DUOLINGO OR IELTS...WHICH EXAM IS RIGHT FOR ME?
2020 was a year of many changes due to the global pandemic situation. The field of English validation exams was no stranger to this reality. Up to that point there were 2 main exams which were TOEFL and IELTS. Their operations required both exams to be conducted in authorized centers, so they were not prepared for a forced remote context. In this situation of necessity, the Duolingo English Test (DET) slipped in, precisely because it was the only one that allowed the exam to be taken from anywhere. Much has changed in the ecosystem of English validation exams since then and, as a result of these developments, the question of which exam is better has become a recurring one among students. From EPIC we wanted to prepare an article to help you decide whether the DET or the IELTS is more suitable for you.
Table of Contents
Main Features of the Duolingo English Test
- It is an exam that validates the 4 language skills: speaking, writing, listening and reading. Although it tests the 4 skills, it does not test 4 perfectly defined sections.
- It is self-generated by an algorithm and consists of 2 parts: the test which lasts 45 minutes and the interview which lasts 10 minutes.
- It is scored between 10 and 160 points and the scores range from increments of 5.
- It is already accepted in 3500 institutions worldwide.
- The student has 24/7 access to the exam. This means that the exam can be taken any day at any time and from any location.
- Difficulty: depends on the grade required by the center to which you want to apply.
- Scores are received within 48 hours after finishing the exam.
- The price of the exam is 49$.
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Main characteristics of the IELTS
- It has 4 different sections (Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening) which serve to validate the 4 language skills.
- It is an exam that can be taken in paper format (PBT) or by computer. In both cases, the Reading, Writing and Listening are done consecutively and have a duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes. The IELTS Speaking section can be taken on the day of the exam or on another date, and you speak to a human being (rather than to the computer).
- The IELTS is scored between 1 and 9 points and scores move in half-point intervals.
- Accepted by over 11,000 institutions (second highest validation test for worldwide acceptance after TOEFL).
- All IELTS exams (PBT and online) are taken at an official test center with the limitations of availability that this entails.
- Difficulty: As with the DET, it is an exam that serves to validate all types of levels, so the difficulty depends on the score you are asked for. However, the IELTS has an additional difficulty and that is that the Writing exam is exceptionally difficult. It is important that you keep this in mind during your test selection.
- You will receive your scores 5 days after you have completed the exam.
- The price of the IELTS is 224€.
Conclusions
From EPIC, although we prepare both exams, we always remind our students that the IELTS is especially complex in the Writing part. It is very important that, if you are allowed to choose between these 2 exams, you take this condition of difficulty into consideration.
The purpose of this article is for you to be able to decide between IELTS and DET and see which one best suits your needs. To make your decision easier, we have prepared a summary table with all the information previously discussed.
Hopefully this blog post has resolved all your doubts. However, if you have questions in regards to your Duolingo English Test preparation, get in touch and we will let you know how EPIC PREP can help you achieve your goals. Differently, if you prefer to continue reading here is the link to our Duolingo courses page.
