The official IELTS by IDP app is here! Download it today.
Choosing the right English proficiency test is just as important as studying for it. After all, the test you pick can significantly impact your goals, whether it's landing a job abroad, getting accepted into a foreign university, or simply demonstrating your English skills. This article will explore the difference between IELTS and Duolingo to help you make the right choice.
Help me with the IELTS registration
Difference between IELTS and Duolingo
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the most popular English language proficiency test, accepted by over 12,000 institutions and organisations worldwide. IELTS assesses an individual’s English proficiency through Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking skills.
On the other hand, The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a standardised English language proficiency test developed by Duolingo. Since DET is a fairly new test not all institutions and organisations accept DET scores, it is important to check whether it is accepted or not at the applied institution or organisation before taking the test.
Let’s look at the difference between IELTS and Duolingo:
Details | IELTS | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
Conducting Body | IDP IELTS | Duolingo |
Global Acceptance | Over 12,000 organisations | Over 5000 institutions |
Mode of Examination | IELTS on Paper and IELTS on Computer | IELTS on Computer |
Sections | Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking | Adaptive section (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) and Video interview |
Scoring range | Band score (0-9) | Score (10-160) |
IELTS vs Duolingo – Format of the exam
IELTS is available in two formats: Academic (for studying purposes) and General Training (for working and immigration purposes). The entire IELTS exam takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. Both IELTS and Duolingo have four sections of assessment: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections. Let’s see IELTS vs Duolingo differences in detail in the next section.
Test Format: IELTS vs DET
The difference in the format of the two tests is provided below.
Aspect | IELTS | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
Sections | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Adaptive test covering Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking |
This section involves listening to recordings of native English speakers and answering questions. There are 4 sections, each increasing in difficulty. | Listening skills are tested throughout the adaptive test with various question types, such as identifying spoken words or phrases. | |
Includes three long texts that range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. Questions include multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer questions. | Reading comprehension is assessed through the adaptive test, which consists of tasks like reading and understanding short and long texts, identifying missing words, and interpreting meaning. | |
Consists of two tasks. Task 1 requires writing a short essay based on a graph, table, chart, or diagram. Task 2 requires writing a formal essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. | Writing is integrated into the test with tasks that may include writing brief responses to prompts, completing sentences, and writing a short essay. | |
Conducted as a separate part of the test, either face-to-face or via video call with a trained examiner. It involves a structured interview, a short speech, and a discussion. | Speaking tasks are included in the adaptive test, which has a video interview format. Test-takers respond to prompts by speaking into the computer's microphone. |
IELTS Preparation
To prepare for the IELTS exam, you must focus on improving your Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking skills to achieve the best possible score. Here is the preparation material for IELTS available on the official IDP IELTS India website to help you achieve your desired band score.
Summary
Though IELTS and Duolingo both assess an individual’s proficiency in English, there are several differences between the two. IELTS is more recognised and globally accepted than Duolingo, making it the preferred choice.
Frequently asked questions
Featured news and articles
- Disclaimer
- Privacy policy
- Terms
- Copyright 2024 IDP IELTS