TL;DR – What You Need to Know
- Official single test: $70 USD · Via Comet: $60 USD (save up to 15%)
- Two-test bundle: $118 USD ($59 per test) – must be booked upfront, no per-test flexibility
- Rush results (12 hours instead of 48): +$39-40 USD
- Score reports: unlimited and free, to as many universities as you want
- Non-refundable: the fee is forfeited if you don’t take the test within 21 days of purchase
- Local taxes: some countries add VAT/GST on top of the $70 base (for example, 15% in New Zealand, 10% in Japan)
- Total cost is almost always lower than IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, even before factoring in a discount voucher
Table of Contents
- The base DET fee
- The two-test bundle, explained
- Rush results: is the extra fee worth it?
- The real cost of a retake
- Local taxes and currency conversion
- Hidden cost comparison: DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE
- What you get included in the fee
- How to lower your DET cost
- Refund and cancellation policy
- Budgeting for multiple applications
- Common cost mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
- Next steps
The base DET fee
The Duolingo English Test costs $70 USD for a single attempt, and this price is the same in every country. Unlike IELTS or TOEFL, where fees vary meaningfully by test centre and region, DET’s headline price doesn’t change based on where you live.
What does change by country is local tax. Some countries apply VAT, GST, or a similar consumption tax on top of the $70 base fee, commonly around 10-15% (for example, roughly 15% in New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, and 10% in Japan and several other markets). Your local currency amount will also fluctuate slightly with exchange rates, so the number you see at checkout may not be an exact conversion of $70.
Through Comet, an official Duolingo voucher partner powered by Cialfo, the price drops to $60 USD, a saving of up to 15%, with the voucher code delivered to your inbox in under a minute.
The two-test bundle, explained
Duolingo offers an official two-test bundle for $118 USD, working out to $59 per test, a modest saving of $22 compared to buying two single tests at $70 each.
The catch: you commit to both tests upfront in a single transaction, and there’s no partial refund if you only end up needing one. This only makes financial sense if you’re confident you’ll take the test twice, whether as a planned retake strategy or because you’re applying with more than one target score in mind.
For most students, a single test (ideally through a discounted voucher) is the better starting point. If a retake turns out to be necessary, buying a second single voucher through Comet at $60 costs less in total ($120) than committing to the bundle upfront while carrying the risk of not needing the second attempt at all.
Rush results: is the extra fee worth it?
Standard DET results arrive within 48 hours (often faster, sometimes within 24). If your deadline is closer than that, Duolingo offers a rush option: pay an additional $39-40 USD and receive your results within roughly 12 hours instead.
This brings your total to around $109-110 for a single rushed test at official pricing. It’s a meaningful premium, close to 60% on top of the base fee, so it’s only worth paying if your actual deadline sits within the next two to three days. If you have a week or more before you need your score, the standard turnaround is more than sufficient and the rush fee is money you don’t need to spend.
The real cost of a retake
This is the cost most students underestimate when budgeting for DET. The fee is per attempt: if your first score falls short of what you need, a retake is another full purchase, not a discounted resit.
| Scenario | Official pricing | Via Comet |
|---|---|---|
| One test, first attempt sufficient | $70 | $60 |
| One retake needed (two attempts total) | $140 | $120 |
| Two-test bundle (committed upfront) | $118 | N/A – bundle is official-price only |
The most reliable way to avoid this cost entirely is proper preparation before your first attempt, since Duolingo doesn’t publish an official average score improvement between attempts, meaning a retake with the same preparation gaps often produces a similar result. See our DET preparation guide for a full study plan, and our DET score guide to understand exactly which subscore might need the most work before you resit.
You can retake DET up to a limited number of times within a rolling 30-day period, though you’ll need your first result back (typically within 48 hours) before starting a new attempt. Always check the current official policy on englishtest.duolingo.com, as retake rules are occasionally revised.
Local taxes and currency conversion
While the $70 headline fee is consistent worldwide, what actually appears on your card statement depends on two factors:
Local consumption tax. A number of countries apply VAT, GST, or similar taxes at checkout, commonly in the 10-15% range. This is added on top of the base fee, not included within it.
Currency conversion and card fees. Duolingo charges in USD, converted to your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate when you pay. Depending on your card issuer, an international transaction fee may also apply, typically 1-3% of the transaction.
Together, these can push your effective cost 10-20% above the raw $70 figure, depending on your country and payment method. This is worth factoring into your budget, particularly if you’re planning for a possible retake.
Hidden cost comparison: DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE
The base test fee is only part of the real cost of English proficiency testing. Score-reporting fees change the total significantly, especially if you’re applying to several universities.
| Test | Base fee | Score-sending fees | Total cost applying to 8 universities |
|---|---|---|---|
| DET | $70 ($60 via Comet) | Free, unlimited | $60 via Comet |
| IELTS Academic | $200-$255 | $20 per report after 5 free | $260-$315 |
| TOEFL iBT | $200-$300 | $20 per report after 4 free | $280-$380 |
| PTE Academic | $200-$280 | Free, unlimited | $200-$280 |
For students applying broadly, DET’s unlimited free score sending is often a bigger saving than the base fee difference alone. Applying to 10 universities on IELTS or TOEFL can add $100-$120 in score-report fees on top of the test cost; DET and PTE both avoid this entirely.
