DET (Duolingo English Test) is a standardized test of proficiency in English. It is the newest of the major English tests, and uses Artificial Intelligence to create questions that adapt to the level of the candidate. It is unique among other tests in that it provides detailed and actionable feedback to each candidate, ensuring that they can understand exactly where they are going wrong. The test fee is also significantly lower than the IELTS or TOEFL, allowing test takers to sign up for multiple attempts in an affordable manner.
DET is accepted by more than 4,000 educational institutions worldwide, including most of the top 500 Universities in the world by the QS 2023 rankings. The test is completely online, and the additional convenience led to its explosion in popularity during the pandemic. Results are available within two days of completion of the test.
| Exam Name | DET (Duolingo English Test) |
| Governing Organization | Duolingo |
| Official Website | https://englishtest.duolingo.com/test_takers |
| Registration Date | Throughout the year; test can be taken immediately |
| Registration Fee | $59 |
| Mode of Exam | Online; from home |
| Accepted in | 4,000 Colleges worldwide |
| Exam Frequency | Throughout the year |
| Exam Duration | ~1 hour |
| Total Questions | Not fixed (test ends once the AI Engine is confident of the score) |
Candidates can only register for DET online; the test cannot be taken offline, and neither can the registration process be completed in person or over the phone or mail.
Anyone can take the Duolingo English Test, irrespective of age, nationality, or gender. Test takers whose age is less than 13 will need to submit a soft copy of a letter of consent from a parent or guardian while registering for the test. All candidates can also Submit Results to their chosen universities, though in practice, only serious UG or PG program aspirants do this.
As compared to many other popular English standardized tests, the Duolingo English Test has a less rigid structure, as the adaptive Artificial Intelligence engine changes the number and types of questions based on the candidate’s performance in earlier questions.
| Skill (corresponding to subscore) | Explanation of Skill | |
| Literacy | Writing + Reading accurately without error | |
| Production | Speaking + Writing complex thoughts | |
| Comprehension | Reading + Listening long and short text passages | |
| Conversation | Listening + Speaking in Daily Life | |
| Overall Time: ~1 hour | Number of Questions: Variable | |
The four skills listed above can be tested via all questions in the test, and were chosen to model accurately how people use language in daily life.
Most conventional standardized English tests emphasize the importance of Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Reading. However, DET is different; it uses combined versions of these skills to create a new paradigm for success. All subscores are reported according to these parameters.
This real world skill measures the ability of a standardized English test taker to read short sentences, and process information to improve / complete the sentences. It encompasses many different language skills like knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and style. Most of the questions in the DET which test Literacy are short multiple choice assignments: sentence correction, completion, fill in the blanks, and paragraph rearrangement. To improve one’s literacy, a test taker must solve several practice questions from different tests relating to grammar and reading.
The Production skill is tested in the Duolingo English Test by giving the candidate several medium and long-form writing and speaking assignments. This is a challenging section, as the test taker is required to maintain coherence of thought while coming up with a complex argument, and translate the thought into a finished product in the form of a long essay or a short speech. Planning is the key success factor for this skill, and candidates are encouraged to make mental or physical notes so that they can create a rough version of their final report or spoken piece.
This is very similar to the Reading Comprehension section in other language tests like the TOEFL and IELTS. However, both reading and listening passage questions contribute to the Comprehension subscore in the DET. The main challenge is to identify the overall theme of the passage, while still maintaining a granular understanding of the facts communicated in the audio file or text passage, as many questions require candidates to make inferences based on separate details given to them during the course of the question. This is the skill that most candidates need improvement on; therefore, the majority of preparation time should be spent on questions of this type.
The Conversation skill tests the ability of a candidate to listen to other people in a dynamic conversation, and make real time adjustments to their flow of thought based on external inputs. Test takers are judged on their listening and speaking skills, and it is important to ensure that there is a logical connection among all statements made during this section. Most candidates prepare for this section by creating study groups with their friends who are also preparing for a similar test, and appointing a proctor within the group who can give feedback about whether they are ensuring that all members of the group have adequate time to speak, and if each speaker is able to make his/her points in a persuasive manner.
