You must have heard of TOEFL and IELTS. These tests are expensive, long and hard. Have you wished for a simpler alternative?
Read this article to learn about DET. DET stands for the Duolingo English Test. This English proficiency test is relatively new and universities only started accepting its scores in 2021.
You can take the Duolingo English Test as a backup test if you are not confident about scoring well on TOEFL and IELTS. Or, if you are applying to Duolingo-accepting UK universities, you don’t have to put yourself through TOEFL or IELTS for admissions at all. However, remember you will still need IELTS UKVI or PTE UKVI for your visa.
| Feature | TOEFL (2026) | IELTS | DET |
| Score | 0-120 (new scale: 0-24 per section) | 1-9 bands | 10-160 |
| Desired score | 80-90 | 7.0 or above for top universities | 110-130 for most UK universities |
| Duration | Approximately 2 hours (new Jan 2026 format, was 3 hrs 45 min) | 2 hours 45 minutes | 45 min adaptive + 10 min interview |
| Medium | Online at authorized centers | Computer or paper at centers | Online, from home |
| Frequency | More than 50 times/year | 365 days (computer); 48 fixed dates (paper) | 365 days, 24/7 |
| Validity | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Fee (India 2026) | Approximately Rs. 18,000 | ||
| UK Student Visa | Accepted (British Council centers) | Accepted (UKVI version required) |
Also Read: Duolingo English Test: Complete Guide 2026
Duolingo test pattern: The basics
The test remains the same, whether you want to use the score to apply to a Duolingo-accepting UK university, or any other university.
As per the Duolingo test pattern, there are two sections:
- The adaptive exam (45 minutes, graded)
- Video interview (10 minutes, ungraded)
The exam takes 60 minutes in total. There is a five-minute introduction that walks candidates through the rapid setup of the test and explains its guidelines.
Like IELTS and TOEFL, the Duolingo English Test evaluates your proficiency in all areas, including Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
The Adaptive Exam
This section will focus on your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. This graded part lasts 45 minutes.
In this one segment, all question types are mixed and are distributed at random throughout the exam.
Important things to keep in mind:
- The DET can be taken multiple times. However, don’t expect to see the same question again. Duolingo claims that ‘one in a thousand tests will see a question repeated’, ensuring each candidate has a unique experience.
- The difficulty of the questions changes dynamically in the section.
- Since there are no separate sections, a reading question might follow a writing one. Hence, you have to plan your time accordingly.
- There is no set number of questions.
- The test will automatically end when 160 marks worth of questions have been asked.
Video Interview
The second part of the Duolingo test pattern is the video interview. You will have to write down your responses to prompted open-ended questions. You may be asked to describe a situation or a picture, or you may be given the opportunity to select a topic and talk for a short period of time.
Guidelines for the video interview:
- Make sure to be in the video frame.
- Check if your camera and microphone are working well.
- You should be audible.
- Remove any distractions from the background.
One of the biggest advantages of taking the DET is that you get your results within 48 hours of completing the test and you can share it with your Duolingo-accepting UK university immediately.
How to undertake the Duolingo test?
To undertake the Duolingo test your computer must have:
- Windows or macOS
- A front-facing camera
- A microphone
- Speakers
You should also have:
- Your passport, driver’s license or government ID
- A quiet, well-lit room
- 60 minutes of free time
- A reliable internet connection
Note: You cannot take this test from your phone.
You can create an account on Duolingo English Test for free. Take the free practice test which is only 15 minutes. After this you can purchase the test at $70 and take it anytime in the next 21 days. Before you take the test, you have to fill out a short survey.
Also Read: Duolingo Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Format and Task Types
Understanding your test score as per the Duolingo test pattern
The four subscores are:
- Literacy: Ability to read and write
- Comprehension: Ability to listen and read
- Conversation: Ability to speak and listen
- Production: Ability to write and speak
Here is how scores in DET correlate to IELTS and TOEFL:
| DET | TOEFL | IELTS |
| 160 | 120 | 8.5-9 |
| 130 | 98-103 | 7.0 |
| 110 | 80-85 | 6.5 |
| 100 | 65-69 | 5.5 |
| 85 | 47-52 | 5.0 |
| 10-60 | 0-23 | 0-4 |
Also Read: Understanding Your Duolingo Score 2026: Results, Validity and Sending
UK universities that accept Duolingo English Test
Over 64 universities in the UK have accepted DET. Here is the list:
- University of Surrey – Undergraduate
- University of Roehampton – Undergraduate
- University of Stirling
- London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA)
- University of Westminster – Undergraduate Admissions
- University of Bath
- University of Lincoln – Pre-sessional, Undergraduate and Postgraduate
- Birmingham City University – Pre-Sessional English
- University of the West of Scotland – Undergraduate
- University of Chichester
- Sheffield Hallam University – Pre-sessional courses
- Plymouth College of Art
- Aston University – Undergraduate
- University of Huddersfield – China Campus – Undergraduate
- Glasgow Caledonian University – Undergraduate and Postgraduate
- University of Reading
- Imperial College London – Undergraduate
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – Undergraduate
- University of Kent – Undergraduate
- University of Exeter
- Buckinghamshire New University
- University of Leicester – Undergraduate
- Bangor University – Undergraduate
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
- New College of the Humanities, London
- University of Strathclyde – Undergraduate
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of South Wales – Undergraduate
- London South Bank University – Undergraduate
- Solent University Southampton – Undergraduate
- University of Portsmouth – Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Online Pre-Sessional
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University of Bristol – Undergraduate
- University of Sussex
- University of York
- University of Southampton – Undergraduate
- University of West London
- Cardiff Metropolitan University – Undergraduate
- Bath Spa University – Undergraduate and Postgraduate
- SOAS University of London
- University of Aberdeen
- Loughborough University – Undergraduate
- Royal Agricultural University
- University of The West of England, Bristol
- Brunel University London
- Birkbeck, University of London – Undergraduate and Postgraduate
- University of Warwick – Undergraduate
- University of East Anglia
- Leeds Beckett University
- And more – verify current list at englishtest.duolingo.com/partners
So many options! We know how puzzling it can be. If you are unsure about which of these Duolingo-accepting UK universities you should apply to, get expert help. Create an account at SelectRight – the AI algorithm will shortlist programs from 40,000+ options across 4,000+ universities based on your profile, budget, and career goals.
Which test should you take?
TOEFL, IELTS and DET are the three standard tests that most colleges should accept. By far, TOEFL and IELTS are the most widely accepted globally.
For UK specifically, the most practical approach for Indian students: Take IELTS Academic UKVI. It covers both your UK university admission (accepted by all UK universities) and your UK Student Visa in a single test. DET alone will not work, you will still need IELTS UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI for the visa.
We advise you to take all three or at least two different tests, if your finances allow. This will ensure that even if you do badly on one test, you have the scores from a backup test that can save you. You can take all these tests as many times as you want to achieve your dream score.
