Duolingo vs IELTS: Which is Better for Indian Students?

Students aspiring to study abroad need to take an English proficiency test. The test needs intense preparation to match the eligibility criteria set by the universities. However, a real question waits to be answered before that – which test to take? Some of the common tests among Indian students are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Duolingo English Test (DET). While both these tests assess the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of the applicants, they vary widely in their format, syllabus and scoring. We have managed to compare their aspects so students can make an informed decision on which suits their requirements the best.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Jointly owned by the IDP, British Council*, and Cambridge English, IELTS is a widely known English proficiency test recognised by over 11,000 institutions globally. Whether it is Canada, the USA, the UK or Ireland, universities have standardised IELTS as a mandatory test required to seek admission. In fact, over 4 billion applicants book the IELTS tests every year. The test requires students to demonstrate their skills in its 4 types of sections – listening, reading, speaking and writing. Notably, this 2-hour and 45-minute test has no limit to how many times students can attempt it as long as they are 16 years old or above.

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Gaining popularity with the Duolingo learning app, DET is a recent reformation in the English tests available. More than 4,000 universities globally accept the Duolingo English Test at the entrance level. It is an extensive and impressive way of learning. However, the test is only available online on the Duolingo App. As it is an adaptive exam, ie. the difficulty level alters as per the students’ previous answers, it is unavailable with an offline option. On the other hand, it is shorter (45 minutes duration only), more student-friendly and an upgraded option. Unlike IELTS, there are no sections or defined question types. Further, the test proceeds with a 5-minute introduction and ends with a quick video interview of 10 minutes.

Exam Pattern: IELTS vs Duolingo

As mentioned earlier, there are 4 sections in IELTS. The Listening section has a total of 40 questions to be answered within 30 minutes. Secondly, the Reading section has the same amount of questions to answer within an hour. Thirdly, the Speaking section has another hour for its 2 questions. Lastly, the Writing section, divided into 3 parts with one question each, gives only 11-14 minutes. On the other hand, the pattern of Duolingo English Tests is quite simple. The test starts with 5 minutes of introduction followed by 45 minutes of adaptive examination. The final part of the test involves a 10-video interview of 10 minutes which assesses the reading skills of the students.

Scoring: IELTS vs Duolingo

The scores in IELTS are called Bands. Apart from the overall score, students must clear the section-wise as defined by the universities they aim to study. Again, Duolingo’s scoring system surpasses this complication by their standard score range of 10-160. The highest score in IELTS is 9 equivalent to DET’s 155-160. While this is not the required score, it is likely to be achieved. Ideally, to study in the UK, students need an IELTS score of 6.0-7.0 or 105-120 in DET. Further, to study in the USA, students need 6.0-6.5 in IELTS or between 100-120 in DET. Notably, these scores can vary with the choice of courses, universities and location. Both their scores remain valid for up to 2 years. Or until the applicant books a second test.

Application Process: IELTS vs Duolingo

As a matter of fact, both exams have a similar application process. IELTS test takers need to log in to IDP IELTS and register for the test by selecting their city, test date and time. While for DET, students can do the same on Duolingo’s official website. Exceptionally, IELTS applicants can apply physically at an IDP branch. Both tests require the formal details of the applicant, photo ID proof and the test fee during the registration process. The fee for IELTS (Academia/General or Online/Offline) is INR 17,000. On the other hand, the DET application costs INR 4,920.

Make a Pick

It seems like an easy pick. DET not only surpasses IELTS-A with its convenient registration and test process, but it also costs way less. However, it has its limitations with university acceptance and recognition. Moreover, for students comfortable with an offline pen-and-paper exam, DET could be a definite bummer. Students can always take mock tests online or with Studywise International to see what fits them better.

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