Taking the Duolingo English Test at Home: A Guide for ASEAN Students

Device and internet requirements

Your testing device has to be a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or Mac, with a working webcam, a working microphone and a stable internet connection. Tablets and phones do not work as the main testing device. Keep your internet connection steady at a minimum of 2 Mbps upload and download for the full session, since a drop interrupts or invalidates your attempt. Review the full technical checklist on englishtest.duolingo.com before you book your slot.

Setting up your test space

• Pick a quiet, private room with a door you close and no other people entering during the test.

• Clear your desk of notes, books, extra screens and phones, other than the second device you use for the room scan.

• Sit in good, even lighting so your webcam captures your face clearly throughout.

• Have a valid government-issued photo ID ready, with a name and birth date matching your test profile exactly.

• Headphones are not allowed. Use your device's built-in or external speakers instead.

What happens during the test

The test adapts as you answer, adjusting question difficulty based on your responses, and runs for roughly 45-60 minutes covering reading, writing, listening and speaking together rather than as separate sections. After the adaptive portion, you complete a short recorded video interview and writing sample that the institutions you send your score to review directly, giving admissions staff a second look at your English beyond the numeric score.

Registering and choosing a test date

DET runs on demand rather than fixed exam dates, so you register online and pick almost any day and time that suits you, often within the same week you decide to test. Pay online by card when you book, then reschedule or cancel through your account if your plans change, following the reschedule and refund policy posted on the official site. Pick a slot at any hour, which matters if a late night or early morning suits your household better than the middle of the day. Confirm your household will stay quiet for the full session before you lock in a time, since a noisy interruption partway through flags your attempt for review.

Practicing before your real test

Duolingo sells an official practice test that mirrors the real adaptive format and gives you a predicted score range, useful for judging whether you are ready before you pay for the real attempt. Free sample questions covering each question type are also on the official site, so you walk into your real test familiar with the format rather than seeing it for the first time on test day.

Live and automated proctoring rules

Duolingo combines automated monitoring with human review of your recording, tracking your screen, camera feed and surroundings for the entire test. Since late 2025, test takers also complete a mandatory second-camera 360-degree room scan and an ear check before the adaptive test begins, on top of the standard ID and environment checks. Follow every proctoring instruction closely, since a flagged rule violation invalidates your result after you finish.

Common reasons attempts get flagged

• Looking away from the screen or camera for extended periods during the test.

• Background noise or another voice picked up by your microphone.

• Switching to another browser tab, application or window during the test.

• A second person entering your room or appearing in the camera view.

Cost and getting your results

The Duolingo English Test costs 70 US dollars at 2026 pricing, charged in US dollars regardless of your country. Most test takers receive their score within about two days of finishing. Once you have a result, send your score report to as many universities or programs as you like at no extra charge, unlike tests that charge a fee per extra score recipient. Your score report stays valid for two years from your test date. Retake the test as soon as you are ready to pay for another attempt, so a technical hiccup or a rough first try does not cost you weeks of waiting.

What your score report includes

Your DET score report lists your overall score from 10 to 160, sub-scores for literacy, comprehension, conversation and production, plus a CEFR-equivalent level. Institutions you send it to also receive your recorded video interview and writing sample, so your score is not the only thing admissions staff review.

If your setup does not meet the requirements

Run Duolingo's official equipment check ahead of your test date to confirm your computer, camera, microphone and internet connection all pass before you commit to a testing slot. Turning up on test day with an unsupported device, a missing second camera for the room scan, or an unstable connection risks losing your attempt, so build in a day or two of buffer to fix any issue the check flags.