Guide
Duolingo English Test: Cost, Format & Comparison
Last updated: September 2026
The Duolingo English Test is a roughly one-hour, adaptive English proficiency test taken online from home, with results typically back within a couple of days. It's accepted by a growing number of UK and Canadian universities, but not all of them — always confirm your target university's current policy before you register.
Format
The test is adaptive — the difficulty of later questions adjusts based on how you answer earlier ones — and covers reading, listening, writing, and speaking in one continuous online session, proctored remotely via webcam rather than in a physical test centre.
Cost and timing
The exact fee is set by Duolingo and has changed more than once, so check the current price on the official Duolingo English Test site rather than an older figure. The test itself is shorter than a traditional in-person test, and you can take it on your own schedule rather than booking a test centre slot in advance.
How it compares to IELTS
Duolingo scores and IELTS bands aren't directly interchangeable, but public concordance research gives a rough equivalence — see the full IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo conversion chart, which is the same table AdmitPath uses internally to compare your score against a university's published IELTS minimum.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Duolingo English Test?
An online, adaptive English proficiency test taken from home rather than a test centre, accepted by a growing number of UK and Canadian universities as an alternative to IELTS or TOEFL. It's shorter than most traditional tests and results are typically available within a couple of days.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?
Pricing is set by Duolingo and has changed more than once — check the current fee on the official Duolingo English Test website rather than relying on a number from a third-party source, including this one.
How long does the Duolingo English Test take?
The test itself typically runs about an hour, shorter than a traditional in-person test like IELTS or TOEFL, and can be taken on your own computer at a time that suits you rather than a scheduled test centre slot.
Do all UK and Canadian universities accept the Duolingo English Test?
No — acceptance varies by university and sometimes by specific programme. Always confirm your target university's current accepted-test list before registering, since this changes as institutions update their policies.
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