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The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fast, flexible and affordable English proficiency test designed for university and college admission. It is accepted by more than 6,500 programmes across 110+ countries, including universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. The test can be completed from home without visiting a test centre, with flexible scheduling, quick results and a lower fee than many traditional English proficiency tests. DET assesses Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking through an adaptive test format. Its convenient online format, lower cost and fast results make it a popular choice for international students applying to universities abroad.
Y-Axis DET coaching provides focused preparation with experienced trainers, exam-focused practice and mock tests to help you achieve the DET score required to study abroad.
Get personalised feedback and expert guidance to improve your DET score for university admission.
Last Updated: September 29, 2026
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a convenient online English proficiency test accepted by universities and colleges worldwide. It assesses Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking through an adaptive format and can be completed from home in about an hour, with fast results and a lower fee than many traditional English tests.
With 6,500+ programmes accepting DET scores, it is a popular choice for international students applying to study abroad. Y-Axis DET coaching combines expert training, regular practice, mock tests and personalised feedback to help you strengthen your English skills and achieve the score required for university admission.
*Want to prepare for the Duolingo English Test? Book your free DET demo class with Y-Axis today.
DET, IELTS and TOEFL are widely accepted for university admission, but they differ in test format, cost and convenience. DET is fully online, offers fast results and has a lower test fee, while IELTS includes a face-to-face Speaking test and TOEFL is widely used for university admissions abroad. The right test depends on your course, study destination and university. Y-Axis DET coaching provides expert training, regular practice, mock tests and personalised feedback to help you prepare for the DET and achieve the required score.
| Feature | DET | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Fully online, at home | Computer or paper | Test centre or at home |
| Duration | 1 hour | 2 hours 45 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Results | Within 2 days | 1–5 days on computer; 13 days on paper | Within 72 hours |
| Speaking | Recorded responses | Face-to-face with an examiner | Recorded responses |
*Not sure which test suits you? Speak to a Y-Axis expert to compare your options.
Self-study can help with basic DET preparation, but coaching provides expert guidance, structured practice and personalised feedback to help you achieve a higher score. Since the DET assesses Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking through an adaptive format, regular practice, timed exercises and mock tests are important for improving performance across all four skills.
Y-Axis DET coaching combines expert trainers, exam-focused lessons, regular practice, adaptive mock tests and personalised feedback to help you identify weaker areas, improve your performance and prepare for the score required by your university.
*Struggling with the adaptive format? Book a free demo class and get expert feedback from Y-Axis.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is accepted by more than 6,500 university and college programmes worldwide, including institutions in the USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Germany. DET score requirements vary by university, programme and study level, so check the latest requirement for your chosen course before booking the test. Y-Axis DET coaching helps you prepare for the required score with expert guidance, focused practice, mock tests and personalised feedback.
| Country | DET Score Requirement | Top Universities |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 105–135 | Harvard, MIT, NYU, UC Berkeley |
| UK | 115–135 | Imperial College London, King's College London, UCL |
| Canada | 120–125 | University of Toronto, McGill |
| Ireland | 95–130 | Trinity College Dublin, UCD, UCC |
| New Zealand | 105–120 | Massey University, University of Waikato, Otago |
| Germany | 100–135 | LMU Munich, TU Berlin |
*Planning to Study Abroad? Let Y-Axis help you through application process.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) takes about 1 hour and can be completed online from home without visiting a test centre. The test assesses Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking through an adaptive format, with question difficulty changing based on your responses. It includes an introduction and setup, the main adaptive test, and an unscored Writing and Speaking Sample that universities can view with your results. The current format also includes Interactive Speaking, where you respond to AI-generated prompts.
| Part | Duration | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Setup | 5 minutes | Complete ID verification, equipment checks and test setup. |
| Adaptive Test | 45 minutes | Answer Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking questions, with difficulty adapting to your responses. |
| Writing & Speaking Samples | 10 minutes | Complete unscored samples that may be shared with universities. |
*Want expert guidance on Duolingo English Test? Book a free demo class with Y-Axis.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is scored from 10 to 160 in 5-point increments. The score report shows your overall score, individual Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores, and integrated subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production. DET scores are aligned with CEFR levels from A1 to C2, showing the English proficiency level for each score range and helping you check university score requirements. Y-Axis DET coaching helps you prepare for your required score with expert guidance, focused practice, mock tests and personalised feedback.
| DET Score | CEFR Level | English Proficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 155–160 | C2 | Proficient |
| 130–150 | C1 | Advanced |
| 100–125 | B2 | Upper-intermediate |
| 60–95 | B1 | Intermediate |
| 10–55 | A1–A2 | Basic |
*Want to understand your subscores? Speak to a Y-Axis expert to see where you stand.
A DET score remains valid for two years from the test date, giving candidates flexibility when applying to universities. The test can be retaken up to three times within a 30-day period, with each attempt requiring a separate payment. A single test costs USD $70, while a two-test bundle costs USD $118 ($59 per test).
Results are typically available within 48 hours, with a 12-hour fast-track option available for an additional USD $40, and score sending to universities is free. Y-Axis DET coaching provides expert guidance, focused practice and mock tests to help you prepare effectively for your test.
*Planning a retake? Speak to a Y-Axis expert to build a focused improvement plan.
Y-Axis offers three DET coaching options to help you choose the right level of support for your preparation. Choose flexible self-paced learning with Solo, trainer-led live classes with Essentials, or personalised one-to-one coaching with Private to help improve your DET score.
| Course | Best For |
|---|---|
| Solo | Self-paced DET preparation |
| Essentials | Live online classes and guided practice |
| Private | One-to-one coaching tailored to your needs |
*Not sure which course fits you? Book a free Duolingo demo class and we'll help you find the right one.
Y-Axis DET coaching combines expert training, focused practice and personalised feedback to help you improve across the four individual skills and the test's combined-skill format.
*Want to book your Duolingo exam test? Speak to a Y-Axis expert to confirm your target score and start preparing.
Y-Axis combines DET coaching with extensive study abroad expertise, helping you prepare for your required score while providing guidance on university admission and overseas education.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) does not require academic qualifications or a minimum age. Candidates under 13 need parental consent. A computer with a webcam, microphone and stable internet connection, along with a secondary smartphone camera, is required to complete the test.
Step 1: Create Your DET Account
Create a free account on the official DET website using your email address.
Step 2: Choose a Test Package
Select a single test or a two-test bundle and complete the test within the applicable purchase period.
Step 3: Set Up Your Test Environment
Prepare your webcam, microphone and secondary camera, then complete the required identity verification.
Step 4: Take the Test and Send Scores
Complete the test in one sitting and send your results to universities and colleges through your DET account.
To improve your DET score, focus on the test format, practise each question type and work on the skills that affect your performance most.
*Want expert feedback on your weak subscores? Book a free demo class with Y-Axis to get started.
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