Guide · Last updated 30 September 2026
IELTS vs Duolingo
The Duolingo English Test is shorter, taken at home and accepted by thousands of universities. It is not accepted for UK visas that need a secure test, for Canada PR, or for any Australian visa. Here is the official score comparison and how to decide.
The two tests side by side
| IELTS | Duolingo English Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | British Council, IDP and Cambridge | Duolingo |
| Length | About 2 hours 45 minutes, including an 11 to 14 minute Speaking test | About 1 hour, adaptive |
| Where | Test centre | On your own computer, wherever you are |
| Speaking | A conversation with a trained examiner | Recorded answers, plus a speaking sample sent to institutions |
| Scale | Bands 0 to 9, in half bands | 10 to 160, in steps of 5 |
| Results | 1 to 5 days on computer | 2 days, or 12 hours if you pay for faster results |
| Valid for | Two years at most institutions | Two years |
| UK visas that need a secure test | IELTS for UKVI | Not accepted |
| Canada PR | General Training | Not accepted |
| Australian visas | Accepted | Not accepted |
The official score comparison
Duolingo published this comparison with IELTS in 2022. Its later study of the four separate skills did not change it.
| IELTS | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|
| 8.5 to 9 | 160 |
| 8 | 150 to 155 |
| 7.5 | 140 to 145 |
| 7 | 130 to 135 |
| 6.5 | 120 to 125 |
| 6 | 105 to 115 |
| 5.5 | 95 to 100 |
| 5 | 80 to 90 |
| 4.5 | 65 to 75 |
| 4 | 60 |
| 0 to 4 | 10 to 55 |
A comparison is a guide, not a requirement. When a university names a Duolingo score, that number decides.
Where Duolingo is not enough
A university can admit you with a Duolingo score and your visa can still ask for something else. In the UK, any route that needs a Secure English Language Test needs IELTS for UKVI or another test on the gov.uk list. Canada does not accept it for PR; that is IELTS General Training, CELPIP or PTE Core. Australia does not accept it for any visa, the student visa included; the Australia guide lists the tests that count. The United States student visa has no English test of its own, so there the university's requirement is the only one.
How to choose
Check every step, not just the first. If your university accepts Duolingo and nothing after admission asks for another test, the shorter test taken at home is a sensible choice. If a visa, a professional registration or a later migration application is anywhere in your plans, take IELTS or PTE once, now, and use the same result for all of it while it is valid.
Consider the format. Duolingo is an hour of short, adaptive questions on your own computer, with strict rules about your room and your camera. IELTS is longer, at a centre, and its Speaking is a conversation with an examiner. People who do better talking to a person often prefer IELTS; people who dread a long test day often prefer Duolingo.
Frequently asked questions
What Duolingo score is equal to IELTS 6.5?
On Duolingo’s official comparison, IELTS 6.5 matches a Duolingo English Test score of 120 to 125. IELTS 7 matches 130 to 135, IELTS 6 matches 105 to 115, and IELTS 8.5 to 9 matches the top score of 160.
Can I use the Duolingo English Test for a UK visa?
Not where the visa needs a Secure English Language Test; Duolingo is not on the gov.uk list. A UK university that assesses your English itself for a degree-level Student visa may accept Duolingo for admission, which is the university’s choice. Any other route needs a secure test such as IELTS for UKVI.
Does Canada accept Duolingo for PR or a study permit?
Not for PR: IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. For study, your university decides, and many Canadian universities list Duolingo for admission.
Does Australia accept the Duolingo English Test?
Not for any visa. The Australian rules list IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic, the Michigan English Test and OET; Duolingo is not among them. Even if an Australian university admits you with a Duolingo score, the visa needs one of the listed tests unless you are exempt.
How long does the Duolingo English Test take?
About an hour: roughly 5 minutes of setup, a 45-minute adaptive test and a 10-minute writing and speaking sample. You take it on your own computer, wherever you are, and results arrive in 2 days, or 12 hours if you pay for faster results.
Is Duolingo easier than IELTS?
It is shorter and it adapts to you, so it asks for less stamina. That does not make the same English worth a higher score: the official comparison is built from people who sat both. If your university accepts it and no visa needs another test, the shorter test is a fair choice.
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