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Duolingo vs IELTS vs TOEFL

Comparing language proficiency tests: which is best?

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Duolingo vs IELTS vs TOEFL

Duolingo vs IELTS Score Comparison

Each of these exams has a distinct scoring pattern. IELTS offers a particular band of score based on the level of English language skill, whereas TOEFL and Duolingo prefer score points. Despite using various scoring systems, they can be contrasted based on the proficiency level that each score/band denotes.

Duolingo English Test to IELTS Score Conversion

For the basic level, the score comparison has been outlined below-
In Duolingo, the scores are 10, 15, 20-25, 30-40, and 45-50, while in IELTS, the scores are 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5, respectively. 

For the intermediate level, the score comparison has been outlined below-
In Duolingo, the scores are 55-60, 65-70, and 75-80, while in IELTS, the scores are 4, 4.5, and 5, respectively. 

For the upper intermediate level, the score comparison has been outlined below-
In Duolingo, the scores are 85-90, 95-100, 105-110, and 115-120, while in IELTS, the scores are 5.5, 6, 6.5, and 7, respectively. 

For the advanced level, the score comparison has been outlined below-
In Duolingo, the scores are 125-130, 135-140, 145-150, and 155-160, while in IELTS, the scores are 7.5, 8, 8.5, and 9, respectively. 

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Which is Better IELTS or TOEFL or Duolingo?

IELTS or TOEFL is much more popular than Duolingo, as it has been accepted by most of the universities for study abroad

Is the Duolingo English Test Better than TOEFL?

Both the tests check English proficiency of candidates. The Duolingo English Test evaluates the listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills of a candidate. It also has a shorter span as compared to IELTS. Thus, both tests are equally equipped to assess the quality of a student.

Exam Structure: Duolingo English Test vs. IELTS vs. TOEFL

The exam structure of the Duolingo English Test is Quick Set up, the Adaptive Test – Evaluates Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing, and Video Interview. The exam structure of IELTS is listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The exam structure of TOEFL is listening, reading, speaking (in iBT), and writing.

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Test Requirements: Duolingo English Test vs. IELTS vs. TOEFL

Though all the tests aim to assess English language proficiency, each of them has different requirements.

The test requirements of the Duolingo English Test are- it has no minimum age requirement; any age group of applicants can take the test, but children of 13 years and below require a parent consent letter to appear in the exam. It is also not restricted to any profession, thus, the test is open to all. The documents accepted by Duolingo are any Government-issued ID, driver’s license, and passport. It has to be registered on the official website of Duolingo through the Google Account of the candidate. The equipment required are external speakers, an external microphone, a computer having a front-facing camera, and fast and reliable internet. 

The test requirements of IELTS include adults only, that is, 18 years and above; children of 16 years and below require a parent consent letter to appear in the exam. It is also not restricted to any profession, thus, the test is open to all. The documents accepted by IELTS are active credit or debit cards and passports. The documents required for IELTS are the National Identity Card and passport of the candidate. It has to be registered on the official website of the IELTS Exam through the IELTS Online Registration Platform. 

The test requirements of TOEFL include an age group of 17 years or above; children of 15 years and below require a parent consent letter to appear in the exam. It is also not restricted to any profession, thus, the test is open to all. The documents accepted by TOEFL are original and valid passports of the candidate, with his/her signature and picture. The documents required in TOEFL are military ID, driver’s license, and his/her National ID including photograph, name, and signature. It has to be registered on the official website of TOEFL Exam through the official TOEFL website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The objective of the Duolingo English test is to evaluate a candidate's proficiency in spoken English in everyday real-world situations. It assesses the candidates' capabilities in speaking, writing, reading, and listening. In contrary to IELTS, the length of the Duolingo examination is shorter. Thus, finishing the test quickly requires a high level of proficiency in the English language.

When compared, both Duolingo and IELTS have similar difficulty level. Both of these have been designed to assess the English language skills, thus, it is a myth to consider Duolingo as an easier option as compared to IELTS.

It became challenging to undertake the standardised examinations in the test centers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the aid of the internet, Duolingo can be accessed from home and is approved by many educational institutions in addition to IELTS and TOEFL. IELTS has developed an online exam termed as the IELTS Indicator that allows students who desire to complete their IELTS.

The obtained Duolingo score by the candidate is compared to their scores in TOEFL and IELTS. To determine comparable test results that have comparable percentile values, Duolingo scores are compared to TOEFL scores. In addition to this, it offers evidence which supports the accuracy of the test results in Duolingo.

When compared to the actual Duolingo English Test, the sample test is taken for 15 minutes lesser time. The actual test is taken for 45 minutes. Since the sample test's results are based on a limited number of questions, applicants can estimate their score from it.

More than 1000 additional programs have begun to accept the Duolingo English test since the COVID-19 outbreak struck the world. Presently, it is utilized for admissions by more than 2,000 universities, 70% of which are situated in the US. This test is embraced by even the topmost educational institutions. According to the Duolingo Test, thousands of institutions throughout the world accept it. The results of the test are accepted by hundreds of academic institutions, including some of the country's top universities such as Yale University, Duke University, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University.

The universities of the UK that accept this test are Leeds Beckett University, University of Hertfordshire, Plymouth University, University of Stirling, Middlesex University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Birmingham, University of Glasgow, Brunel University, University of Bristol, Bangor University, and Anglia Ruskin University. The universities of Canada that accept this test are the University of Regina, Yorkville University, University of Windsor, University of New Brunswick – Saint John, Thompson Rivers University, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Concordia University, Cape Breton University, and Algoma University. 

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