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IELTSvsDuolingo
IELTS vs Duolingo: Which Should You Take?
Duolingo is far cheaper, shorter and taken at home — great if your university accepts it. IELTS has the widest acceptance including visas/PR.
▶ Try a free IELTS mock testIELTS vs Duolingo at a glance
| IELTS | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring | Band 0–9 | 10–160 |
| Cost | Higher (~US$200+) | Much cheaper (~US$65) |
| Length | ~2h 45m, at a centre | ~1 hour, at home |
| Results | 3–13 days | ~2 days |
| Acceptance | Universal | Thousands of universities, growing |
Frequently asked questions
- Is IELTS easier than Duolingo?
- Neither is universally easier — it depends on your strengths. Duolingo is far cheaper, shorter and taken at home — great if your university accepts it. IELTS has the widest acceptance including visas/PR.
- Which is more accepted, IELTS or Duolingo?
- Duolingo is far cheaper, shorter and taken at home — great if your university accepts it. IELTS has the widest acceptance including visas/PR.
- Can I practise both for free?
- Yes — LandingPrep has free full-length mock tests, strategy lessons and an AI band checker for both IELTS and Duolingo.