Comparing Duolingo English Test and IELTS for students and professionals.
| Features | IELTS | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|
| Test format | Traditional, in-person at test center. | Online, at-home, adaptive. |
| Speaking section | Face-to-face with an examiner. | Recorded responses, AI-graded. |
| Cost | Higher, typically $200-$300. | Lower, around $59. |
| Result speed | 1-13 days depending on format. | Within 48 hours, faster with extra fee. |
| Retake policy | No wait, One Skill Retake available. | Two certified tests within 30 days. |
| Academic focus | Designed for academic English proficiency. | More general English assessment. |
| Acceptance | Globally recognized by many institutions. | Increasingly accepted, check specific institutions. |
| Scoring scale | 0-9 band scores. | 10-160 point scale. |
Is Duolingo easier than IELTS? Students and workers often ask this in 2025. One English test might seem simpler. “Easier” depends on what you are good at. It also depends on what tests you like. Your comfort with technology matters too. Many people find the Duolingo English Test less stressful. It is quicker and easier to take. This blog compares the DET and IELTS. We will help you choose the right test.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is often seen as easier because it is online, cheaper, and faster. You can take it at home, which reduces stress.
IELTS is often preferred for academic English and is accepted by more places. It has a face-to-face speaking test, which some students like.
Your choice between DET and IELTS depends on your comfort with technology, your test-taking style, and what your chosen school requires.
Both tests have different scoring systems, but official charts help compare Duolingo scores to IELTS bands. Always check your school’s specific requirements.
The DET costs about $59, while IELTS costs $200-$300. DET results are also much faster, usually within 48 hours.
You may ask, “is duolingo easier than ielts?” The answer is not simple. What is easy for one person is hard for another. This is true for all English tests. Your strengths matter a lot. How you like to take tests also matters.
“Easier” does not mean one test is truly simpler for everyone. It means a test fits your learning style better. It also fits your comfort level. For example, you might like quick tasks. Then the Duolingo English Test could feel easier. You might like talking to a person. Then IELTS could be easier for you. Think about how you like to take tests.
Many things make a test feel easy or hard. How you use technology is a big one. If you don’t use computers much, you might worry. This can hurt your score. Slow typing can be a problem. This is true for writing parts on a computer. Looking at a screen for a long time can make you tired. These things can make an online test feel harder.
Some people find the Duolingo English Test easier. It checks general English knowledge. It does not ask for academic English. So, if you know everyday English well, it might feel less scary. The DET is also less formal. You can take it at home. This lowers stress. The test changes to your skill level. It has different questions. These include fill-in-the-blanks. It also has short speaking tasks. This keeps you interested. This makes the test feel less tiring. It is not like long academic writing. It is not like hard reading parts. Taking the test at home is easy. There is no test center pressure. This can greatly lower your stress. You can do better in a place you know.
But some students find IELTS easier. They like its conversation style. They find this easier. It is not like academic questions. You can choose paper or computer. A real person does the speaking test. This can feel more real. It can also feel more comforting. This makes it feel easier. If you like talking to an examiner, you will like IELTS. It has face-to-face speaking. You might find the IELTS speaking test easier. This is true if you are good at talking. If you know IELTS questions, you have an edge. Also, if you know UK, Australian, or Canadian accents, listening might be easier. If you like writing essays by hand, IELTS paper is good. The IELTS speaking test is face-to-face. It is like a chat. This often feels easier. It is not like recording answers. In the end, whether DET or IELTS is easier depends on you. It depends on your strengths. It depends on what you like.
The Duolingo English Test shows your English skills. It is a new kind of test. It is not like old tests. It makes testing easy for you.
You can take the Duolingo English Test at home. This is easier than going to a test center. The test is all online.
You need some things to take it. You need:
The test changes to your level. If you answer right, questions get harder. If you have trouble, they get easier. This helps find your true skill.
The Duolingo English Test checks four English skills.
These skills are:
The test grades answers in two ways. Computers grade fixed answers. These are like fill-in-the-blanks. AI grades open questions. These are like writing about a picture. This system checks your ideas. It checks your words and grammar. It checks how well you speak or write. You get scores for each skill. Then these scores make one total score. The Duolingo test scores from 10 to 160. A score of 120 or more means you are very good. Many schools take scores from 90 to 119. This test shows your skills clearly.
The Duolingo English Test is very fast. The test takes about 1 hour. This includes a short start. It has the graded part. It also has a video chat. You usually get scores in two days. This is good if you need scores fast. Your Duolingo score is good for two years. This gives you time to use your scores.
