Duolingo English Test Cost (2026): Why Most Students Pay $140, Not $70
The DET costs $70 for one test or $118 for two. But the real cost isn't the fee — it's retaking a test you weren't ready for.
Updated February 2026 · Verified Pricing
The Duolingo English Test costs $70 USD for one attempt. A two-test bundle is $118 — that's $59 per test. Score sending is free and unlimited. That's the short answer. Here's what you need to know before you pay.
2026 DET Price Breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Single test | $70 USD |
| Two-test bundle | $118 USD ($59 per test) |
| Rush results (12 hours) | +$39 USD |
| Standard results (48 hours) | Free |
| Score sending | Unlimited, free |
Pricing verified from the official Duolingo English Test website, February 2026. DET scores are valid for two years from the test date. The fee is the same in every country.
How the DET Fee Compares to Other Options
The Duolingo English Test price — also searched as the "DET cost," "Duolingo exam fee," or "Duolingo English Test price 2026" — is one of the lowest among English proficiency exams.
| Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Single DET attempt | $70 | One test, results in 48 hours |
| Two-test bundle | $118 | Two attempts, $59 each |
| TOEFL iBT | $195–$245 | One attempt, $20 per score report |
| IELTS | $280–$340 | One attempt, $20+ per score report |
| DET Advantage | $34.99/month | 120 units A2–C1, live group sessions, AI feedback |
The DET is already the most affordable English proficiency test. But if you pay $70 and you're not prepared, you're not saving money — you're setting up a retake.
What Happens If You Need to Retake
You can take the DET up to three times in any 30-day period. Each attempt is a separate purchase. The Duolingo English Test fee is non-refundable — if you don't take the test within 21 days of purchase, you lose the fee.
One test is $70. Two tests because you need a retake is $140. That's twice the budget and a delay in your application. One month on DET Advantage is $34.99 — 120 units moving you from A2 to C1, live group sessions, and AI feedback on your speaking and writing so you know your estimated score before you sit the real test. Less than half the cost of a single retake, and you actually know why you passed.
The two-test bundle at $118 makes sense if you think you'll need a second attempt. But preparation makes more sense than insurance.
Rush Results: Is the Extra $39 Worth It?
Standard results arrive within 48 hours. Pay an extra $39 and you get them in 12 hours — $109 total for a single test with rush scoring.
It's only worth it if your deadline is in the next two or three days. If you have a week or more, skip it.
The Cost You're Not Thinking About
Most students focus on the $70 fee. The indirect cost they don't calculate is what happens when they fail — another $70 for a retake, a delayed application, a missed university deadline.
The DET doesn't test grammar knowledge. It tests how you use English under pressure — how quickly you retrieve words, how clearly you express ideas, how well you hold a real-time conversation. Students who spend their preparation time on grammar rules and vocabulary lists often score lower than they expect. Not because their English is weak. Because they trained the wrong things.
The most common reason students pay the DET retake cost is that they studied what they thought the test wanted, not what it actually measures.
How to Make Your $70 Count the First Time
The DET is computer-adaptive — the difficulty adjusts in real time based on your answers. Your score reflects how you perform under those conditions, not how much you've studied.
At LU English we work with DET students who have strong English but get stuck at 95 or 100 because they're approaching the test the wrong way. The fix is usually specific — a particular task type, a thinking pattern, a way of processing language under time pressure. Once you identify it, the score moves.
DET Advantage is $34.99 per month. It includes 120 units taking you from A2 to C1, live group sessions, and AI feedback on your speaking and writing so you know your estimated score before you sit the real test — less than half the cost of a single retake.
If you'd rather start with a diagnosis first, our book a diagnostic identifies exactly what's holding your score back. You leave with a clear plan and no wasted attempts.
Where to Buy the Test
Buy directly from the official Duolingo English Test website. You'll need a free account, identity verification, and payment by card or Alipay. Once purchased, you have 21 days to schedule and complete your test.
Before you book, check three things: the score your target university requires, what score you currently need to reach, and whether you've practiced the actual task types — not just general English.
For university requirements, see our DET accepted universities guide. For score targets, see our DET passing score guide. For preparation, start with our complete DET preparation guide.
Want to make your $70 count the first time? Our book a diagnostic identifies exactly what's holding your score back so you don't pay for a retake.
Not sure why your DET score is stuck?
Take a free practice test and see exactly where your score leaks — before you pay for the real thing.
Start the free practice test →Frequently asked
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost in 2026?
The Duolingo English Test costs $70 USD for a single test. A two-test bundle is $118, which works out to $59 per test. Score sending to unlimited universities is free.
Is the Duolingo English Test fee refundable?
No. The DET fee is non-refundable. If you do not complete the test within 21 days of purchase, the fee is forfeited.
Does Duolingo offer discounts on the test?
The only official discount is the two-test bundle at $118, which is $22 cheaper than buying two tests separately at $70 each.
How long are DET scores valid?
Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.
How many times can you take the DET?
You can take the DET up to three times in any 30-day period. Each attempt requires a separate purchase.
How does the DET cost compare to IELTS and TOEFL?
The DET at $70 is significantly cheaper than IELTS ($280–$340) and TOEFL ($195–$245). The DET also includes free unlimited score sending, whereas IELTS and TOEFL charge extra per institution.
Is there a rush results option for the DET?
Yes. You can pay an extra $39 to receive your results in 12 hours instead of the standard 48 hours.
Keep reading
What to Do When You Don't Know the Word in DET Speaking
A student who couldn't name the place he was standing in learned to describe a deep-sea animal he'd never seen. The same chain keeps you talking when a word disappears in the test.
She Learned the Rule. Three Minutes Later, She Broke It Twice.
A student learned the do/make rule, confirmed she understood it, and broke it twice three minutes later. That gap is why DET scores stall, and why studying harder does not close it.
Why You Run Out of Things to Say on the DET Speaking Test
You have the English, but on DET Speaking you go quiet a sentence or two in. The real problem isn't vocabulary — it's generating ideas under pressure. Here's what to train.