Duolingo English Test Validity: How Long is Duolingo Score Valid?

Duolingo English Test Highlights

Duolingo is an English proficiency test most popular among the citizens of non-native English-speaking countries seeking to study, work or migrate to countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. 

Following are the highlights of the Duolingo English Test:

Duolingo English Test Scoring Scheme

Duolingo exam is conducted online in the home environment. The reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are tested in the examination. The Duolingo exam pattern consists of two steps:

• Adaptive Test: The time duration for the adaptive test is 45 minutes. All four language skills of the candidates are graded in this test.

• Video Interview: This section is not graded. Students have to answer open-ended questions. The time duration is 10 minutes. 

After the exam is over, the DET scores are declared within 24 to 48 hours on a scale between 10-160. Scores of individual sections are not given. The overall score of all the sections together is awarded. Students generally convert the scores in the IELTS or TOEFL scale to understand their performance. 

Duolingo English Test Validity in USA

Duolingo scores are widely accepted in US universities for undergraduate or postgraduate programmes. More than 1,300 institutions accept the Duolingo results. 

• Validity: The validity of Duolingo scores in the USA is two years. All the colleges and universities have the same time frame.

• Extension: The extension of the validity of Duolingo scores is not possible. Students can submit the scores only for two years. 

Average Duolingo Score Requirement in USA

The average Duolingo score required by universities in US universities may vary. Still, the general average Duolingo score requirement is:

Duolingo English Test Validity in UK

UK universities are gradually giving acceptance to Duolingo scores besides TOEFL, IELTS and PTE. 

• Validity: The Duolingo scores are valid for two years across 62 institutions of higher learning in UK.

• Extension: Extension of the time period of Duolingo English Test Validity is not possible in UK.

Average Duolingo Score Requirement in UK

The average Duolingo score requirement in UK is at par with its counterparts, i.e. IELTS and TOEFL. Here are the Duolingo scores in UK given for your reference:

Duolingo English Test Validity in Canada

Canadian colleges have taken a progressive step to accept Duolingo test scores since the Covid-19 pandemic. Now they are accepted in around 65 universities across Canada.

• Validity: Canadian institutions validate Duolingo for only 2 years.

• Extension: Extension of Duolingo is not possible under any circumstances in Canada.

Average Duolingo Score Requirement in Canada

The average score in Duolingo which you need to get admission to universities in Canada is given below:

Duolingo English Test Validity in Australia

Australia has around 37 institutions accepting Duolingo for admissions. It is expected that in future the numbers will accelerate more and more universities will give recognition to Duolingo.

• Validity: Duolingo is valid for only 2 years in Australia.

• Extension: Extension of Duolingo for beyond 2 years is not feasible in Australia.

Average Duolingo Score Requirement in Australia 

The average Duolingo score for Australian bachelor’s and master’s programmes are:

Duolingo English Test Score Interpretation

The Duolingo English test scores are awarded holistically ranging from 10-160. The different scores obtained by candidates show the difference in their proficiency in the English language. 

The following table provides an idea of how to interpret the candidate's English skills on the basis of their Duolingo English  test score:

What is a Good Score on Duolingo English Test?

The Duolingo English Test is scored between 10-160. In order to get admission to any university, the minimum score obtained by a candidate must be more than 105. It is often heard that scoring 120 on the Duolingo English test is good enough, but it means no such thing. It is a mere passing mark. It does not prove the candidate's proficiency in English. 

The benefit of taking this test is that it is a self-paced test, hence one can easily retake the exam anytime when their knowledge of the language gets better. Therefore, even if one gets a low Duolingo score at first, one can increase it later.

Number of Times Duolingo English Test Can Be Attempted

There is no limit on retaking the Duolingo English test, however, there is a limit on the number of times one fails the test. The candidate cannot retake the exam more than twice within 30 days. The candidates are required to show their progress in the English language skill within a certain amount of time, otherwise, it is presumed that the candidate is not working on the English language and thus the exam isn't of any help to them. Hence, they should think of another method instead of the Duolingo English test. 

IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo Scores

There are many other standard exams universally accepted other than Duolingo English tests like TOEFL and IELTS. The candidates can convert the scores obtained in Duolingo to TOEFL or IELTS scores online in order to check their English language skills on the basis of their scores.

How to Plan for Duolingo So That Duolingo Scores are Valid?

As the Duolingo English Test validity is only for two years, it is necessary to plan the exam in a way that Duolingo scores are valid when students are applying for admission to schools. Here are the ways in which students can plan for the validity of their Duolingo scores:

Check Duolingo Score Validity of University

 It is necessary to check the Duolingo score validity period of universities if they are planning to start their admission process soon. Some universities require the scores to be valid till the time of the application, whereas, other institutions require them to be valid also during the start of the programme. The gap between the application process and the beginning of classes can be more than eight to nine months. So, students should plan the Duolingo test carefully.

Plan Duolingo Exam Date

The Duolingo exam date should be planned according to the validity of the test scores. If candidates plan to take the exam early, take it in a way that the scores remain valid till the courses start. If they take the exam late, take at least three weeks before the admission deadline for the scores to reach on time.

Consider Time for Retaking Duolingo

It might happen that students are not satisfied with their scores when they took the exam for the first time or the scores do not match the minimum score requirement of the university to which they will be applying. Therefore, they must have enough time in hand to consider retake of the examination. For retakes, they need to solidify preparations and it is necessary to have at least 15 days of preparation before the retake.

Now that candidates know the Duolingo score requirements in various countries and the Duolingo English Test validity, they can start Duolingo exam preparation. As the Duolingo exam is yet to be accepted for immigration purposes, hence, they must remember that the Duolingo score is valid only for university admissions.