Duolingo English Test: Is It Accepted in Australia & UK?

The Duolingo English Test (DET) emerged as a convenient, affordable alternative to IELTS and PTE Academic. At just $65 USD, it's significantly cheaper, can be taken from home, and results are available within 48 hours. But the big question for Nepali students is: will your target university or visa authority accept it?

What is the Duolingo English Test?

The DET is a 60-minute adaptive English proficiency test taken entirely online from your own computer. It tests reading, writing, listening, and speaking through a series of adaptive questions. Scores range from 10 to 160, and results include a video interview and writing sample that universities can review alongside the score.

Is DET Accepted in Australia?

For Australian university admission, DET acceptance has grown significantly. Several major universities now accept it, including RMIT, La Trobe, Flinders, and others. However, the Group of Eight (Go8) universities — Melbourne, Sydney, ANU, UNSW, UQ, Monash, Adelaide, and UWA — generally still require PTE Academic or IELTS. Most importantly, DET is NOT accepted for Australian immigration visas — you still need PTE or IELTS for migration.

Is DET Accepted in the UK?

The Duolingo English Test is NOT on the list of approved Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) for UK visas. This means even if a UK university says it accepts DET for admission, you will still need an IELTS UKVI or other SELT for your visa application.

When is DET the Right Choice?

• Your target university explicitly accepts DET for admission
• You are applying for a US, Canadian, or New Zealand university (many accept DET)
• You need quick, affordable results for a scholarship application
• You are applying for a non-immigration purpose

Score Equivalencies

• DET 110 ≈ IELTS 6.0 ≈ PTE 50
• DET 120 ≈ IELTS 6.5 ≈ PTE 58
• DET 130 ≈ IELTS 7.0 ≈ PTE 65
• DET 145 ≈ IELTS 8.0 ≈ PTE 79