Duolingo English Test · Guides · November 5, 2026 · 6 min read
Duolingo English Test vs IELTS in 2026: which one should you take?
Take the Duolingo English Test (DET) if every university on your list accepts it and you do not need the result for a visa: it takes about an hour at home, costs $70 as of November 2026, and results arrive in two days. Take IELTS Academic if any part of your plan needs a test from a government-approved list (a UK visa route that requires a Secure English Language Test, Australian student visas, Canadian immigration), if a scholarship names IELTS, or if one of your target programs does not list the DET. When in doubt, the test that every one of your applications accepts wins over the test that is easier.
Facts below were checked on 5 November 2026 in Duolingo’s 2026 guides and help center, and on government and IELTS pages. Requirements change, so confirm on the admissions page of each program.
Side by side
| Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | at home, on your own Windows or Mac computer | at a test center (computer or paper); IELTS Online in some countries |
| Length | about 1 hour, including setup | 2 h 45 min, plus Speaking, which may be on another day |
| Booking | buy and take within 21 days, any time of day | fixed dates and times at a center |
| Tasks | 13 short question types, mixed; partly adaptive | four separate sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Speaking | recorded answers, including an adaptive conversation with an animated character | live interview with an examiner |
| Writing | short timed answers: photo descriptions, two linked prompts, a 5-minute sample | a chart or process report and an essay, 60 minutes |
| Scoring | 10–160 in steps of 5, scored by AI, reviewed by human proctors | 0–9 in half bands, Writing and Speaking marked by examiners |
| Results | within 2 days (12 hours with paid faster results) | computer test usually in 1–2 days; paper later |
| Price | $70 as of November 2026 | set by the local provider; check the price in your country |
| Validity | 2 years | usually treated as 2 years by institutions |
Score comparison
Duolingo’s Scoring Guide (2026) maps the two scales like this:
| IELTS | DET |
|---|---|
| 8 | 150–155 |
| 7.5 | 140–145 |
| 7 | 130–135 |
| 6.5 | 120–125 |
| 6 | 105–115 |
| 5.5 | 95–100 |
| 5 | 80–90 |
So a program that asks for IELTS 6.5 overall is, in DET terms, asking for about 120–125. If the program publishes its own DET minimum, use that instead of the table. The full table with CEFR and TOEFL is in Duolingo English Test scores.
Which is easier?
Neither test is “easier” in the sense of giving a higher level for the same English. Both are aligned to CEFR, and a B2 student is a B2 student on either. What differs is which skills each one stresses:
- The DET suits fast readers with a wide vocabulary, people who type well, and those who get nervous with an examiner. Questions are short, so one bad item costs little.
- IELTS suits students who can build a long argument, who speak better with a person than with a microphone, and who like knowing exactly what each section contains. Its Writing tasks reward planning and structure over speed.
- Time pressure feels different. The DET gives 5 seconds per word in Read and Select and 35 seconds per spoken answer in Interactive Speaking. IELTS gives 40 minutes for an essay. If short timers make you freeze, try a timed DET practice before deciding.
A practical test: take Duolingo’s free Practice Test and a free official IELTS sample under timed conditions in the same week, convert with the table above, and see where you land higher.
Acceptance: universities vs visas
Universities. Thousands of institutions accept the DET, including many in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe. But acceptance is decided by each university, sometimes by each program, and graduate programs or professional degrees may still list only IELTS or TOEFL. Make a list of every program you will apply to and check each page.
Visas and immigration. This is where the tests diverge most:
- United Kingdom. The DET is not a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Where a UK visa route requires a SELT, it will not work. For a degree-level Student visa, many UK universities assess English themselves and some accept the DET for that; the university will tell you in its offer.
- Canada. For Express Entry and other immigration programs, IRCC accepts specific tests (for English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core). The DET is not one of them. Canadian universities may still accept the DET for admission.
- Australia. The Department of Home Affairs keeps its own list of tests for Student visas. As of November 2026 the DET is not on it, so even if your Australian university accepts the DET for admission, check what the visa requires.
- United States. Visa officers do not require a particular English test; the university’s admission requirement is what matters.
If any visa or scholarship in your plan names IELTS, take IELTS. Taking the DET first and then IELTS costs more than taking IELTS once.
Cost and convenience in India, Pakistan and Nigeria
The DET’s price is the same $70 everywhere as of November 2026, paid online by card. There is no travel to a center, no fixed date and no waiting list. The trade-offs: you need a Windows or Mac computer with a webcam, a smartphone as a second camera, a quiet private room and stable power and internet for an hour. If one of those is hard to arrange, a center-based IELTS can actually be less stressful.
Also check your ID: Duolingo’s list accepts only a passport for India, a passport or government photo ID for Pakistan, and a passport, driver’s license or government photo ID for Nigeria. The details are in fee, registration and how to take it at home.
A simple way to decide
- List every university, scholarship and visa in your plan.
- Mark which ones accept the DET. If all of them do, go to step 3. If any does not, take IELTS (or the test it names).
- Take Duolingo’s free Practice Test. If your estimate is already at or above every minimum, book the DET.
- If you are 10–20 points short, prepare for two to four weeks; the plans are in how to prepare for the Duolingo English Test.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by price alone. A cheaper test that one key program rejects is the expensive option.
- Using old comparisons. Many articles describe the DET before Interactive Speaking arrived in July 2025, or use unofficial conversion tables. Use Duolingo’s current table.
- Ignoring subscores. Some universities set a minimum for each DET subscore, just as they do for IELTS bands.
- Assuming visa acceptance follows university acceptance. They are separate decisions made by different bodies.
Try the DET format before you choose
If you are leaning toward the DET, run through the whole format once. A Nomto practice test covers all 13 question types and estimates your overall score and subscores on 10–160, with a review of every speaking and writing answer. Compare its estimate with the IELTS requirement through the table above.
Common questions
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted instead of IELTS? By many universities, yes; check each program. For UK routes that need a SELT, Canadian immigration and Australian student visas, no.
Which is cheaper, DET or IELTS? The DET is $70 as of November 2026. IELTS prices are set locally and are usually higher; check your local provider.
Which is faster? The DET: one hour, results in two days.
What DET score equals IELTS 7? 130–135, according to Duolingo’s official comparison.
Duolingo English Test is a trademark of Duolingo, Inc. IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge, the British Council and IDP Education. Nomto is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duolingo or the IELTS partners.
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