Test Preparation
Duolingo English Test: Cost, Duration, Requirements and Acceptance
The quick answer
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency test you can take from home. Its published standard price is US$70, and it takes about one hour. Many university programs accept it, but you should confirm your exact program's requirements before paying. University acceptance does not automatically establish eligibility for a visa or a job.
Facts and linked official guidance checked on September 27, 2026. This is an independent TypoGrammar guide. Prices, equipment requirements and acceptance policies can change; the official checkout and the organization receiving your score are the final references.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The DET assesses English proficiency through reading, listening, speaking and writing activities. It uses adaptive testing, so question difficulty can change in response to your performance. It is designed to provide evidence of your English ability for organizations that accept the result. See Duolingo's official introduction and preparation guide.
The Duolingo language-learning app and the Duolingo English Test serve different purposes. App lessons help you practise languages; the DET is a separate assessment. Completing an app course, maintaining a streak or buying an app subscription does not provide a certified English test result.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?
The published standard price for one DET is US$70, as stated in Duolingo's official readiness guide, checked on September 27, 2026. Confirm the amount shown in your account at checkout before purchasing. Do not treat an unofficial discount advertisement or a price in another currency as your final charge.
Compare the total you intend to pay: the test itself, any optional faster-results service, and any currency conversion or payment-provider charges that apply to you. Preparation courses are separate purchases; buying one does not mean that the official test fee is included.
Can you take the Duolingo English Test from home?
Yes. Home testing is part of the DET format, but your room and equipment must satisfy the current requirements. A phone alone is not enough: it supports the computer-based test as a secondary camera. Use the official camera and room setup guide and current test rules before your test.
- Prepare a compatible computer with a working camera, microphone and speakers, the required desktop application, and a reliable internet connection. Check the latest operating-system requirements before buying.
- Prepare a charged smartphone with the DET mobile app for the required scans and secondary-camera setup. Follow the on-screen positioning instructions.
- Have valid identification accepted for your location. Check the official identification requirements rather than assuming every local document qualifies.
- Choose a private, quiet and well-lit room where you can remain alone. Clear your desk and remove notes, paper and extra devices.
- Close unrelated programs and disable predictive-text, proofreading and typing-assistance software. Remove headphones and earbuds.
The mobile setup includes room and ear scans. Your secondary camera must show the required view of you and your computer throughout testing. Practise arranging your room beforehand; do not wait until a university deadline to discover a camera, identification or equipment problem.
How long does the test take, and when do results arrive?
The DET takes about one hour, according to the official readiness guide. Set aside additional time beforehand for downloading software, checking your connection and preparing the room. A practice session and a certified test are different activities; do not use a short practice session as your test-day schedule.
| Stage | Planning reference |
|---|---|
| Taking the test | About one hour; prepare your equipment beforehand. |
| Standard results | Two-day turnaround after the test. |
| Paid faster results | 12-hour turnaround; certification is not guaranteed. |
These result windows come from Duolingo's faster-results policy. Allow a buffer before your application deadline for certification issues and for the institution to receive and process your result. Finishing a test is not the same as holding a certified score.
Do universities accept the DET internationally?
Yes, many programs internationally accept the DET, but acceptance is not universal. Duolingo reports more than 6,500 accepting programs in its acceptance overview updated June 29, 2026. That is a count of programs, not a claim that 6,500 separate universities accept the test for every course.
Start with the official accepting-institutions directory, then verify the exact degree, campus and intake on the university's own admissions page. “Accepted in a country” is too broad to settle an individual application.
- Find your exact undergraduate or postgraduate program and entry year.
- Check whether the DET is listed as an accepted test for that program.
- Record the required overall score and any individual subscore requirements.
- Check the score deadline, result-age rules and official submission method.
- If the information is unclear, ask admissions for written confirmation before paying.
A useful message is: “Does your [program name] accept the Duolingo English Test for [intake]? What overall score and subscores do you require, and when must you receive the certified result?” Keep the reply with your application notes.
