International Exams · Entrance Exams

Duolingo English Test Preparation

Short daily practice across all four skills suits an adaptive test better than a long course on one.

Take a Free Duolingo English Test MockDuolingo English Test Syllabus

Duolingo English Test · checked 19 September 2026

Duolingo English Test at a glance, from the official notices

The dates, vacancies and rules below are read on the conducting body’s own site and rewritten as each notice appears. The guide beneath carries the full pattern, syllabus, cut-offs and free mock tests.

Free Duolingo English Test mock testDuolingo English Test syllabusToday’s current affairs
19September 2026

Checked 19 September 2026

Duolingo English Test: the facts that matter now

  1. 01

    Duolingo, online at home with computer, webcam and a phone as a second camera

    Administered by

  2. 02

    University admission at 6,500+ institutions; not generally accepted for visas

    Used for

  3. 03

    About one hour — 5 minutes of setup, 45 minutes of adaptive questions, 10 minutes of writing and speaking samples

    Format

  4. 04

    10–160 in steps of 5, with subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production

    Scoring

Strategy

Duolingo English Test — How to prepare

From purchase to certificate

  1. Confirm acceptance for the purpose Check the university’s admissions page for the minimum overall and subscores, and whether a visa route you need accepts the test — most do not.
  2. Practise the vocabulary items Read and Select and Read and Complete reward wide reading; a daily passage with unfamiliar words looked up does more than a word list.
  3. Drill dictation Listen and Type and Listen and Complete reward exact transcription; ten minutes a day with news audio raises both.
  4. Speak in full sentences to a timer Interactive Speaking and the photo tasks want continuous, organised speech for the whole window; rehearse with a stopwatch.
  5. Read the rules and the equipment list A supported browser, a working webcam, a phone for the second camera, and a room that meets the rules; a violation found in review voids the attempt without refund.
  6. Buy with the timeline in mind Results in two days, 12 hours with Faster Results; the certificate is shared free from the account to any number of institutions.

The unscored samples are still read

The Writing Sample and Speaking Sample do not affect the score, but they travel with the certificate and admissions staff open them. A candidate who treats the last ten minutes as a formality sends a weaker application than their score suggests.

Exam resources

Everything for Duolingo English Test

Six resource pages, each kept in step with the latest official notification.

Duolingo English Test SyllabusDuolingo English Test syllabus — every question type in the adaptive test, how often each appears, and what the 2025 changes added and removed.Duolingo English Test Exam PatternDuolingo English Test pattern — the adaptive hour, the 10–160 scale and subscores, the IELTS and TOEFL comparison, proctoring and results.Duolingo English Test Previous PapersDuolingo English Test practice — the free official practice test, why it is the only reliable mirror of the adaptive format, and what to take from it.Duolingo English Test Mock TestsDuolingo English Test mock tests — rehearsing the home setup and proctoring rules as well as the questions, and reading the estimated score.Duolingo English Test PreparationDuolingo English Test preparation — reading widely for the vocabulary items, dictation practice, conversational speaking, and the rules that void a test.Duolingo English Test Study MaterialDuolingo English Test study material — the official practice and guides, and general reading, listening and speaking sources for an adaptive test.

Related

More International Exams preparation

All International Exams examsEvery exam in this categoryPrevious-year papersPast papers with solutionsCurrent affairsDaily, weekly and monthlyExam updatesNotifications and results

Start your Duolingo English Test preparation today

Read the syllabus, attempt a free mock, then fix the section that costs you the most marks.

Take Free Mock TestExplore Exams

Already practising? Create Free Account to track your preparation.

Explore ExamsTake Free Mock Test