DET — what the test actually is
Duolingo English Test is a 60-minute online test taken from home with a webcam, microphone and stable internet. The test fee is $59 USD (about 5,000 INR at current rates). Results are delivered in 48 hours through your Duolingo account.
Test sections: a 5-minute setup and rules check, then about 45 minutes of adaptive questions (Read Aloud, Fill in the Blanks, Read and Complete, Listen and Type, Listen and Speak, etc.), followed by a 10-minute video interview and writing sample. The adaptive section determines your score; the video and writing are sent unscored to your chosen institutions.
Scores: 10 to 160 in 5-point steps. 105 ≈ IELTS 6.0; 120 ≈ IELTS 6.5; 130 ≈ IELTS 7.0; 140 ≈ IELTS 7.5. Most universities accept 105 to 120 minimums; competitive Master's programs ask 120 to 130.
Where the score actually comes from
DET measures four sub-skills — Literacy (read and write), Comprehension (read and listen), Conversation (listen and speak), Production (write and speak). The headline overall score is a weighted average. Universities sometimes ask for a sub-score in addition to the overall — most ask for sub-scores of 100+ if the overall is 120.
The adaptive engine starts at medium difficulty. Each correct answer pushes the next question harder; each wrong answer eases it. The first 5 to 10 questions matter disproportionately — they set the ceiling for the rest.
Strict proctoring: face must be visible, no tabs switched, no second person in the room, no looking off-screen for long. Violations void the test with no refund. We rehearse the proctoring environment in week one.
DET vs IELTS vs PTE — when DET wins
DET wins on speed (1 hour, results in 48 hours), cost ($59 USD vs IELTS 17,000 INR or PTE 14,700 INR), and convenience (from home, any time). It loses on acceptance — fewer institutions accept it, and Canadian SDS pathway sometimes requires IELTS or PTE specifically.
Take DET if your target universities accept it (verify on their international admissions page) and you need a quick score for an upcoming intake. Take IELTS or PTE if you're applying to a wider mix or need it for visa-pathway evidence.
6-class crash plan
Class 1: Diagnostic + adaptive logic, Read Aloud and Listen and Type drills. Class 2: Fill in the Blanks (C-test format), Read and Complete, vocabulary expansion. Class 3: Listen and Speak templates, Write About the Photo (50-100 words).
Class 4: Read and Select (yes/no English words), Type What You Hear, Speak About the Photo. Class 5: Video interview practice, writing sample under timed conditions. Class 6: Full mock + technical setup rehearsal + slot-day plan.
Daily self-practice: 30 to 45 minutes on the official Duolingo prep portal between classes. We track your portal scores and adjust the live class focus.
What the fee covers
6 live classes, recorded library access, our internal DET vocabulary booklet, weekly graded mocks, video interview rehearsal with feedback, technical-setup support before exam day.
Not included: the DET fee (around 5,000 INR equivalent paid directly to Duolingo) or any retake purchase if you want to attempt again (Duolingo allows 2 paid attempts in a 30-day window).
