Is the Duolingo English Test Worth Taking in 2025?

The Duolingo English Test has gone from a pandemic workaround to a mainstream English proficiency option in four years. It costs $65, takes about an hour, and delivers results within 48 hours. The question in 2025 is not whether it is legitimate — it is whether the specific institutions you are applying to accept it.

Where DET Is Strong

• US university admissions: Over 3,500 US institutions now accept DET, including many top research universities
• Canadian universities: Most major Canadian universities accept DET for undergraduate and graduate study
• European institutions: Growing acceptance in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia
• Cost-sensitive applicants: At $65 vs $250+ for IELTS, DET is significantly more accessible
• Students with limited test centre access: DET is taken entirely at home, which is a real advantage in some regions

Where DET Does Not Work

• Canadian immigration: IRCC does not accept DET — only IELTS and CELPIP
• UK Tier 4 student visa: DET is not on the UKVI approved list
• Australian student or migration visa: Department of Home Affairs requires IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Cambridge
• UK medical and nursing registration (GMC, NMC): Not accepted
• Many traditional UK universities: Acceptance is lower than in the US and Canada

Is DET Easier Than IELTS or TOEFL?

The format is genuinely different — adaptive question delivery, shorter duration, and no face-to-face speaking component. Many test-takers find the shorter format less exhausting. However, the AI-proctored at-home environment and the unfamiliar question types (like 'Listen and Type' and 'Read Aloud') can be disorienting for first-time test-takers.

Most students who have taken both IELTS and DET report that their scores are broadly equivalent. DET is not a significantly easier path to the same outcome — it is a different experience that suits different candidates.