International acceptance and result validity are separate questions. DET results are valid for two years, but the receiving program can set its own deadlines and recency requirements. A result can still be within that validity period and fail to meet a particular program's score requirement.
Can you use the DET for immigration or visa applications?
Do not assume that university acceptance means visa acceptance. The relevant country, immigration route and evidence rules determine what you can submit. Check the government's requirements separately from the university's admissions requirements.
- Canada Express Entry: IRCC lists CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core as approved English tests. DET is not on that list. This is a finding about Express Entry, not a statement that every Canadian application follows the same rules. See IRCC's approved language tests.
- UK Student route: for degree-level study or above, a higher education provider can assess English itself under the relevant rules. Ask your sponsor how it will establish your English ability. This does not make DET a universally accepted immigration test. See UK Student visa English requirements.
- Where a UK SELT is required: use the government's approved tests and providers. DET is not listed as an approved SELT.
Check the rules for your exact route when applying. Admission, scholarships, immigration and professional registration can each require different evidence.
Can you use the DET for job applications?
Only the employer can confirm whether it accepts a DET result for a particular role. Do not infer an employer's policy from a university directory. This guide does not name companies as accepting the DET because it does not establish any company's current recruitment policy.
If an application invites evidence of English ability, ask the recruiter whether a certified DET score is suitable and how to submit it. If you choose to list a result on your CV, identify it accurately with the test name, score and test date; do not describe it as a professional licence or a work permit. A job offer and the language evidence required for a work visa remain separate matters.
How can you prepare for the DET in two weeks?
Use two weeks to learn the current task formats, identify weak skills, practise speaking and writing with feedback, and rehearse your technical setup. Start with an official practice test and review why you struggle, rather than memorizing complete responses.
A realistic two-week goal
Follow our separate 14-day Duolingo English Test study plan for daily tasks, review checkpoints and a readiness decision. For focused work, use our adaptable writing templates and speaking and writing practice examples.
Before you buy: a final decision checklist
- My exact program or receiving organization confirms DET acceptance.
- I know the overall score, subscores and submission deadline I need.
- I have checked any separate visa or professional-registration requirements.
- My computer, phone, identification and room meet the current test rules.
- I have checked the final checkout price and left time for result processing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Duolingo English Test the same as the Duolingo app?
No. The app provides language-learning activities. The Duolingo English Test is a separate English proficiency assessment; an app streak or course score is not a certified DET result.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost?
The published standard price checked on September 27, 2026 is US$70 for one test. Check the official checkout for your final price and any optional services before paying.
Can I take the Duolingo English Test from home?
Yes, if your equipment, identification and private testing space meet the current rules. You need a suitable computer and a smartphone used as a secondary camera; the phone does not replace the computer.
How long does the DET take, and when do results arrive?
Allow about one hour for the test and additional time to prepare your equipment. Standard results have a two-day turnaround; the paid faster-results option reduces that to 12 hours and does not guarantee certification.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted everywhere?
No. Many university programs internationally accept it, but acceptance and required scores depend on the program and purpose. Check the institution directly, and verify visa or employment requirements separately.
How long are DET results valid?
Duolingo English Test results are valid for two years. Your receiving institution may set its own submission deadline and requirements for how recent a result must be.
Can I prepare for the DET in two weeks?
Two weeks can help you understand the format, practise relevant skills and prepare your equipment. It cannot guarantee a target score or replace the longer study needed to close a substantial English proficiency gap.
Official sources and editorial review
The TypoGrammar Editorial Team checked the official sources linked beside each factual claim on September 27, 2026. The preparation suggestions and application checklist are our editorial guidance. We do not guarantee test scores, admission, employment or visa outcomes.
Apply what you learned
Your university accepts the DET. Does that automatically mean it meets your visa language requirement?
Show answer and explanation
No. Check the government rules for your exact visa or immigration route separately.
Admission and immigration are separate decisions. Program acceptance is not evidence that the test is approved for every visa route.