Can Duolingo replace IELTS?

Duolingo is currently recognised by a number of overseas colleges. A Duolingo score of 115-120 corresponds to an IELTS score of 7, and a score of 135-140 corresponds to a weighted band of 8. The Duolingo Test results are available within 48 hours. However, the IELTS results take 3 to 13 days to complete.

Is Duolingo more difficult than IELTS?

This is a myth that Duolingo is easier than its competitors, such as IELTS. It is also intended to measure excellent language abilities, as are both of the previous examinations.

Can I take the Duolingo test instead of the IELTS?

Yes, you can take the Duolingo test instead of the IELTS.

IELTS vs DUOLINGO

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IELTS vs DUOLINGO

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the standardised English proficiency tests that all universities in the world accept. It is scored in a 9-band scale, and is one of the oft-chosen tests by international students.

Many top universities and colleges across the world require students to submit English proficiency test scores, particularly non-native speakers who wish to study or work in places where English is the primary language of communication. These English proficiency examinations are frequently required as part of the university admissions process. IELTS and Duolingo are two of the most popular English proficiency assessments. This article delves into the distinctions between IELTS and Duolingo.

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IELTS vs Duolingo Overview

Details	IELTS	Duolingo
Conducting Body	British Council and IDP IELTS.	Duolingo
Mode of Examination	Online and Offline	Online
Exam Fees ( USD)	Ranges between $245 – USD 255 (INR 18186- INR 18928)	$49 (INR 3637)
Duration of Exam	165 mins	60 mins
Sections	Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking	AdaptiveSection (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) and Video Interview
Results Declaration	3-5 days (Online Mode) 13 days (Offline Mode)	48 hours
Scoring Range	Bands (0-9)	Score (10-160)

Difference between IELTS vs Duolingo

Applicants frequently question which of the two tests, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test, is better. The following comparison between the Duolingo English Test and IELTS might assist applicants in better understanding both exams:

Parameters	Duolingo	IELTS
Nature of Test	The Duolingo English Exam is a computer-based English proficiency test.	Paper-based Test, and Computer-based Test.
Test Conducted	After enrolling and paying, candidates can take the test whenever and wherever they prefer.	Candidates can choose from 48 exam dates per year for a paper-based test and 5 days per week for a computer-based test.
Test Location	Anywhere (typically from a quiet area at home)	There are designated testing centres in a range of locations.
Test Fees	49 USD (INR 3605)	INR 15,500
Score report fees to other universities	Free	Free for the first 5 Universities.
Test Structure	Introduction and Onboarding, Graded Adaptive Test, and Ungraded Video and Writing Sample are the three major components.	4 different sections- Reading, listening, speaking and listening.
Test Duration	60 minutes	2 hours 45 minutes
Types of Questions	Short questions are included in the Duolingo English Test. The Adaptive exam consists of brief questions presented in random order. The writing challenge includes a topic that must be replied to in 50 - 100 words or less.	The reading segment and writing exercises each require a minimum of 250 words.
Test Results	Results will be provided in less than 48 hours.	Results will be provided within a week.

IELTS vs Duolingo: Exam Format

Format of IELTS

The primary distinction between IELTS and Duolingo examinations is their forms. IELTS is divided into two categories: Academic Training and General Training. While the hearing and reading components of IELTS are the same for all applicants, the reading and writing sections change. The Listening, Reading, and Writing assessments must all be completed on the same day, with no pauses. However, when it comes to the Speaking test, the applicant can complete it either one week before or one week after the other tests are completed. The IELTS exam lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes in total.

Sections	No. of Questions	Duration
Listening	40	30 minutes
Reading	40	60 minutes
Writing	2	60 minutes
Speaking	3 (divided into 3 parts)	11-14 minutes

Format of Duolingo

The Duolingo English Examination is an adaptive test, which means it is designed to assess your precise level of language competence. This implies that the difficulty level will rise with each correct response and fall with each incorrect answer. This approach of dynamically altering the difficulty level is known as an adaptive test, and it is still an important part of the Duolingo English Test. The Duolingo English test takes around one hour to complete.

Let's have a look at the IELTS and Duolingo exam formats.

Section	Skills Tested	Duration
Adaptive Test (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking)	It is a graded portion that assesses your abilities in reading, listening, writing, and speaking.	45 minutes
Video Interview	It is an ungraded portion in which you record your responses to open-ended questions.	10 minutes

IELTS vs Duolingo: Score Comparison

IELTS scores range from 0 to 9. You may potentially receive .5 scores (for example, 6.5 or 7.5). Candidates may expect band scores for each component of the IELTS exam, including Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, as well as an average score for all areas, which will then represent your overall IELTS band score.

Duolingo assesses candidates' competency as a whole score on a scale of 10-160, with 5 point increments. The Duolingo English Test results include the overall score from the various categories of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, as well as the subscores from Literacy, Comprehension, Production, and Conversation.

