Duolingo English Test · Guide
Duolingo English Test (DET) 2026: Format, Question Types and Scoring
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a 1-hour English exam you take online at home, with no appointment. It is computer-adaptive, scored from 10 to 160, and results come in 2 days. Below: what it costs, how the test is built, all 13 current question types, how scoring works, and how to practice for free.
Facts from Duolingo's own pages, its 2026 Question Guide and help center, read 3 October 2026. LingoLeap is not affiliated with Duolingo, and our AI-graded practice is for TOEFL and IELTS — for the DET, use the official free practice test.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
It is an English proficiency test from Duolingo, used mainly for university admission. You take it on your own computer with a camera, microphone and speakers, and you use your phone camera to record your computer during the test. According to Duolingo, the DET is "trusted by 6,500+ institutions worldwide" (DET).
Cost
$70 according to Duolingo's 2026 Question Guide (PDF). The price is shown at checkout in your account — confirm it there.
Length
About 1 hour: 5 min setup and ID check, 45 min scored assessment, 10 min writing and speaking samples (DET).
Results
In 2 days, scored 10–160 with four skill subscores.
Validity
Two years (help center).
Attempts
One credit gives you up to three attempts to complete and upload the test (help center).
Where
At home, any time — no test center or appointment.
Duolingo English Test format: adaptive, in three parts
The DET is computer-adaptive: the difficulty of some questions changes with your answers, and the number of questions varies with how confident the scoring engine is in your level. Questions come from a very large pool, so repeat test takers are unlikely to see the same item twice (help center).
- Introduction and onboarding. Check your camera, speakers and microphone, submit a government-issued photo ID, set up your phone to record your computer and review the rules.
- Adaptive test. The mix of short reading, listening, writing and speaking questions below.
- Writing and Speaking. Longer responses, ending with the Writing Sample and Speaking Sample that institutions receive with your result.
All 13 Duolingo English Test question types
In the order they appear, with counts from the help center and timing from the 2026 Question Guide:
| Question type | What you do | Number | Time | Subscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read and Select | Decide whether a word on screen is a real English word or a convincing fake. | 15–18 | 5 seconds each | Reading |
| Fill in the Blanks | Finish one word in a sentence when only its first half is shown. | 6–9 | 20 seconds each | Reading |
| Read and Complete | Type the missing endings of several words in a short paragraph ("complete the words"). | 3–6 | 3 minutes each | Reading |
| Listen and Type | Type the exact sentence you hear; you can play it up to three times. | 6–9 | 1 minute each | Listening |
| Interactive Reading | Six questions on one passage: Complete the Sentences, Complete the Passage, Highlight the Answer (twice), Identify the Idea, Title the Passage. | 2 sets of 6 questions | 7 or 8 minutes per passage | Reading |
| Interactive Listening | Listen to a campus situation, fill in missing words, choose replies in a conversation, then write a short summary. | 2 sets | 6 min 30 s shared, then 75 s | Listening (+ Writing) |
| Write About the Photo | Describe a photo in writing. | 3 | 1 minute each | Writing |
| Interactive Writing | Answer a question, then a follow-up that asks about a new angle of the same topic. | 1 (2 parts) | 30 s prep, 5 min + 3 min | Writing |
| Speak About the Photo | Describe a photo out loud. | 1 | 20 s prep, 90 s | Speaking |
| Read, Then Speak | Answer a written question about your experience or opinion. | 1 | 20 s prep, 90 s | Speaking |
| Interactive Speaking | A short spoken conversation on two topics with a Duolingo character; questions adapt to your answers. | 6–8 questions | 35 s per answer | Speaking |
| Writing Sample | Write about an experience or opinion; the text goes to the schools you send results to. | 1 | 30 s prep, 5 min | Writing |
| Speaking Sample | Speak about an experience or opinion; a video of the answer goes to schools. | 1 | 30 s prep, 3 min | Speaking |
Sources: DET help center: Test Structure, DET Question Guide (2026). Older prep books and videos also describe Read Aloud, Read Then Write and Listen Then Speak. None of these is in Duolingo's current question list, which has Interactive Writing and Interactive Speaking instead — so practice with up-to-date material.
How the Duolingo English Test is scored
- Scale: every score — overall and subscores — runs from 10 to 160 (DET scoring).
- Four individual subscores: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. The overall score is their average; if it falls between two scores it is rounded up to the next score ending in 0 or 5 (Question Guide).
- Four integrated subscores: Production, Literacy, Comprehension and Conversation, each the average of two individual subscores.
- No fixed weighting: question types do not carry a fixed percentage of the score, and because the test adapts, your score is not just the number of correct answers.
