Duolingo Vs PTE - Which English test is better for you?

There are two prominent options for the English proficiency test, namely the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and the Duolingo English Test (DET). Students aiming to study abroad will have a debate on Duolingo or PTE. Choosing the correct English proficiency test can be a tough decision for non-native English speakers who aspire to study in English-speaking countries like the USA, UK, and Canada. While PTE has a well-established reputation, Duolingo is steadily gaining attention across institutions. In this blog, we will compare Duolingo vs PTE to help students make an informed decision about which test suits their needs best.

Table of Contents

• Duolingo vs PTE
• Difficulty Level: Is Duolingo easier than PTE?
• FAQs

Duolingo vs PTE

Both PTE and Duolingo tests help to improve English language skills. Here we discuss the differences between these two exams in brief.

S.No	Parameters	Duolingo English Test (DET)	Pearson Test of English (PTE)
1	Who is Conducting the exam?	Duolingo is an online language platform for learning languages managed by Duolingo Inc.	PTE is conducted by Pearson, a British multinational publishing and education company.
2	What is the Mode of Examination?	The exam is conducted online and can be taken using mobile or computer. It evaluates reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in a single test , according to the proficiency level of the candidate.	The PTE is an offline examination, conducted in Pearson authorised centres. PTE Academic is computer-based with a headset. The question format has multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer and essay questions.
3	What is the purpose?	It helps aspirants to increase their proficiency in an engaging manner. The lessons are interactive and candidates can do it at their own pace.	PTE exams are popular for evaluating your English knowledge. PTE test ‘international’ English, not just American or British. It is done through evaluating vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing and pronunciation.
4	Format of the exams	It's an online assessment tool that evaluates the vocabulary through MCQ pattern.	The PTE test is a computer-based test, which has short answers, essays and MCQ.
5	Exam Structure	Adaptive Section - MCQ questions asked under topics like reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary are covered. The difficulty level of MCQs are asked based on candidates ability. Video Interview - Here, you can record short answers to prompt questions on a video.	PTE has 2 sections Academic - This evaluates the language skills for students / aspirants who wanted to study and settle in abroad. General - This evaluates language skills for purposes like immigrations, visas and jobs. The test has 3 sections: Listening - This estimates the listening skills with questions from audio recordings, conversations and lectures. Reading - This evaluates the reading skills through questioning from short texts, passages, summaries and essays. Speaking and Writing - This assesses the ability to speak and write by giving a topic for an essay, summarising spoken text and speaking aloud.
6	What are the Eligibility Requirements?	No eligibility criteria is required for taking DET.	Age should be 18 years and above. You should have a valid passport.
7	Duration of the exam	Time required to complete the Duolingo test ranges from 30 to 45 minutes.	The PTE test requires approximately 3hrs to complete.
8	What is the Exam pattern?	Reading section has patterns like filling missing letters, matching words for statements. Listening section has questions like identifying the correct English words, between the actual and Pseudo English terms. The Writing section wants candidates to write a 500 word answer to a given question, find the real English word among the Pseudowords and type the statement after listening to the audio recording. In the Speaking section candidates should explain an image that is shown and in the video interview, candidates should speak about the given topic.	Reading section has 15-20 questions include MCQs, Fill in the blanks and reordering paragraphs. In the Listening section candidates have to answer 8 questions, which are of type MCQs, Fill in the blanks, dictation and text summary. In writing candidates have to answer eight subsections which includes personal introduction to an essay, a read-aloud, a sentence repetition, and a summary of the written content. In the Speaking section one should answer 11-17 questions. The questions will be about the candidate's personal life and interview.
9	Scoring Pattern	The score ranges from 0-160. A higher score indicates higher proficiency. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert are the four categories in the DET exam.	The PTE scores are from 10 to 90. The score is based on fluency and accuracy.
10	What is the Score Validity?	The DET score is valid for up to 2 years.	The PTE score is valid up to 2 years.
11	What is the Exam Fees?	The official DET Pro costs $49 (4065.90 INR). It also has a free version of the test.	The PTE Academic test costs $198 (Rs. 16429.55/-) approximately. The PTE General Test costs $228 (₹496.12).
12	What is the Refund Policy?	There is no refund for DET.	Students will receive a partial 50% of refund, if the students cancel it at least 7 calendar days before the exam date. If it is cancelled in less than 7 days, then no refund will be initiated.
13	What is the Difficulty Level?	Duolingo is easier than PTE, as it has  Multiple Choice Question format and covers grammar and vocabulary.	PTE is more difficult compared to DET , as it covers the broader spectrum of syllabus.
14	When will the results published?	The results are published online and declared within 24 hours (1 day).	The PTE results can be seen in the Pearson site, and are declared within 5 business days.
15	Proficiency Level	The Duolingo Score chart is as follows Extremely Limited - 55-60 Limited - 65-70 Modest - 75-90 Competent - 95-110 Good - 115-130 Very Good - 135-140 Expert - 155-160	The PTE score chart is as follows Extremely Limited - 0-30 Limited - 30-34 Modest - 35-49 Competent - 50-63 Good - 64-77 Very Good - 74-85 Expert - 89-90

