Duolingo English Test (DET)
Duolingo English Test (DET)
Structure & Format
- The DET is completely online and adaptive — questions get harder or easier based on your previous answers. Wikipedia
- Test duration: ~1 hour. Wikipedia
Skills Assessed
- English proficiency across reading, writing, speaking, listening — though the exact mix of tasks may vary because of its adaptive nature.
- Because it’s adaptive, it efficiently pinpoints your level of English competence.
Scoring
- Score range: 10–160. Wikipedia
- Validity: Scores are valid for 2 years, like many other English tests. Wikipedia
- The scoring is done through an algorithm that adapts to your performance; some versions may use AI in evaluating speaking / writing tasks.
Why It Matters
- Highly accessible: since it’s online, you can take it from home, saving time and travel.
- Especially useful for students who want flexibility and don’t have easy access to test centers.
- Accepted by an increasing number of institutions — a growing, flexible alternative to more traditional English tests.
TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Structure & Format
- The TOEFL iBT measures all four academic language skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, in a way that reflects how English is used in real classroom settings. ETS+2ETS+2
- The test takes just under 2 hours, but with check-in and administrative time, you should plan for ~2.5 hours. ETS+1
- It’s offered in two modes:
Skills Assessed
- Reading: Understanding academic passages, comparing ideas, drawing inferences. ETS
- Listening: Comprehending lectures, discussions, and conversations. ETS+1
- Speaking: Includes independent tasks (expressing opinion) and integrated tasks (based on reading + listening). ETS+1
- Writing: Two tasks — one where you read + listen and write, another where you write your opinion in a classroom-discussion style. ETS
Scoring
- Each section (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) is scored on a 0–30 scale. ETS+1
- The total score (sum of all sections) ranges from 0–120. ETS
- Speaking and Writing responses are evaluated using a combination of AI scoring and human raters. ETS+1
- Score Validity: Your TOEFL iBT score is valid for 2 years. ETS
Changes Coming (from Jan 21, 2026):
- The scoring scale will shift to 1–6 (in 0.5 increments), aligning with the CEFR framework. ETS+1
- For a transition period (2 years), you’ll also receive a comparable 0–120 score along with the new scale. ETS
Why It Matters
- Academic Relevance: TOEFL iBT is designed around real academic contexts, so it’s highly aligned with the demands of university-level study. ETS
- Flexibility: With the Home Edition option, students who don’t have access to a test center can still take the test remotely. ETS
- Reliability & Fairness: The hybrid scoring system helps maintain consistency and reduce bias in evaluating speaking and writing. ETS
- Global Recognition: Widely accepted by universities around the world; it’s one of the most trusted academic English proficiency tests.