IELTS Academic is a normal test. You take it at a special place. This means you go there. It is not an online test. You do not take it at home. This way helps you show your English. It is for college. The test uses school English. It gets you ready for higher learning. You will see how each test is set up.
IELTS checks four main English skills. You do different parts. These are for Listening, Reading, and Writing. These parts are deep. The Speaking test is not like them. You talk to a person. This is a big change. Duolingo uses recorded answers. IELTS gives a full and proper check. This lets you talk to someone. This is a good thing about IELTS.
IELTS uses a 0-9 score. You get a score for each skill. Then you get one total score. These scores show your English level. The CEFR helps explain scores. CEFR shows language levels. There are six levels. They go from A1 (new) to C2 (expert). For example, 7.0-8.0 means you are C1 (Advanced). This plan helps schools know your English. IELTS is known everywhere. Many schools and jobs like these scores. This wide use is another good thing about IELTS.
You need to pick a test. You must know the difference between IELTS and Duolingo. This comparison shows your scores. It also shows which schools take each test.
Many students ask about score comparison. This is between the Duolingo English Test and IELTS. You can use official charts. These charts help you. They show what your Duolingo score means. They show it in IELTS terms.
| Duolingo Score | IELTS Band |
|---|---|
| 160 | 8.5–9.0 |
| 145–155 | 8.0 |
| 125–140 | 7.0–7.5 |
| 105–120 | 6.0–6.5 |
| 90–100 | 5.5 |
| 75–85 | 5.0 |
You can also see more details. This table shows skill levels too:
| Duolingo Score Range (DET) | Equivalent IELTS Band | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|
| 160–155 | 9.0 | Expert User |
| 150–145 | 8.5 | Very Good User |
| 140–135 | 8.0 | Very Good User |
| 130–125 | 7.5 | Good User |
| 120–115 | 7.0 | Good User |
| 110–105 | 6.5 | Competent User |
| 100–95 | 6.0 | Competent User |
| 90–85 | 5.5 | Modest User |
| 80–75 | 5.0 | Modest User |
| 70–65 | 4.5 | Limited User |
| 60–55 | 4.0 | Limited User |
Remember, these scores are a guide. Each test checks English differently. Use these numbers to help you. They are not perfect matches.
You need to know your Duolingo English Test score. This is for college applications. A Duolingo score of 120 is like an IELTS 7.0. Many grad programs need this IELTS score. If you get a Duolingo score of 105, it is like an IELTS 6.5. This is often the lowest score for college entry. This score comparison helps you guess your level. You can then find schools that fit your Duolingo English Test score.
Here is another way to see the score comparison:
| Duolingo Score | IELTS Score |
|---|---|
| 10 | 1.5 |
| 15 | 2 |
| 20-25 | 2.5 |
| 30-40 | 3 |
| 45-50 | 3.5 |
| 55-60 | 4 |
| 65-70 | 4.5 |
| 75-80 | 5 |
| 85-90 | 5.5 |
| 95-100 | 6 |
| 105-110 | 6.5 |
| 115-120 | 7 |
| 125-130 | 7.5 |
| 135-140 | 8 |
| 145-150 | 8.5 |
| 155-160 | 9 |
This comparison comes from official reports. Use it as a guide. It is not a perfect match.
Many colleges now take Duolingo scores. This gives you more choices. But always check your program’s rules. What is needed can change. This is true even at the same school. New charts mean some scores match differently. Always check the newest info.
For Canadian colleges, a Duolingo English Test score of 110 or more is like an IELTS 6.5. Top colleges often need higher Duolingo scores. These are usually 120 to 135. This depends on your program. It also depends on your study level. For example, the University of Toronto needs 120 or more. McGill University and the University of Alberta also need this. This is for both college and grad programs. The University of British Columbia and University of Calgary can need up to 135. This is for some programs.
Here is a general guide for entry levels:
| Score Range | Common Admission Level |
|---|---|
| 110-125 | IVY League Universities and Competitive Graduate Programs |
| 100-110 | Graduate or Master’s Level Programs |
| 95-100 | Undergraduate Programs |
You can understand Duolingo scores this way:
Many schools worldwide accept the Duolingo English Test. This includes:
This wide acceptance shows something. “Is Duolingo easier than IELTS?” is not the only question. You also need to know if your school takes your test score.
Many students ask which test is easier. The answer depends on you. It depends on your feelings. It depends on your skills. Students have different ideas. This is true for Duolingo and IELTS.
Tests can make people nervous. Many students find Duolingo easier. It feels less hard. This is true for lower scores. You take it at home. This makes you less stressed. It lowers test worries. The test changes to your level. This makes it feel easier.
