Duolingo and PTE both are the English language test required for candidates aspiring to study abroad at universities. Some of the most well-known English proficiency tests today are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo English Test. PTE exam is taken to showcase the English aptitude of a candidate for universities as well as for Australian visa purposes.Duolingo English test fee is $49 or INR. 3605 whereas the PTE test costs INR. 13, 700. Duolingo English Test can be taken online whereas PTE tests are taken in test centers. Candidates can choose either of the tests according to their convenience.
Duolingo Vs PTE Exam Format
Here is the detail about PTE and Duolingo test:
| Difference | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Test Fees | $49(INR. 3605) | INR 13,700 |
| Online/ Test Center | Online | Test Center |
| Test Duration | 60 minutes | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Acceptance | Across 3000+ universities | USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and China |
| Test Section | Introduction and Onboarding(5 minutes), Graded Adaptive Test(45 minutes), and Ungraded Video and Writing Sample(10 minutes). |
Speaking and Writing, Listening, and Reading |
| Results | 48 hours | 48 hours |
| Test Booking | Register on the Duolingo website | Register on the PTE website to book a test and 14 days in advance |
| Scoring Range | Score(10-160) | Score(10-90) |
Duolingo VS PTE Syllabus
Here is the detailed comparison of the different sections of the Duolingo English Test and PTE:
| Criteria | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | In the Duolingo Reading test, the candidates have to answer questions like filling in the missing letters, matching words for statements. | In PTE Reading the candidates has to answer 15-20 questions which include MCQs, Fill in the blanks, and reordering paragraphs |
| Listening | In the Duolingo Listening test, the candidates have to answer questions like actual and pseudo-English terms and identify the correct English words | In PTE Listening the candidates have to answer 8 question types. These question types include subsections like which include MCQs, Fill in the blanks, dictation, and text summary. |
| Writing | In the Duolingo Writing test, the candidates have to answer real English words from a list of pseudowords and fill in the missing text from a given sentence. They need to write a minimum of 500-word responses to a given question and type the statement after listening to the audio recording. | In PTE Writing the candidates have to answer eight subsections that span from a personal introduction to an essay, a read-aloud, a sentence repetition, and a summary of the written content. |
| Speaking | In the Duolingo Speaking test, the candidates will be provided an image, they need to explain it. Duolingo English Test’s video interview segment includes speaking about a specified topic and providing a writing sample. | In PTE Speaking the candidates have to answer 11-17 questions. These question types focus on the candidate’s personal life and interview. Here the candidates need to know about themselves and a few questions would be asked regarding so. |
Duolingo and PTE Result Comparison
| Criteria | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Result | In the Duolingo English test, the candidates will be provided with their DET results after 2 days of the test. | In the PTE test, the candidates will be provided with their PTE results after 5 business days. They will be able to access their results through their online PTE account. |
Duolingo vs PTE Proficiency Level
Both Duolingo and PTE examine your ability and skills and understanding of English. Here is the table given below that determines the proficiency level of Duolingo vs PTE along with the scores:
| Proficiency Level | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Expert | 155-160 | 89-90 |
| Very Good | 135-140 | 83-85 |
| Very Good | 135-140 | 74-78 |
| Good | 125-130 | 73-77 |
| Good | 115-120 | 64-72 |
| Competent | 105-110 | 58-63 |
| Competent | 95-100 | 50-57 |
| Modest | 85-90 | 42-49 |
| Modest | 75-80 | 35-41 |
| Limited | 65-70 | 30-34 |
| Extremely Limited | 55-60 | 0-30 |
Is Duolingo Test an alternative for IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL?
Here are a few points that can help you clear your doubts regarding the above exams:
- Duolingo English Test is relatively easier than others.
- DET is convenient to take the test online as it is hassle-free, and includes no traveling costs.
- The DET provides test results within 48 hours of the test.
- The DET registration costs $49, while most of the other test certifications cost over $200
- There is no limitation to sharing your test results with colleges/universities
- The test lasts 45 minutes.
Duolingo vs PTE Accepting Universities
Here are the top universities across the globe that accepts PTE and Duolingo:
| Universities/Colleges | Duolingo | PTE |
|---|---|---|
| Universities in the USA | University of North Alabama Arizona State University University of Arkansas California Institute of Technology California State University Northridge Humboldt State University Yale University University of Bridgeport Florida Atlantic University Georgia State University University of Idaho Illinois Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University |
Harvard University Yale University Columbia University University of Pennsylvania George Mason University Babson College University of Southern California SUNY, Binghamton Colorado State University Pace University University of Illinois, Chicago |
| Universities in the UK | Anglia Ruskin University Bangor University University of Bristol Brunel University University of Glasgow University of Birmingham Queen’s University Belfast Middlesex University University of Stirling Plymouth University University of Hertfordshire Leeds Beckett University |
London Business School University of Oxford Aston University University of Southampton University of Bath University of Warwick University of Glasgow |
| Universities in Canada | Algoma University Cape Breton University Concordia University University of Calgary University of Alberta Thompson Rivers University University of New Brunswick – Saint John University of Windsor Yorkville University, Toronto University of Regina |
University of British Columbia McGill University University of Ottawa University of Calgary University of Waterloo Dalhousie University York University University of Saskatchewan |
Both PTE and Duolingo English Test are language proficiency tests. Candidates need to take the exam that they feel prepared with. Also, the difficulty level of any test depends on the preparation of the candidates.
