Duolingo English Test (DET) 2026: Fees, Dates, Test Format & Results Explained

The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency exam that evaluates reading, writing, listening, and speaking in about 60 minutes. Developed by Duolingo and launched in 2016, it has become popular with Indian students for three reasons: cost (roughly one-third the price of IELTS or TOEFL), convenience (taken from home at any time, no test center booking), and speed (results in 48 hours, unlimited free score sending).

According to Duolingo's official data, India is the largest test-taking population globally as of 2025. Acceptance has expanded from around 3,000 institutions in 2022 to over 6,000 in late 2025. According to Times Higher Education, 95% of U.S. News Top 100 universities and 90% of Canada's top universities now accept DET for undergraduate admission.

Counselor insight: Many students assume DET is accepted everywhere because a few top universities list it. Acceptance varies by program level, department, and visa route. Always confirm on the specific program's admissions page before booking.

The DET fee was revised in February 2025 from $65 to $70. Here is the current fee structure, as of 2026:

Exchange rate used: Rs.92.84 per USD. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.

For students applying to 8 to 10 universities, DET's unlimited free score sending alone saves Rs.12,000 to Rs.15,000 compared to IELTS or TOEFL.

Counselor insight: The DET fee must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express (credit or debit card). UPI is not supported. If you do not have an international-enabled card, ask a parent or friend to help, or use a forex card. This situation catches many first-time Indian test-takers off guard.

For IELTS exam details and TOEFL exam details, refer to the linked pages for full breakdowns.

The Duolingo English Test is structured in three sections, all completed in approximately 60 minutes.

Section 1: Setup and Onboarding (5 minutes). Upload your government-issued ID, take a face photo, complete a 360-degree room scan, and set up your phone as a secondary camera.

Section 2: Adaptive Test (45 minutes). The scored section. Approximately 52 questions across 19 question types, adapting difficulty in real time. Key types include Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Listen and Type, Write About the Photo, Interactive Reading, Interactive Writing, and Interactive Speaking.

Section 3: Writing and Speaking Sample (10 minutes). Unscored, but sent to every university receiving your results. You write an essay (up to 5 minutes) and record a video response (up to 3 minutes).

What changed in July 2025: According to Duolingo, two question types were removed (Read Aloud and Listen, Then Speak) and replaced with Interactive Speaking: six conversational prompts with 35 seconds each. The Interactive Listening section added a "Listen and Complete" fill-in-the-blank task. The test now emphasizes real-time conversational English over rehearsed responses.

Counselor insight: The new Interactive Speaking format provides you zero preparation time. Practice responding to random prompts without pausing. Record yourself and review.

Explore the free Duolingo practice test on LeapScholar.

DET scores range from 10 to 160 in increments of 5. Since July 2024, the test reports 8 subscores: four individual (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) and four ingrated (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production). Your overall score is the average of the four individual subscores.

Updated conversion chart (important): In early 2025, Duolingo revised its comparison charts. According to Duolingo’s score comparison chart, DET 125 previously converted to IELTS 7.5. It now converts to approximately IELTS 6.5. Many universities may not have updated their requirements to reflect this. If a university lists "DET 120 or IELTS 7.0," there is a mismatch; please contact admissions for clarification.

Score benchmarks by program type:

The average DET score in 2024-2025 was approximately 110 to 112. If you have already taken the test, you can use our DET to IELTS calculator to find your equivalent band score. For a deeper breakdown, see Duolingo English Test scores explained.

Counselor insight: Production (Speaking + Writing) is consistently the lowest subscore for Indian test-takers. Some universities set minimum subscore thresholds, so a strong overall score with a weak production can still lead to rejection. Focus extra preparation on timed writing and impromptu speaking.

University admission and visa approval are two separate decisions. Confusing them is one of the most common mistakes Indian applicants make.

For university lists: DET accepted universities in USA, UK, Australia, Europe, and all countries.

Counselor insight: UK applicants frequently find themselves unprepared. A university may accept DET for admission, but UKVI requires a SELT for the student visa, and DET is not on that list. You may end up taking two tests. Factor these considerations into your budget and timeline.

Not every student benefits equally from DET. Here are four common profiles and honest recommendations for each.

Scenario 1: A final-year BTech student is targeting US MS programs on a tight budget. DET is an excellent fit. Nearly all US universities accept it, USCIS does not require a specific test, and score sending is free. Take the DET, aim for 120+, and allocate savings toward GRE or application fees.

