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Duolingo English Test: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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In this article, we answer all of the most frequently asked questions about the Duolingo English Test.

Table of Contents

What is the Duolingo English Test?

The Duolingo English Test is a test of English proficiency used mainly in university admissions. It is better than other tests because it is cheaper and more convenient. It takes just 1 hour and you can do it from home.

Is the Duolingo English Test free?

No. However, it is much cheaper than other English proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS.

How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?

It costs $65 USD for one test or $110 USD for two ($55 USD each).

Again, this is much cheaper than other tests like TOEFL and IELTS.

What do I need for the Duolingo English Test?

You need:

  1. A quiet room where you can be alone for the duration of the test (1 hour)
  2. A laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone
  3. A stable internet connection
  4. A government-issued ID that Duolingo accepts

How can I get a coupon code for the Duolingo English Test?

Coupon codes are given out by institutions who accept the DET, not Duolingo. Coupon codes are intended to help students who cannot afford to pay for the test.

If you think you could qualify for a coupon, check with the schools you are applying to.

How much does it cost to send my results to schools?

Nothing! Unlike TOEFL and IELTS, you don’t have to pay to send your DET results to schools.

How long is the Duolingo English Test?

The test takes approximately 1 hour.

Can I use headphones on the test?

No. There can be nothing covering or in your ears during the test.

Given my score on the official practice test, what will be my score on the real test?

Duolingo provides an official practice test that you can take as many times as you like. It provides you with an estimated, overall score.

However, these estimated scores often have very large ranges. For example, it is not unusual for someone to receive an estimated score of 60 to 110!

From what we have seen, the estimated scores on the practice test are typically lower than what people get on the actual exam. So, we recommend that you take the average of the lower and higher bounds and use that as a safe estimate of your overall score.

For example, if you receive an estimated score of 60 to 110, the average of those numbers is 85. If you take the test, it is more likely that you will score above 85 than below 85.

That said, the estimated scores simply aren’t an accurate indicator of how you will do on the actual test, so there is no way to know for certain if you will get the score you need before you take the DET.

How can I get my Duolingo English Test results?

Your test results are available digitally. You will receive an email when they are ready. You can access them in the your Duolingo account at englishtest.duolingo.com.

How long does it take to get my Duolingo English Test results?

You will get your results within 48 hours.

You can also pay $40 USD more to get your results within 12 hours.

What is a good score on the Duolingo English Test?

Different schools have different score requirements, so a “good” score depends on the school.

In 2023, the average score on the Duolingo English test was 108.

Moreover, 25% of test takers scored lower than 95 and 25% scored above 120.

👉 To learn more about average scores, check out: Explained: Duolingo English Test Scores

What is the highest score on the Duolingo English Test?

The highest score is 160 in theory. However, that score is impossible to get. Realistically, the highest score is 155.

What is the lowest score on the Duolingo English Test?

Theoretically, the lowest score is 0. However, in reality the lowest score is 60.

What is a passing score on the Duolingo English Test?

Each school can set their own minimum required score. In addition, many schools also have required minimums for each subscore.

You should look at the schools you are planning to apply to in order to determine what scores you need.

How do I cheat on the Duolingo English Test?

We have never encountered someone who successfully cheated on the DET. However, we have encountered many people who did not cheat but whose scores Duolingo did not certify and who were asked to retake the exam! This indicates that Duolingo wants to make sure that no one cheats.

While you take the test, Duolingo records you the entire time. Human proctors watch your session for any signs that you were cheating. Many, many people have to retake the test simply because they looked away from the screen too much.

If Duolingo finds clear evidence that you cheated, you will be banned for life!

How can I make sure that my results are certified?

There are 4 things that Duolingo recommends:

  1. Stay focused on your screen. If you look away too much, the human proctors may suspect you of cheating.
  2. Close all programs on your computer. Be sure to check for programs running quietly in the background.
  3. Make sure you are alone in the room when you take the test. Even if someone is just walking by, that is not allowed.
  4. Do not memorize answers. Your answers need to be generated during the test, so they need to sound natural, not like you memorized them ahead of time.

Can I use Grammarly on the Duolingo English Test?

No. You cannot have any other programs running while you take the test.

Where can I find Duolingo English Test practice materials?

We recommend Arno. We not only give you unlimited practices. We use AI to give you instant scores as well as feedback on your grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.

In addition, on our blog, we have tons of great articles about every aspect of the DET. Some popular ones are Duolingo English Test Ultimate Guide and 8 Ways to Improve Your Production Score on Duolingo English Test.

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Which colleges and universities accept the Duolingo English Test?

As of July 2023, 4591 schools and universities accept the DET.

This number is growing quickly. Just 2 years ago, only 3,000 schools accepted it. Duolingo is also investing heavily to grow this number. If a university doesn’t accept the DET now, check back later because it very well may have been added in that time.

Is the Duolingo English Test hard?

The DET is harder for some people but easier for other people.

Duolingo compared the DET scores of a few thousand people to their scores on TOEFL and IELTS. They found that some people did better on the DET while some people did better on other tests. Unfortunately, their research did not look at why people did better or worse on the different tests.

What is certain is that the DET is easier than other tests in the sense that it is shorter (just 1 hour) and more convenient (you can do it from home).

A unique aspect of the DET is that it is “adaptive.” This means that the difficulty of the questions adjusts to you: If you get questions correct, the next questions will be more difficult. So, if the DET feels hard to you, this may be a good sign!

How many times can I take the Duolingo English Test?

You can take up to 3 tests every 30 days.

No one can see your results on a particular test unless you share the results with them. If you only share your best results, no one will know if you took the test multiple times.

Can I retake the Duolingo English Test for free?

Sometimes.

If something disrupted your testing session, like an internet outage, you will be allowed to retake the test for free within a certain amount of time.

Or if Duolingo cannot certify your results because they cannot be certain that you did not cheat, you will be allowed to retake the exam.

However, if Duolingo finds clear evidence that you cheated you will never be allowed to take the DET again.

Can I get a refund for the Duolingo English Test?

Yes, but only in certain cases.

If there was an issue with the test, like it stopped working, you can request a refund. You have to do so within 24 hours of the issue occurring.

In addition, if Duolingo takes too long to return your test results, you may also qualify for a refund.

How can I get a high score on the Duolingo English Test?

There are many ways to prepare for the DET and increase your score. If you have taken the test, you should focus on raising your lowest subscore. If you haven’t taken the test, you should focus on your Production subscore, since this is the lowest subscore on average.

In addition, you should become familiar with the key parts of the test by reading our guide: Duolingo English Test Ultimate Guide.

You should then practice the questions that count toward your lowest subscore. With Arno, you can practice every question type on the DET and get instant scoring and feedback! 🥳

Just click below and get started practicing in 5 seconds.

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