Duolingo English Test vs IELTS: Which Should You Choose?

 

English proficiency exams are essential for academic, professional, and immigration goals—but with so many options, deciding on the right one can be tricky. Two prominent choices are the Duolingo English Test (DET) and the IELTS. Here's a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed decision.

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1. Recognition & Acceptance

• IELTS: A long-established test, accepted by more than 12,000 institutions across 140+ countries, including universities, immigration authorities, and employers Wikipedia3i Solutions.
• DET: Increasingly accepted—by 4,000 to 5,500 institutions, especially in the United States and Canada. But it's still less widespread globally Duolingo Guides3i SolutionsEduVouchers.

** Bottom line**: IELTS offers broader global recognition—especially important for top-tier or visa-bound applications.

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2. Test Format & Duration

• IELTS: Delivered in Academic or General Training modules. It includes four separate sections—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—lasting about 2 hours and 45 minutes Wikipedia3i Solutions.
• DET: A modern, adaptive online test (~60 minutes) that adjusts question difficulty based on your responses. It also includes a short video portion englishproficiency.comIELTS AHEADEduVouchersWikipedia.

** Bottom line**: DET is quicker and more flexible; IELTS is longer and more traditional.

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3. Cost & Accessibility

• IELTS: Generally costs $200–$250 USD worldwide. Requires visiting a physical test center 3i SolutionsWikipedia.
• DET: Much more affordable—approximately $49–$65 USD, depending on source, and taken entirely online 3i SolutionsIDP IELTSEduVouchersWikipedia.

** Bottom line**: DET is far more wallet-friendly and accessible, especially for students in remote areas.

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4. Result Turnaround

• DET: Impressively fast—results arrive in 24 to 48 hours, sometimes even faster for a fee IELTS AHEADDuolingo GuidesEduVouchers.
• IELTS: Results vary: 3–5 days for computer-based; up to 13 days for paper-based versions WikipediaIELTS AHEAD.

** Bottom line**: DET wins hands-down for those needing quick results.

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5. Scoring & Comparison

• IELTS: Scores range from 0 to 9 (in 0.5 increments) across four skill areas; results are reported as an average band score Wikipedia.
• DET: Scores range from 10 to 160, offering one overall proficiency score. Some resources provide rough comparisons between DET scores and IELTS bands (e.g., 115–120 DET ≈ IELTS 6.5–7.0) EduVouchersUniversity LivingWikipedia.

** Bottom line**: Both scores are valid for two years, but IELTS offers more nuanced, section-by-section detail.

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6. Pros & Cons at a Glance

Feature	IELTS	Duolingo English Test (DET)
Recognition	Excellent — globally accepted, required for visas	Growing, especially in the U.S., but less universal
Format	Traditional, four distinct modules with examiner interaction	Adaptive, fully online, includes a video component
Cost	Expensive (~$200–250 USD)	Affordable (~$49–65 USD)
Accessibility	Test centers required, fixed dates	On-demand, from home with internet
Results Speed	Slow—up to two weeks for results	Fast—results in ~48 hours
Scoring Details	Band report per section	Single score with limited sub-scores
Reliability Concerns	Widely trusted; examiner-rated	Some concerns over AI-based validity and fairness Reddit+2Reddit+2

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7. What Real Users Say

From Reddit discussions:

“If all your colleges accept Duolingo, then you’ll be fine... Duolingo isn’t recognised as much by non-US universities whereas TOEFL/IELTS is recognised by most institutions.”
Reddit

And,

“It really depends on your purposes... IELTS is more widely accepted compared to Duolingo, but it tends to cost you more time and money.”
Reddit

But DET also has its supporters:

“det has far better test experience, sending scores to uni... process all of it is immediate...”
Reddit

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8. Which Should You Choose?

• Pick IELTS if you need:
• Visa compliance or admission to top universities in the UK, Australia, or visa-heavy programs.
• A thorough and widely trusted evaluation of your skills.
• Reliable in-person testing environments.
• Pick DET if you want:
• A budget-friendly, fast, and easy test—especially when every dollar and deadline counts.
• Convenience of taking the test from home
• Institutions you’re applying to explicitly accept DET.

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Final Thoughts

Both IELTS and DET offer valid ways to prove English proficiency, but cater to different needs. If you need broad recognition and depth, go with IELTS. If speed, cost, and convenience matter more, DET is a strong contender—just be sure your chosen institutions accept it.