Scenario 2: Applying to UK universities and needing a student visa. DET is a partial fit. Use it for fast admission offers (48-hour results), but you will still need IELTS UKVI for the visa. If the budget is very tight, take IELTS UKVI only since it covers both.

Scenario 3: Working professional with limited time for test centers. DET is ideal. Take it at 11 PM on a Saturday in your room. Sixty minutes, no travel, no weekday leave.

Scenario 4: A scholarship or program specifically requires IELTS. DET is not the right choice. If the listing says "IELTS 7.0 required" with no mention of DET, submitting a DET score will not fulfill that requirement.

Counselor insight: A practical strategy: take DET first (low cost, fast results). If the score is strong, use it for universities that accept it. If you also need IELTS for a visa or scholarship, book that separately. You get your admission offer in hand quickly and prepare for IELTS with less pressure.

Visit englishtest.duolingo.com, create a free account, click "Purchase a Test," select a single ($70 / Rs.6,499) or bundle ($118 / Rs.10,955 for two), and pay by card. You have 21 days to take the test.

Documents and Requirements Checklist for Indian Students:

Counselor insight: The secondary phone camera requirement was introduced in 2025 and is now standard. Make sure your phone is fully charged and propped at the right angle before starting. Many test invalidations happen because the phone camera slipped or ran out of battery mid-test.

Most Indian students applying for Fall 2027 intake will take DET between October 2026 and January 2027. Those targeting Spring 2027 should test between June and September 2026. Here is a week-by-week plan:

Mapping to the Indian academic calendar:

For detailed preparation strategies and daily drills, read how to prepare for the Duolingo English Test.

Counselor insight: Indian students who primarily type on their phones often struggle with the DET writing section, which requires typing on a laptop keyboard under time pressure. Spend at least 15 minutes daily in weeks 2 and 3 practicing typing on your laptop. Free typing practice tools like keybr.com can help you reach the 40 to 60 WPM range, which makes a real difference in timed writing tasks.

The DET's at-home format is convenient, but it comes with risks that test center exams do not have. Here are the most common problems and what to do about each.

"Your test could not be certified." Duolingo's proctoring flagged an issue, and you received no score. According to Duolingo's help centre, common reasons are another person visible, eyes frequently looking away, background app detected, microphone too low, glasses glare, or phone camera moved. You have 72 hours to appeal (one appeal only; decision within 4 business days, final).

Low subscore in Production. This situation is common for Indian test-takers. If your overall score meets the minimum but one subscore falls below a university's threshold, contact the admissions office directly. Some universities will still consider your application if the overall score is strong. Others will not. There is no way to retake only one section of DET.

Score conversion chart mismatch. As noted earlier, the 2025 chart revision means a DET 125 no longer equals IELTS 7.5. If a university's website lists an older equivalency, email admissions with a link to Duolingo's current score comparison page and ask which standard they follow.

The internet dropped during the test. If a technical error prevents your test from being uploaded, you may retake at no extra cost if you still have attempts remaining on your credit. If two tests on the same credit violate the rules, the credit will expire.

Counselor insight: The single most common reason Indian students' tests are not certified is a background application running without their knowledge. Before your test, restart your laptop. Close everything: browsers, chat apps, cloud sync tools, antivirus pop-ups. Check your system tray. If you wear glasses, test in advance whether your room lighting causes glare on your lenses through the webcam, and adjust accordingly.

1. Verify both university admission and visa acceptance before booking. DET is widely accepted for admissions in the US, Canada, and Ireland. It is not accepted for UK student visas or Australian immigration. Booking DET without checking your visa route first can cost you time and money.
   
    
2. The 2025 score conversion chart changed significantly. A DET score of 120 now converts to approximately IELTS 6.5, not 7.0, as older guides suggest. If your target university has not updated its equivalency table, contact admissions directly to confirm which standard applies.
   
    
3. Budget for two attempts and run a full tech check before your first sitting. The "not certified" issue is a real risk with at-home testing. Restart your laptop, close all background apps, test your webcam and phone setup, and choose a room where no one will walk in. Preparation for the test environment matters as much as preparation for the test content.

Verified by: LeapScholar's exam counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through English proficiency test selection, DET preparation, and university application requirements.

Have questions about the Duolingo English Test or need help choosing the right English proficiency exam? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.