport, and a valid email address and must possess a functioning laptop with a microphone to appear for the exam. There are no age or region restrictions for giving the test. You can take the exam from anywhere in the world.

Understanding Duolingo Scores

The Duolingo English Test scores are accepted in various top universities. Check out the comparison between Duolingo English Test with IELTS, and TOEFL that will help you to decide the right exam you must take according to the requirement.

Duolingo English Test Score Comparison with Other Tests

Here is a comparison of test scores that will give you an overview of the other tests in comparison to Duolingo

Duolingo Scores	IELTS Scores	Duolingo Scores	TOEFL Scores
10	1.5	10-25	0
15	2	30	1
20-25	2.5	35	2-4
30-40	3	40	5-8
45-50	3.5	45	9-13
55-60	4	50	14-19
65-70	4.5	55	20-25
75-80	5	60	26-31
85-90	5.5	65	32-37
95-100	6	70	38-43
105-110	6.5	75	44-49
115-120	7	80	50-55
125-130	7.5	85	56-61
135-140	8	90	62-67
145-150	8.5	95	68-73
155-160	9	100	74-79
–	–	105	80-85
–	–	110	86-91
–	–	115	92-96
–	–	120	97-102
–	–	125	103-107
–	–	130	108-112
–	–	135	113-115
–	–	140	116-118
–	–	145	119
–	–	150-160	120

Duolingo Result 2024

Candidate will get the Duolingo Test results within 48 hours or 2 days after the completion of the test. After receiving the result one can share it with universities applied to study abroad.

Best Tips to Ace Your Duolingo English Test

Students taking the Duolingo English Test for the first time may find the exam challenging. This is why students must give their all in the exam preparation. We’ve curated and shortlisted some of the best DET preparation tips and tricks for you to help you breeze through your exam prep and boost your overall DET scores.  

Be Familiar with the Test Pattern 

Being familiar with the DET test pattern will help you comprehend the exam’s criteria and what you need to do to score higher. This will also help you understand the types of questions that may be asked throughout the exam, the amount of time you must devote to each question, and the level of difficulty you may expect when tackling each part. 

Solve Sample Papers

Solving sample papers will not only enhance your understanding of the exam but will also help you improve your overall speed and accuracy. The more you solve DET sample papers, the better you will be at attempting challenging questions. Doing so will even give you an idea regarding the question types and their difficulty levels. 

Read More

You must read as many English books as possible. This will not only enhance your general vocabulary but also widen your grasp of the language. Aside from that, reading more will help you comprehend the context in which specific terms are used. You will be able to grasp the meaning of those terms much more this way. Another strategy to improve your overall English is to engage in everyday conversations with people who speak English. The more you converse in English, the better you will become at grasping the language’s intricacies. 

Work on Your Grammar

You must work on your grammar to improve your DET scores. You can use grammar books to study and revise the fundamental grammatical principles. This will not only improve your grammar but will also help you understand its correct implementation. Apart from grammar books, you can use internet resources or linguistic apps to improve your grammar. 

Best Preparation Books for the Duolingo English Test in 2024

Applicants need to refer to the best available books for DET preparation. It should be noted that when purchasing the best books for DET preparation, you should bear in mind that the books are updated according to the latest curriculum and pattern, the books contain the most up-to-date information, the books are authored by prominent authors, and comprise plenty of sample papers for you to solve. To help clear your confusion, we have curated some of the best books that you can purchase to ace your DET exam.

Here are some of the best books for DET Exam preparation. 

Name of the Book	Author/Publisher	Price	Purchase Link
Oxford English Grammar Course Intermedia	Walter Swan	INR 790	Click Here to Buy
Oxford Practical English Usage	Michael Swan	INR 495	Click Here to Buy
A Complete Book OF READING COMPREHENSION	Adda 24/7	INR 409	Click Here to Buy
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis	INR 84	Click Here to Buy

Duolingo Test Score: What is a Good DET Score? 

The DET exam has a score range of 0-160. A score of 110 is considered good and can even help with admission to some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Refer to the table below to understand the relationship between DET results and levels of English proficiency. 

Students can respond by analysing the topics provided.	DET Score	Analysis
Basic	10-55	Students can comprehend the basics of the English language.
Intermediate	60-85	Students have an intermediate level of understanding of the English language.
Upper-Intermediate	90-115	Students are able to respond by analysing the topics provided.
Advanced	125-160	Students have a strong grasp of the English Language.

Top Countries Where Duolingo Scores are Accepted 

The DET is an online English Proficiency Test that is used to assess an individual’s general competency and grasp of the English language. The test has gained popularity among students worldwide due to its affordability and convenience. Most of the major countries have begun to recognise and accept Duolingo scores over time.

 Today, more than 3,000 universities around the world offer admission to students based on their Duolingo results. Some of the major countries where Duolingo scores are accepted are the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and so on.  Refer to the data given below to go through the top universities accepting Duolingo scores. 

Duolingo Accepted Universities in the USA

Refer to the table below to go through universities accepting Duolingo scores in the USA. 

Name of University	Minimum Duolingo Score
University of Utah	105
Baylor University	125
University of Cincinnati	105
Arizona State University	105
Colorado State University	110
Oregon State University	110

Duolingo Accepted Universities in the UK

Refer to the table below to go through universities accepting Duolingo scores in the UK. 

Name of University	Minimum Duolingo Score
Cardiff University	110-140
King’s College London	115
University of Aberdeen	105
University of Bath	120
University of Dundee	105
University of Glasgow	105

Duolingo Accepted Universities in Australia 

 Refer to the table below to go through universities accepting Duolingo scores in Australia. 

Name of University	Minimum Duolingo Score
Adelaide Institute of Higher Education	95
Flinders University	95-100
Kaplan Business School	100
Carnegie Mellon University	125
Australian National University	110
JMC Academy	96-100

Duolingo Accepted Universities in Canada

 Refer to the table below to go through universities accepting Duolingo scores in Canada. 

Name of University	Minimum Duolingo Score
University of Alberta	115-125
University of Toronto	120
Mc Master University	75-115
Simon Fraser University	125
Queens University	110-115
University of Waterloo	120-125

Duolingo Accepted Universities in Europe

Here are some of the best universities in Europe that accept Duolingo Scores.

• European Leadership University, Cyprus
• Central European University – Graduate Admissions, Hungary
• University of Applied Sciences, Europe
• European Leadership University, Netherlands

Authenticity Concerns 

Given the remote nature of the test, it raises many questions regarding the authenticity of the scores as there is a lot of scope for students to cheat in this exam. Although, this was a major limitation for the test in the beginning but now they have developed several solutions as a response. During the video interview, the candidate needs to verify their identity and these tests are also reviewed by actual human proctors. These tests use specialized softwares which tracks eye-movements of the candidate and indicates whether the candidate is using any unethical way of passing the exam. Thus, the Duolingo test tries its best to minimize the cheating during exams.

So that was all about the Duolingo English Test. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.

Related Blogs
A Guide to the Duolingo EnglishTest Scores	Updated List of Duolingo Test Centres in India	List of Top Countries Accepting Duolingo Scores
Duolingo Exam Rules: New Policies and Requirements	Duolingo Writing Topics: Question Types, Common …	Breaking Down the Sections in Duolingo English Test

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