PTE vs Duolingo: Is Duolingo easier than PTE?

Duolingo is considered to be an easier test as compared to PTE because Duolingo has smaller focus areas, MCQ format, and is good for improving your English proficiency level. If difficulty level is considered, DET focus on grammar and vocabulary, it doesn't need an extensive knowledge of the language and helps in improving profeciency. On the other hand, PTE requires a comprehensive understanding of the language across all the four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is understood that Duolingo English Test (DET) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE) each have their distinct characteristics and assessment criteria. PTE is a better option if you are applying in leading universities, for visa process. 

Also Read:

Duolingo vs IELTS

Conclusion

Well, it's time to wrap up!! By now you would have known about Duolingo and PTE in detail. If you wish to improve your English for personal reasons, projects or future endeavours, then Duolingo is the best choice. If you want to show your English knowledge and proficiency for higher studies or to live abroad then PTE is the right choice. Therefore, it can be concluded that the PTE is generally considered to be a more competitive and challenging test compared to the DET. When a question of PTE vs Duolingo arises, think about your future goals first and decide upon which test to take.

FAQs

1. Which countries accept Duolingo English Test?

The countries that accept DET are 

• United States of America (USA)
• Australia
• Canada
• Germany
• United Kingdom (UK)
• Ireland
• Japan
• Switzerland
• China 
• France

Currently, DET is accepted in over 4500 universities in more than 100 countries worldwide.

2. When is the result declared for PTE ?

The results are declared within 5 business days after the exam in the Pearson official website.

3. Which is difficult, Duolingo or PTE?

When comparing Duolingo and PTE, PTE is difficult than Duolingo. Duolingo focuses on the grammar and basics of English. But PTE focuses on extensive syllabus under the topics Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

4. What is the cost for Duolingo and PTE?

The official DET Pro cost $49. The PTE Academic test costs $198 approximately and the PTE General Test costs $228.

5. Is Duolingo an alternative for IELTS , PTE and TOEFL?

For proving English proficiency four popular exams come into picture IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. While IELTS and TOEFL have existed for a long time , PTE and Duolingo are gaining popularity. Since all these exams serve different purposes and have different levels of difficulty, Duolingo cannot replace IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL exams. Know the difference between PTE vs IELTS.

6. What are the universities that accept PTE and Duolingo?

Here we will list the PTE accepted universities and Duolingo accepted Universities below.

Universities that accept PTE in USA

• Babson College
• University of Southern California
• SUNY, Binghamton
• Colorado State University
• Pace University

Universities that accept Duolingo in USA

• University of North Alabama
• Arizona State University
• University of Arkansas
• California Institute of Technology
• California State University Northridge

Universities that accept PTE in UK

• Aston University
• University of Southampton
• University of Bath
• University of Warwick
• University of Glasgow

Universities that accept Duolingo in UK

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Bangor University
• University of Bristol
• Brunel University
• University of Glasgow

Universities that accept PTE in Canada

• McGill University
• University of Ottawa
• University of Calgary
• University of Waterloo
• Dalhousie University

Universities that accept Duolingo in Canada

• Algoma University
• Cape Breton University
• Concordia University
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta