Read and select
One word at a time: is it a real English word? A made-up word looks real but is not.
flornish
A plain guide to the test, with free practice
What is the Duolingo English Test?
An English test you take online, at home, on your own computer, in about an hour. Your score, from 10 to 160, usually arrives within two days, and thousands of universities accept it.
- 1 hour in all
- 10–160 score
- 2 days to results
- At home online
Read and select5 s
Is this a real English word?
brisk
Format and how long it takes
One sitting of about an hour, in three parts. You take it in the Duolingo English Test desktop app, and your phone records your computer and keyboard while you answer.
Try this now
Four of the question types, with their real timers, in about 10 minutes.
- About 5 minutesSetup
Camera and microphone check, photo ID, and a scan of your ears and room with your phone.
- About 45 minutesThe adaptive test
Short questions of many types. Some get harder or easier from your answers, so the number of questions changes from person to person.
- About 10 minutesWriting and speaking samples
One longer written answer and one spoken answer. Schools that get your score also see these two.
- Results in about 2 days. Within 48 hours, or 12 hours if you pay for faster results.
- Scores stay valid for 2 years, and you can send them to as many schools as you like for free.
- Up to 3 tests in any 30 days. You have 21 days after buying a test to take it.
Source: Duolingo English Test Official Guide for Test Takers, 2026.
The 13 question types
Every type below has a small live example. Each type counts towards one skill subscore, shown by its colour. Eight of them have a full drill with the real timer: press Try this now.
- Reading4 types
- Listening2 types
- Writing3 types
- Speaking4 types
Reading
Words, sentences and passages. Four types.
Fill in the blanks
A sentence with one unfinished word. Type the missing letters.
The museum is open every day exc on public holidays.
Read and complete
A short passage with the second half of some words missing. The first and last sentences are complete.
Many cities are building more bicycle lanes. Cyc is ch, hea and good for the environment.
Interactive reading
One passage, six questions that build on each other: complete the sentences, complete the passage, highlight the answer twice, identify the idea, title the passage.
Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep. While we sleep, the brain ____ new information.
Our drills do not cover this type yet. The example is the first kind of question in a set.
Listening
Sentences and conversations. Two types.
Listen and type
Hear a sentence, play it up to three times, and type exactly what you hear.
Interactive listening
A conversation with a student or a professor: fill in what you heard, choose the best reply each time, then write a short summary.
Choose the best reply.
Our drills do not cover this type yet. The example is one turn of the conversation.
Writing
From one minute to five. Three types.
Write about the photo
Describe what you see, in full sentences, for one minute.
0 words
Interactive writing
Answer a question in writing, then a follow-up question on the same topic that asks for a new idea.
Some people say every city should have more parks. Do you agree? Explain why.
Follow-up: what could a city do if it has no free land for new parks?
Our drills do not cover this type yet. Practise the long answer with the writing sample.
Writing sample
A longer answer about an experience or an opinion. Schools that get your score can read it.
Many people now shop online instead of in stores. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Speaking
From 35 seconds to three minutes. Four types.
Speak about the photo
Describe a photo out loud, as if to someone who cannot see it.
Ready when you are
Say your answer out loud. Nothing is recorded.
Our drills do not cover this type yet. The timer runs the real times.
Read, then speak
Read a question with points to cover, prepare, then speak about it.
Talk about a person who has influenced you.
- Who the person is
- What they did
- How they changed you
Interactive speaking
A short spoken conversation on two topics: you hear each question once and answer out loud.
35 seconds to answer
Our drills do not cover this type yet. Listen, then answer out loud for 35 seconds.
Speaking sample
A longer spoken answer about an experience or an opinion. Schools see a video of it.
Is it better to have a few close friends or many friends? Explain your answer with examples.
Timings and counts: Duolingo English Test Question Guide (2025) and Official Guide (2026). Our examples and pictures were made for this page; on the real test the photos are real photos taken by people.
How the score works
You get one overall score from 10 to 160, in steps of 5, and subscores on the same scale. The scale is aligned to the CEFR levels, A1 to C2.
Try this now
Find your weakest question type before you book: the mini test ends with a band and a review.
A1–A210–55B160–95B2100–125C1130–150C2155+
Eight subscores
Four skills, and four combined subscores that are each the average of two skills. Your overall score is the average of the four skills.
Reading
Listening
Writing
Speaking
Literacyreading and writing
Comprehensionreading and listening
Conversationlistening and speaking
Productionspeaking and writing
Duolingo scores next to IELTS
| Duolingo | IELTS Academic | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | 8.5–9 | C2 |
| 150 | 8 | C1 |
| 140 | 7.5 | C1 |
| 130 | 7 | C1 |
| 120 | 6.5 | B2 |
| 110 | 6 | B2 |
| 100 | 5.5 | B2 |
| 90 | 5 | B1 |
| 80 | 5 | B1 |
| 70 | 4.5 | B1 |
| 60 | 4 | B1 |
| 10–55 | 0–4 | A1–A2 |
Source: Duolingo English Test Scoring Guide for Teachers (2026), score comparison. Many universities ask for 100 to 120; always check the number on your own program’s page.