- Writing and speaking criteria: written answers are judged on content, discourse coherence, grammar and lexis; spoken answers add fluency and pronunciation.
Duolingo publishes its own comparison of DET scores with CEFR levels, IELTS bands and TOEFL iBT scores on the scoring page. For TOEFL and IELTS conversions, see our TOEFL to IELTS score conversion.
Duolingo English Test vs IELTS vs TOEFL
| Duolingo English Test | TOEFL iBT (2026) | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | About 1 hour | About 2 hours (adaptive) | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Where | Online at home, no appointment | Test center or Home Edition | Test center (computer), or IELTS Online for Academic in some countries |
| Speaking | Recorded on the computer | Recorded on the computer | Face-to-face interview with an examiner |
| Score scale | 10–160 (steps of 5) | 1–6 in half bands (since 21 Jan 2026) | Bands 0–9 in half bands |
| Results | 2 days | About 3 days | Usually 1–2 days on computer |
| Validity | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years recommended |
| Acceptance (official claim) | 6,500+ institutions | Over 13,000 institutions in 160+ countries | Universities, employers and immigration authorities worldwide |
The DET is the shortest and most flexible of the three; the trade-off is acceptance: not every program accepts it, and visa rules are separate from admissions, so check both before you book. Fees: TOEFL by country · IELTS by country. Full comparison with sources: TOEFL vs IELTS (with a DET section).
Who accepts the Duolingo English Test?
Duolingo's figure is 6,500+ institutions, and its test-taker site links to a list of accepting institutions (DET). Treat that list as a starting point: always confirm on each program's admissions page, which may set a DET minimum, per-skill minimums, or not accept the DET at all.
How to prepare: practice tests, the "DET book" and a plan
- Take the official free practice test first. It takes about 45 minutes, uses the same question types and adaptive format, can be repeated as often as you like, and ends with an estimated score range. You need a free account (help center; start the practice test).
- Read the official guides instead of buying a book. Duolingo's free Question Guide (2026) explains every question type with timing and tips, and the DET Handbook adds strategies. The guide also points to free Practice Questions volumes with paper-based questions, audio and answers.
- Drill the short, fast items. Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Read and Complete and Listen and Type reward spelling and vocabulary under time pressure — see our fill-in-the-blanks practice and listening exercises.
- Rehearse speaking out loud with a timer. Use our DET speaking topics — 30 original prompts with timings.
- Retake the practice test after a week or two of targeted work and compare the score range with your programs' minimums.
Need TOEFL or IELTS instead?
If a program on your list does not take the DET, LingoLeap's AI-graded practice covers TOEFL and IELTS: timed tests with instant feedback on Speaking and Writing. Not sure which test? Read TOEFL vs IELTS.
FAQ
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online, computer-adaptive English proficiency test you take at home with no appointment. It measures reading, listening, writing and speaking, takes about 1 hour, is scored 10–160, and results arrive in 2 days. Universities use it for admission as an alternative to TOEFL or IELTS.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?
Duolingo's 2026 Question Guide says the test costs $70. The price is shown when you buy a test in your DET account, so confirm it at checkout; one purchase gives one credit with up to three attempts to complete and upload the test.
How long is the Duolingo English Test?
About 1 hour: roughly 5 minutes of setup and ID verification, 45 minutes of scored, adaptive questions, and 10 minutes for the Writing Sample and Speaking Sample. Because the test is adaptive, the number of questions varies.
Is there a free Duolingo English Test practice test?
Yes. Duolingo offers a free practice test of about 45 minutes with the same question types and adaptive format. You need a free account, you can take it as many times as you like, and you get an estimated score range at the end.
How long are Duolingo English Test results valid?
Two years. After that you can no longer share the result.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted instead of IELTS or TOEFL?
By many institutions — Duolingo says 6,500+ — but not all. Check each program's English requirement page; some list only TOEFL and IELTS, or set a different minimum for each test.
Does LingoLeap have Duolingo English Test practice?
LingoLeap's AI-graded practice is built for TOEFL and IELTS, not the DET. The guides here explain the DET with original practice items; for scored DET practice, use Duolingo's official free practice test.
Sources
- Duolingo English Test: test takers overview
- Duolingo English Test: understand scoring
- DET Question Guide (2026), PDF
- The DET Handbook, PDF
- DET help center: Test Structure
- DET help center: the practice test
- DET help center: how long results are valid
- DET help center: test credits and attempts
Read 3 October 2026. TOEFL and IELTS facts come from our TOEFL vs IELTS guide, which cites ETS and IELTS.