Duolingo English Test: Scores, Fee and Where It Is Accepted
TL;DR: The Duolingo English Test is a one-hour online English test you take at home, scored from 10 to 160, costing US$70 and returning results within two days. Many UK and New Zealand universities accept it for admission, but it is not a UK visa test (SELT) and it is not accepted for the Australian Student visa, so check your destination before you book.
The Duolingo English Test looks like the easy option: no test centre, no booking queue, results in two days. For the right student it is exactly that. For the wrong destination it is a wasted test fee and a lost month. Check your eligibility with Prosper if you want a second pair of eyes on which test fits your plan.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a computer-adaptive English test taken online on your own computer. According to Duolingo's 2026 Official Guide for Test Takers, it takes about one hour: around five minutes of setup, about 45 minutes of adaptive questions, and about ten minutes for a Writing Sample and a Speaking Sample.
The questions get harder or easier based on your answers. You will see tasks such as Read and Select, Fill in the Blanks, Listen and Type, Interactive Reading, Interactive Listening, Write About the Photo and Speak About the Photo.
Duolingo English Test scores and IELTS equivalents
You get one overall score from 10 to 160, in five-point steps, plus subscores for speaking, writing, reading and listening. Results arrive within 48 hours, and a certified score stays valid for two years. Duolingo's own scoring guide maps its scores to IELTS like this:
| Duolingo score | IELTS band |
|---|---|
| 160 | 8.5 to 9 |
| 140 to 145 | 7.5 |
| 130 to 135 | 7 |
| 120 to 125 | 6.5 |
| 105 to 115 | 6 |
| 95 to 100 | 5.5 |
This table is a guide, not a promise. Each university sets its own Duolingo minimum, and some set a minimum for every subscore too.
Duolingo English Test fee and what it includes
The test costs US$70. Sending your score to universities is included, and you can send it to as many institutions as you like at no extra cost. You can buy up to three tests in any 30-day period, and each test must be started within 21 days of purchase.
Which universities and visas accept the Duolingo English Test?
This is the question that decides whether the test is right for you. The answer changes by country.
| Destination | University admission | Student visa |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Accepted by many universities for degree-level study | Not a Secure English Language Test (SELT). For degree-level courses the university can assess your English itself |
| New Zealand | Accepted by many universities | English test results are not mandatory for the Fee Paying Student Visa; your offer must confirm your English is enough for the course (see New Zealand English language requirements) |
| Australia | Not accepted at the universities checked, including RMIT University | Not on the Home Affairs list of accepted tests, and at-home tests are not accepted |
UK universities that accept Duolingo
GOV.UK confirms that for courses at degree level or above, a higher education provider can assess your English itself, as long as the level is equivalent to CEFR B2. That is why many universities accept Duolingo even though it is not a SELT. Two examples Prosper can apply to for you:
- University of Hertfordshire: 105 for undergraduate and 120 for postgraduate, with no subscore below 95. Duolingo is not accepted for its pre-sessional English route.
- University of Portsmouth: accepts Duolingo but does not publish a minimum score, so confirm the score for your course before you book.
New Zealand universities that accept Duolingo
- Massey University: 105 for undergraduate (no subscore below 95) and 120 for postgraduate (no subscore below 105).
- University of Waikato: the same 105 and 120 minimums, but Duolingo is not accepted for some programmes, including law, nursing and teacher education.
Why Australia is different
The Australian Department of Home Affairs lists the tests it accepts for visas: C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS, LanguageCert Academic, MET, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. Duolingo is not on the list, and online or at-home tests are not accepted. RMIT University, for example, states that it does not accept at-home or online tests for international students. If Australia is your plan, book IELTS or PTE instead. Our guide to Australian student visa English requirements explains the scores.
Test-day rules that catch students out
Duolingo's guide sets strict conditions, and breaking them can cancel your result without a refund:
- A computer with a camera at the top centre of the screen, a microphone and speakers.
- A charged phone used as a second camera for ID checks and room scans.
- Internet of at least 2 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. Wired is recommended; hotspots are not.
- A physical government-issued photo ID. Copies and photos are not accepted.
- A quiet, private, well-lit room where nobody enters, with no headphones, notes or extra screens.
Applying from Sri Lanka
You can take the Duolingo English Test from home anywhere in Sri Lanka, which saves a trip to a Colombo test centre. Plan for two practical risks: a power cut or a dropped connection during the test. Use a wired connection where you can, keep your laptop plugged in, and hold your passport ready as photo ID.
If your shortlist includes Australia, or a UK course that needs a UKVI test, Duolingo will not cover it. Our guides to the PTE exam and IELTS in Sri Lanka cover the test centres and fees, and PTE vs IELTS helps you choose between them.
FAQ
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for a UK student visa? Duolingo is not a UK Secure English Language Test. For degree-level study, your UK university can assess your English itself and may accept a Duolingo score, which then supports your visa through your CAS.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted in Australia? No. The Department of Home Affairs does not list the Duolingo English Test for visa purposes, and it does not accept at-home tests. Students heading to Australia need a listed test such as IELTS or PTE Academic.
What Duolingo score equals IELTS 6.5? Duolingo's own scoring guide places 120 to 125 alongside IELTS 6.5. Each university sets its own minimum, so check the course page before you book.
How long is a Duolingo English Test score valid? A certified Duolingo English Test score is valid for two years from the test date.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost? The test costs US$70, and sending your score to universities is included at no extra cost.
PS: Choosing the right English test before you book saves money and weeks of waiting. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will match your test to your shortlist.
References
- Official Guide for Test Takers 2026, Duolingo English Test, https://englishtest-static.duolingo.com/media/resources/test-taker-guide/DET%20Guide%20EN.pdf (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Scoring Guide for Teachers 2026, Duolingo English Test, https://englishtest-static.duolingo.com/media/resources/DET_Scoring%20Guide%20for%20Teachers%20(2026).pdf (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Duolingo English Test readiness, Duolingo English Test blog, https://blog.englishtest.duolingo.com/duolingo-english-test-readiness/ (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Prove your English language abilities with a SELT, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Student visa: knowledge of English, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english (accessed 01/11/2026)
- English language requirements, Department of Home Affairs, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Fee Paying Student Visa, Immigration New Zealand, https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/fee-paying-student-visa/ (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Application requirements, University of Hertfordshire, https://www.herts.ac.uk/international/apply/application-requirements (accessed 01/11/2026)
- English language requirements, University of Portsmouth, https://www.port.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-language-requirements (accessed 01/11/2026)
- Entry requirements for international students, Massey University, https://www.massey.ac.nz/study/entry-requirements-to-study-at-massey/entry-requirements-for-international-students/ (accessed 01/11/2026)
- English language requirements, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/admission/english-language-requirements/ (accessed 01/11/2026)
- English language proficiency tests, RMIT University, https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/international-students/apply-to-rmit-international-students/entry-requirements/english-requirements/english-language-proficiency-tests (accessed 01/11/2026)
