Duolingo vs IELTS: Score Comparison and Which to Take from Bangladesh (2026)

On Duolingo's official comparison, a Duolingo English Test score of 120–125 equals IELTS 6.5, and 130–135 equals IELTS 7. From Bangladesh, Duolingo is cheaper (about US$70 against BDT 31,100 for IELTS), quicker, and taken at home, but far fewer universities and visa offices accept it. Take Duolingo only if every university on your list accepts it and your visa does not need a specific test. Otherwise IELTS is the safer choice. All rules here were last checked on 4 November 2026.

This guide gives the full score comparison, the main differences between the two tests, which countries accept Duolingo for a visa, and what students say about each.

How do Duolingo scores compare with IELTS bands?

Duolingo scores run from 10 to 160 in steps of 5. Duolingo publishes this comparison with IELTS Academic, built from the official score reports of 1,943 people who took both tests in 2024 and 2025:

Duolingo score	IELTS band
160	8.5–9
150–155	8
140–145	7.5
130–135	7
120–125	6.5
105–115	6
95–100	5.5
80–90	5
65–75	4.5
60	4
10–55	0–4

Three things to know about this table:

• Many websites show different numbers. Some say 120 equals IELTS 7. Duolingo's own table says 120–125 equals 6.5. Use the official table above, and check that a chart is up to date before you trust it.
• Universities set their own Duolingo minimum. A university that asks for IELTS 6.5 does not always accept Duolingo 120. Some ask for 125 or 130. Always check the university's own page.
• Subscores matter too. Duolingo also gives Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening subscores. Many universities set a minimum for these, just as they ask for "no IELTS band below 6.0".

Duolingo vs IELTS at a glance

	Duolingo English Test	IELTS
Cost from Bangladesh	About US$70 (about BDT 8,600), paid by card in dollars	BDT 31,100 at British Council or IDP
Where you take it	At home, on your own computer, any time	At a test centre, on a booked date
Length	About 1 hour	About 2 hours 45 minutes
Speaking	Recorded answers to the computer	Face to face with an examiner
Results	Within about 2 days	Usually 1–2 days on computer, about 13 days on paper
Score	10–160	Band 0–9
Valid for	2 years	2 years (recommended)
Accepted for visas	Few (see below)	Most countries, including the UK (IELTS for UKVI), Australia and Canada

The Duolingo price is shown only at checkout, and the taka amount depends on your bank's exchange rate and card charges.

Is Duolingo accepted for a visa?

This is the most important question, and the answer depends on the country. Getting admission from a university and getting a visa are two separate steps. A university may accept Duolingo while the visa office does not.

• United Kingdom: Duolingo is not on the UK government's list of approved English tests (SELTs). For a Student visa at degree level or above, your university can assess your English itself, which is how some UK universities accept Duolingo. Below degree level, for example a foundation course, you need an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI.
• Australia: Duolingo is not accepted for Australian visas. The Department of Home Affairs accepts only tests taken at a secure test centre, such as IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, and it does not accept any test taken at home.
• Canada: for a study permit there is no fixed test list. Canada closed its Student Direct Stream in November 2024, so you can use the test your college or university accepts for admission. For permanent residence through Express Entry, Duolingo is not accepted. Only CELPIP, IELTS General Training and PTE Core count.
• United States: there is no government test list for a student visa. Each university decides, and many accept Duolingo, but some well-known universities still ask for IELTS or TOEFL only.

If there is any chance you will apply to Australia, or for Canadian permanent residence later, IELTS covers you and Duolingo does not.

Is Duolingo easier than IELTS?

Not really. It is a different kind of test. Duolingo is shorter and adapts to you: questions get harder or easier depending on your answers, and most tasks are quick, such as filling in missing letters, listening and typing, or speaking about a picture for a minute. IELTS has long Reading passages, two full essays in Writing, and a real conversation with an examiner.

Students who like quick tasks and feel nervous in front of an examiner often prefer Duolingo. Students who are strong at long reading and essay writing often do better in IELTS. The comparison table is meant to give the same level of English matching scores on both tests, so pick the test your universities and visa accept first, then the format that suits you.

What can go wrong with a Duolingo test at home?

Duolingo's rules for testing at home are strict, and the most common complaint in public reviews is a result that was "not certified". This means the test was not accepted because of a broken rule or a technical problem, not because of a low score. Reviewers describe tests that were not certified after looking away from the screen, wearing earphones, having another app open, or a microphone or camera failure.