IELTS feels harder to many students. The school version can be tough. Talking to a person for speaking causes worry. This is not like computer tests. The writing part also causes stress. It needs good essays. It needs many words.
For Duolingo, get ready for the test. Learn English every day. Do not cram at the end. Take practice tests often. Learn the rules. Learn how they grade. Make a study plan. Cover all skills. Use grammar rules. Learn new words. Practice reading. Check your answers.
How you use tech matters a lot. Duolingo is all online. You take it at home. You use a computer. You use a webcam. This is good for tech-savvy students. It helps those far away.
But the changing test can feel strange. It might confuse you. This is true if you like old tests. The speaking part changes. Questions get harder or easier. This is like real talk. This can be hard. It is for those not good at tech talks. If you speak well, this helps you. It shows your real skills.
Speaking parts are very different. In IELTS, you talk to a person. You have a chat. You talk about topics. You give short speeches. This talk can feel good to some.
For Duolingo, you speak into a mic. The computer checks your speaking. You talk on two topics. Each is 1-3 minutes. Some students find this less formal. They feel it is not deep enough. It is not like talking to a person. This difference can make one test feel easier.
You pick an English test. Think about useful things. Consider money. Think about how fast you get scores. See if schools take your scores. This helps you see differences.
Money often helps you choose. The Duolingo English Test is cheap. It costs only $59. This price includes many free score reports. This is much less than other tests. For example, IELTS costs $200 to $300. In India, IELTS costs about $185 USD. This is for 2025. You save much money with Duolingo.
Speed is important. This is true when you apply to schools. Duolingo English Test results come fast. Most people get scores in 48 hours. You can pay extra. Then you get results in 12 hours. This makes it quicker. For IELTS, computer results take 1-2 days. Paper IELTS results take 7 to 13 days. Duolingo is often faster.
You can take Duolingo many times. But you get certified scores for only two tests. This is within 30 days. For IELTS, there is no wait. You can retake it when ready. IELTS also has One Skill Retake. This is in some places. You can retake just one part.
IELTS is known everywhere. Many schools and jobs like it. The Duolingo English Test is newer. More places accept it now. Many schools take Duolingo scores. You must check your school’s rules.
| Institution | Minimum Overall Score | Specific Skill Scores | Additional Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| University College Dublin | 110 | N/A | Additional interview may be required; for 2020 intake if affected by test center closures. |
| University College London | Varies by program: 115+ (Standard), 125+ (Good), 135+ (Advanced) | N/A | Varies as per the program applied for. |
| University of Edinburgh | 115 (university-wide), up to 145 (program-specific) | N/A | Considered if unable to attend a test center due to Covid-19 closures; subject to other conditions. |
| University of Birmingham | Varies by program | N/A | For 2020 admissions; required scores updated according to specific program. |
| Anglia Ruskin University | Corresponds to Duolingo proficiency levels | N/A | Check with your program for specific requirements. |
| Thompson Rivers University | 110 | N/A | Applicable for admissions submitted until December 31, 2020. |
| University of Alberta | 115 | 125 in Speaking | For tests taken after February 1, 2020, for Fall term admission. |
| University of Manitoba | 115 | N/A | Applicable for Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 intakes. |
| Arizona State University | 95 (general), 100-120 (specific programs) | N/A | For students affected by test center closures; scores from tests taken between Feb 3-July 31, 2020. |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 100 | N/A | N/A |
| Northeastern University | 120-130 (overall) | Skill-specific scores evaluated | Overall and skill-specific scores evaluated for admission. |
| State University of New York – Albany | Set according to TOEFL/IELTS equivalence | N/A | N/A |
| University of Pittsburgh | 120 or higher | N/A | Applications reviewed holistically, scores weighed against other criteria. |
This chart shows minimum Duolingo English Test scores. Many schools accept this test.
Is Duolingo easier than IELTS” depends on you. The best English test fits how you learn. It fits your tech comfort. It fits your money. It fits your school needs. The Duolingo English Test is easy to use. It is fast. It costs less. It is good if these things are important. IELTS is accepted more places. It is older. It checks English deeply. Always check what your schools need. This is for both tests. This helps you choose. English tests change in 2025. Which one will you take?
No, not all schools take the Duolingo English Test. Many schools now use it. You must check your school’s rules. IELTS is taken more places.
You can take the Duolingo English Test many times. But you only get scores for two tests. This is in 30 days. Plan your retakes well.
IELTS Academic is for school English. It checks if you can do college work. The Duolingo English Test is more general. It checks your English skill.
Yes, the Duolingo English Test costs less. It is about $59. IELTS costs $200 to $300. Duolingo saves you money.