The Duolingo English Test Certificate is a secure document that is automatically generated when a candidate completes his/her DET test. Test Takers can choose to make it public; after this, the unique secure link can be sent to all the Universities / Businesses to which the candidate is applying. It contains the overall score and the subscores on each of the four main skills; therefore, admissions boards and HR teams can easily understand the structure of the test and its significance, even if they have no prior experience with admitting candidates based on DET scores.
The Duolingo English Test can be taken on demand, and can be attempted soon after registration, at any time of the year. This added convenience and the lower cost of the exam make it very popular with candidates who are looking to arrange for English standardized test scores at short notice to meet University application deadlines.
The DET cannot be taken in the offline mode; all test takers must attempt the examination online. Therefore, there is no dedicated test center, and all helplines are online as well. Candidates may take the exam from home, or any location where they have access to a webcam, microphone, high speed internet, and undisturbed access to a quiet room where no other people will be present for the duration of the test.
The fees for the Duolingo English Test are at least 50% lower than any other widely accepted English test. Through the Access program, students from underprivileged backgrounds are given fee waivers, with up to 10,000 students benefiting from free exams every year. Candidates may not apply directly to the Access Program; if a student is unable to pay the fee; he/she should contact the University in which he/she is interested, and the University authorities must apply for a full fee waiver. All other candidates must pay the full fee.
| Service | DET Exam Fees |
| Registration Fee | $59 |
| Free Test under the Access Fee Waiver Program | 0 |
| Registration Fee (per attempt; if two attempts are purchased together) | $49 |
| Fast Results | $40 |
The Duolingo English website has several free DET sample tests. Candidates may also purchase paid tests for additional practice. This is recommended if their score in the sample tests is consistently lower than 115, corresponding to a score below 6.0 on the IELTS scale, as most Universities require a higher score in order to secure admission to their undergraduate programs. The sample tests are powered by the same AI engine as the final examination, and candidates will be able to understand the interface and question formats. The expected score on the sample tests is available soon after completion, unlike the final examination, where results can take up to two days to be available.
The highest possible DET score is 160; this corresponds to a score of 120 on the TOEFL iBT, a band score of 8.5 to 9 on the IELTS, and a C2 level certificate on the CPE. At the other end of the scale, the lowest possible range of scores on the Duolingo English Test (10-60) corresponds to a TOEFL score of 0-23, an IELTS band score of 0-4, and A1 Level English proficiency on the Cambridge English scale.
After completing the Duolingo English Test, candidates can expect their final score reports within 48 hours. After this, they receive an email from Duolingo with a link to their DET certificate. Upon making this public, it can be shared with more than 4,000 Universities across the world which accept DET scores for admission. The fact that these certificates are secure and hosted upon the Duolingo website ensures that there can be no unfair means; all DET certificates are genuine.
Normally, the results of the DET are available 48 hours after the end of the test. However, the test is popular among those who have very little time left for submission of test scores, and some candidates often require their scores almost instantly. In such cases, the Fast Result add-on can be purchased; it gives candidates access to results within 12 hours of giving the exam. The level of evaluation is the same, and the final score will be the same as that in the normal turnaround time; candidates should not expect that their score will increase only because of the add-on.
Several human proctoring and Artificial Intelligence monitoring tools are set up to ensure that candidates cannot cheat during the DET. For example, if a candidate looks away from the screen several times in the same direction, the software will flag the suspicious activity as an attempt to break the rules. Similarly, if the test taker is impersonated or if other individuals are present in the test room, it is treated as a serious violation of the rules, and the attempt may be invalidated with no refund of registration fees. The webcam footage may be further examined at random during the 48 hour evaluation period; there is no scope for usage of unfair means.
Candidates must attempt the DET within three weeks of purchasing the test. If they purchase a bundle of two tests, the first attempt must be within 21 days of purchase date, and the second attempt must be within 21 days of the first attempt.
There are only two restrictions on the number of Duolingo English Test attempts. First, a candidate may not take the test in the 48 hour period when he/she is waiting for the results of a previous attempt. Second, no more than three attempts are allowed in a month. Therefore, a candidate may attempt the DET a maximum of 36 times per year.