Let's look at the score comparisons for each of these tests to see how they compare to IELTS versus Duolingo:

IELTS	Duolingo
9	155-160
8.5	145-150
8	135-140
7.5	125-130
7	115-120
6.5	105-110
6	95-100
5.5	85-90
5	75-80
4.5	65-70
4	55-60
3.5	45-50
3	35-40
2.5	25-30
2	15-20
1.5	5-10

Duolingo Test Score to IELTS Score Conversion

The table below compares the Duolingo score to the IELTS score:

Duolingo Score	IELTS band
10	1.5
15	2
20-25	2.5
30-40	3
45-50	3.5
55-60	4
65-70	4.5
75-80	5
85-90	5.5
95-100	6
105-110	6.5
115-120	7
125-130	7.5
135-140	8
145-150	8.5
155-160	9

Proficiency Level

Both IELTS and Duolingo are meant to assess student's competence, abilities, and comprehension of the English language. The table below compares the competency levels for IELTS and Duolingo examinations, as well as the results.

Proficiency Level	IELTS	Duolingo
Expert	9	155-160
Very Good	8.5	145-150
Very Good	8	135-140
Good	7.5	125-130
Good	7	115-120
Competent	6.5	105-110
Competent	6	95-100
Modest	5.5	85-90
Modest	5	75-80
Limited	4.5	65-70
Extremely Limited	4	55-60

Universities Accepting IELTS and Duolingo

More than 3,500 universities globally have validated the Duolingo English Test. Top US colleges such as Columbia, Chicago, Duke, New York, and Yale University have all accepted the exam as proof of English competency. IELTS scores are recognised for education and immigration in all English-speaking nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.

Some of the universities that accept both exams are listed below. Candidates can quickly compute their scores by using the table below. For example, a Duolingo score of 110 corresponds to an IELTS score of 6.5. As a result, individuals can select institutions based on their test scores.

Top Colleges/Universities	Country	IELTS Band Score	Duolingo Scores
Harvard University	USA	7.5 or above	125
Stanford University	USA	7.0 or above	100
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	7.5	125
University of California Berkeley (UCB)	USA	6.5	115
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	USA	7.0	120
Yale University	USA	7.0	120
Columbia University	USA	7.5	125
Princeton University	USA	7.0	__________
New York University (NYU)	USA	7.5	125
University of Pennsylvania	USA	7.0	120
University of Oxford	UK	7.0	__________
University of Cambridge	UK	7.0	__________
Imperial College London	UK	6.5	110
University College London (UCL)	UK	6.5	109
London School of Economics and Political Science	UK	7.0	__________
University of Edinburgh	UK	6.5	105
King's College London	UK	6.5	__________
University of Manchester	UK	5.5	115
University of Warwick	UK	6.5	119
University of Bristol	UK	6.5	__________
University of Toronto	Canada	6.5	120
University of British Columbia	Canada	6.5	Only approved in countries when there is no alternative English exam available.
McGill University	Canada	6.5	115
McMaster University	Canada	6.5	__________
University of Alberta	Canada	6.5	115
University of Montreal	Canada	6.5	120 and above
University of Calgary	Canada	6	110
University of Ottawa	Canada	6.5	120
University of Waterloo	Canada	6.5	120
Western University	Canada	6.5	115
University of Munich	Europe	6.5	120
Catholic University of Leuven	Europe	6.5	105-110
Karolinska Institute	Europe	6.5	__________
Utrecht University	Europe	6.5	__________
Heidelberg University	Europe	6.5	95
University of Manchester	Europe	5.5	__________
Universite Paris Saclay	Europe	__________	__________
Erasmus University Rotterdam	Europe	6.5	110
University of Zurich	Europe	7	__________
Université de Paris	Europe	6.5	115+

That's all there is to it! The primary distinctions between IELTS and Duolingo. Although IELTS is far more popular than Duolingo, in light of Covid-19, the Duolingo English Test is also being approved by an increasing number of universities throughout the world. If you want to study abroad, our professionals at AECC can undoubtedly help you make your dream a reality!

We'll even call you once you've arrived at your chosen university to ensure everything goes smoothly. Simply walk into an AECC office near you if you need help with your study or job!

Know More About IELTS vs DUOLINGO

Know More About IELTS

FAQs About IELTS vs DUOLINGO

Both tests have their value when it comes to testing the capabilities of candidates who hope to study in universities from English-speaking countries. Comparatively, the IELTS exam is divided into four sections: reading (60 minutes), listening (30 minutes), speaking (11-14 minutes), and writing (60 minutes). The Duolingo English Test is a 45-minute adaptive test (writing, reading, speaking, and listening).

IELTS vs DUOLINGO

IELTS vs DUOLINGO

IELTS vs Duolingo Overview

Difference between IELTS vs Duolingo

IELTS vs Duolingo: Exam Format

Format of IELTS

Format of Duolingo

IELTS vs Duolingo: Score Comparison

Duolingo Test Score to IELTS Score Conversion

Proficiency Level

Universities Accepting IELTS and Duolingo

FAQs About IELTS vs DUOLINGO

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