• You get three attempts per test you buy. If your internet or power cuts out mid-test, that attempt is used up. With load-shedding or weak Wi-Fi, use a backup power source and a stable connection.
• Two broken rules on the same test credit and the credit is lost, and you must pay for a new test.
• Read the room rules before you start: a quiet room on your own, a clear desk, no earphones, and your eyes on the screen.
• Paying can be the first problem. Duolingo takes payment by card in US dollars. Bangladeshi students usually need a dual-currency or international card, or a family member's card, to pay.

IELTS has its own complaints. The main ones are the higher fee, paying for the whole test again if one skill falls short, and Speaking bands that vary between sittings. But a test taken at a centre is rarely cancelled because of your own room or internet.

What do students from Bangladesh say?

Real reports from Bangladeshi students are few, but the ones in the news follow a clear pattern. In a 2022 feature in The Business Standard, one student whose IELTS had expired took Duolingo at home, scored 130 and was admitted to a UK university. Another chose Duolingo because it cost about a third of IELTS at the time, scored 120, but his universities wanted 130. He took IELTS, scored 7.5 and got his place. A third had to take IELTS because neither her universities nor her visa accepted Duolingo.

The lesson in all three is the same: Duolingo works well when your university and visa accept it and you know the exact score they want. When they don't, the money saved is lost on a second test.

Which test should you take from Bangladesh?

Choose IELTS if any of these is true:

• You are applying to Australia, or may apply for Canadian permanent residence later.
• You are going to the UK for a course below degree level, or your UK university does not list Duolingo.
• Even one university on your list does not accept Duolingo.
• You are not sure yet where you will apply. IELTS keeps every option open.

Duolingo can make sense if all of these are true:

• Every university on your list accepts Duolingo, and you know the exact score and subscores each one wants.
• Your visa route does not need a specific test.
• You have a quiet room, reliable internet and backup power, and a card that pays in US dollars.

Practise before you pay for either test

Whichever test you choose, the cheapest mistake is the one you find in practice. On BDIELTS you can take a free full IELTS mock test on computer, like the real test, and see your band in each skill. If your Writing or Speaking is pulling your band down, you will know before you pay BDT 31,100. See also our guides to the IELTS exam fee in Bangladesh, IELTS exam dates and how your IELTS band is calculated.

Frequently asked questions

What is Duolingo 120 in IELTS?

On Duolingo's official comparison, 120–125 equals IELTS 6.5. Some websites say 120 equals 7, but that is not what Duolingo's own table shows.

What Duolingo score equals IELTS 7?

130 to 135. A score of 140 to 145 equals IELTS 7.5.

Is Duolingo accepted for a UK student visa?

Duolingo is not an approved UK visa test (SELT). For degree-level study, your university can assess your English itself, and some UK universities accept Duolingo that way. Below degree level, you need an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI.

Is Duolingo accepted in Australia?

Not for an Australian visa. Home Affairs accepts only tests taken at a secure test centre, and Duolingo is taken at home.

Is Duolingo accepted in Canada?

For a study permit, you can use the test your college or university accepts for admission, and many Canadian institutions accept Duolingo. For permanent residence through Express Entry, it is not accepted.

How much does the Duolingo English Test cost in Bangladesh?

About US$70, which is roughly BDT 8,600 depending on your bank's rate and card charges. You pay by card in dollars on Duolingo's website.

How long is a Duolingo score valid?

Two years from the test date, the same as the recommended validity of an IELTS result.

Rules last checked on 4 November 2026. Sources: Duolingo English Test: score comparison, how the comparison was made, how often you can test and test overview; GOV.UK: approved English tests (SELT) and Student visa English requirement; Australian Department of Home Affairs: English language visa requirements; Government of Canada: Express Entry language tests; IELTS.org: IELTS results; The Business Standard: students on Duolingo and IELTS.

How we made this guide: we researched and drafted it with the help of AI, because that lets us compare official information and many candidate reviews quickly. Every rule and number was then checked against the official Duolingo, UK, Australian and Canadian government and IELTS pages, and against what students say about both tests, last checked on 4 November 2026. The cover image was created with AI.

IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Duolingo is a trademark of Duolingo, Inc. BDIELTS is an independent IELTS practice platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.