Duolingo English Test, IELTS or TOEFL?
All three are accepted by many universities, but not always by the same ones. Check your school first. If it accepts all three, the Duolingo test is the shortest and you take it at home; IELTS has a live speaking test with an examiner.
| What | Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Online, at home, on your own computer | At a test centre, on paper or computer; IELTS Online in some places | At a test centre, or at home |
| How long | About 1 hour | 2 hours 45 minutes | About 2 hours |
| Score | 10 to 160, in steps of 5 | Bands 0 to 9, in half bands | 1 to 6 since 21 January 2026, with a 0 to 120 score alongside for two years |
| Results | Within 2 days; 12 hours with faster results | Usually 1 to 2 days on computer, about 13 days on paper | About 3 days after the test |
| Speaking | Recorded answers to questions on screen | A live talk with an examiner | Recorded answers |
| Valid for | 2 years | Usually 2 years; each school decides | 2 years |
Sources: Duolingo English Test Official Guide (2026); ielts.org; ets.org (October 2026). Fees differ by country, so check the price where you book.
How to prepare
Duolingo’s own advice is to build your English rather than cram for the test. Know the formats, then spend your time on the skill that pulls your score down.
Rules that cost people their result
- No notes, no paper, no headphones or earbuds
- Do not look away from the screen, except at your keyboard
- Nobody else in the room, and only one screen
- Keep your ears, eyes and mouth in the camera frame
- 1Learn the formats first
Do one round of each type with the timer on. Most points lost at the start come from not knowing what the screen wants.
- 2Drill your weakest type
Ten focused minutes on one type beat an hour of everything. The mini test tells you which one.
Pick a drill - 3Grow your vocabulary and spelling
Read and select, fill in the blanks and listen and type all depend on knowing words and spelling them right.
Test your vocabulary - 4Speak and write full answers, out loud and against the clock
Use the whole time, give reasons and examples, and finish clearly.
- 5Take the official practice test close to test day
It shows the real screens, which no other site can copy. It is free on Duolingo’s site and needs an account.
Duolingo English Test site
Full Duolingo English Test practice in Slova
All 13 question types, feedback on your speaking and writing, mock tests with an estimated score and a daily plan up to your test day.
Duolingo English Test questions
Questions about the practice itself are on the practice page.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
An online English test made by Duolingo. You take it at home on your own computer in about an hour, and you get an overall score from 10 to 160 with subscores. Thousands of universities and colleges accept it as proof of English, but always check your own school’s requirements.
How long is the Duolingo English Test?
About an hour: around 5 minutes of setup, about 45 minutes of adaptive questions, then about 10 minutes for a writing sample and a speaking sample. Every question has its own timer.
How many questions are on the Duolingo English Test?
There is no fixed number. The test is adaptive and gives more or fewer questions depending on how sure it is of your level. Duolingo’s guide lists, for example, 15 to 18 Read and Select words, 6 to 9 Fill in the Blanks sentences and 6 to 9 Listen and Type sentences.
How is the Duolingo English Test scored?
Your overall score runs from 10 to 160 in steps of 5. You also get four skill subscores (reading, listening, writing and speaking) and four combined subscores (literacy, comprehension, conversation and production). The overall score is the average of the four skills.
What is a good Duolingo English Test score?
Scores run from 10 to 160. What counts as good depends on where you apply. Many universities ask for something between 100 and 120, and some programs ask for more. Check the number on your own program’s page before you set a goal.
How long does it take to get Duolingo English Test results?
Usually within 2 days (48 hours). If you pay for faster results, within 12 hours. Your scores stay valid for 2 years, and you can send them to as many schools as you like for free.
How many times can I take the Duolingo English Test?
You can buy up to three tests in any 30-day period. You have 21 days after buying a test to take it.
Is the Duolingo English Test hard?
It depends on your English. Because the test adapts, it gets harder when you answer well, so most people find it hard near the end. The short timers are the biggest surprise, which is why practising with the real timers helps.
Is the Duolingo English Test easier than IELTS?
It is not easier in level: both measure the same range of English. It is shorter (about an hour against 2 hours 45 minutes), you take it at home, and the speaking is recorded rather than a live talk with an examiner. Some people find that less stressful; others prefer talking to a person.
Is this page made by Duolingo?
No. This guide and the practice on Slova are independent and not connected to Duolingo. “Duolingo English Test” is a trademark of Duolingo. The facts here come from Duolingo’s own guides, named under each section.
Duolingo and Duolingo English Test are trademarks of Duolingo, Inc. This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duolingo.