For a full breakdown of how these four tests compare beyond cost, including format, results speed, and university acceptance, see our DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE comparison.
What you get included in the fee
The $70 (or $60 via Comet) covers considerably more than just a test attempt:
- The full adaptive test, roughly one hour covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking
- A certified, tamper-proof score report with a unique verification link
- Unlimited free score reports sent to any number of accepting institutions
- A short video interview sample, viewable by universities alongside your score
- A validity period of two years from your test date
- 24/7 availability, with no test centre booking, travel, or appointment scheduling required
Compared to IELTS or TOEFL, where the base fee typically covers the test only and score reports are billed separately after a handful of free sends, DET’s all-in pricing is a genuine structural advantage, not just a lower sticker price.
How to lower your DET cost
Buy through an official Duolingo Global Partner Network voucher. Comet, powered by Cialfo, sells official DET vouchers at $60 instead of $70, a saving of up to 15%, delivered to your inbox in under a minute.
Avoid the rush-results fee unless your deadline genuinely requires it. At $39-40 extra, this is only worth paying if you need your score within the next two to three days.
Prepare properly before your first attempt rather than treating a retake as a backup plan. A second $60-$70 purchase is avoidable with focused preparation targeting your weaker subscores.
Skip the two-test bundle unless you’re confident you’ll need both attempts. For most students, a single discounted voucher, with a second purchased only if needed, works out cheaper in practice.
Factor in your card’s international transaction fee before choosing a payment method, particularly if you’re paying from a country where this typically runs 1-3%.
Refund and cancellation policy
The DET fee is non-refundable once purchased, with narrow exceptions. If you don’t take the test within 21 days of purchase, your booking is cancelled automatically and the fee is forfeited entirely, no refund and no credit toward a future attempt.
If you cancel voluntarily before taking the test, the same non-refundable policy generally applies. Refunds are typically only issued if there’s a genuine technical error on Duolingo’s end, such as a platform failure during your test session, and even then only after contacting official support with your order details.
This makes the 21-day window an important planning constraint: don’t buy your voucher significantly earlier than you intend to actually sit the test, since there’s no benefit to holding it and a real risk of losing the fee if your plans shift.
Budgeting for multiple applications
If you’re applying to a wide list of universities, your realistic DET budget should account for three things: the base fee (or discounted voucher), a possible single retake, and nothing else, since score sending is free and unlimited.
| Applying to | DET total cost (via Comet, one attempt) | DET total cost (via Comet, one retake) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 university | $60 | $120 |
| 5 universities | $60 | $120 |
| 10+ universities | $60 | $120 |
Notice that the number of universities you apply to has zero effect on your total DET cost. This is the clearest practical advantage of unlimited free score reporting: your budget is determined entirely by how many times you sit the test, not how widely you apply.
Common cost mistakes to avoid
1. Buying the two-test bundle “just in case.” If you only need one attempt, the bundle costs more overall than a single discounted voucher, with no way to recover the unused second test’s value.
2. Paying for rush results when your deadline doesn’t require it. The 12-hour option costs roughly 60% more than the standard fee. Only pay for it if your actual deadline is within two to three days.
3. Buying a voucher weeks before you’re ready to test. The 21-day validity window means an early purchase risks expiring before you sit the test, forfeiting the fee entirely.
4. Not budgeting for a possible retake. Plan for the realistic chance of a second attempt rather than assuming your first score will clear every target university’s requirement.
5. Overlooking local tax and currency conversion. The advertised $70 (or $60) doesn’t always match what appears on your statement once local tax and card conversion fees are applied.
6. Forgetting that IELTS and TOEFL charge per additional score report. If you’re comparing total cost across tests, factor in score-sending fees, not just the base test price, especially if you’re applying broadly.
Frequently asked questions
$70 USD officially, or $60 USD through Comet, an official Duolingo Global Partner Network voucher provider. The fee is the same worldwide, though local tax and currency conversion can add a small amount on top.
The base fee is the same everywhere in USD terms, but some countries add local tax (commonly 10-15%), and currency conversion plus any card transaction fees can affect the final amount you’re charged.
Yes. Official Duolingo Global Partner Network partners, including Comet, sell vouchers at a discount, typically $60 instead of $70.
The same as a first attempt: $70 officially or $60 through Comet, per attempt. There’s no discounted resit rate.
Only if you’re confident you’ll need both attempts. At $118 ($59 per test), it saves $22 compared to two separate official-price tests, but you commit to both upfront with no partial refund if you only end up needing one.
No. DET includes unlimited, free score reports to any number of accepting institutions, unlike IELTS and TOEFL, which charge per report after a handful of free sends.
Generally no. The fee is forfeited if you don’t complete the test within 21 days of purchase. Refunds are typically only issued for genuine technical failures on Duolingo’s platform.
Yes, in almost every realistic scenario. Even accounting for a possible retake and local taxes, DET’s total cost remains well below IELTS ($260+), TOEFL ($280+), or PTE ($200+) once score-reporting fees are factored in.
Only if your deadline is within the next two to three days. At $39-40 extra, it’s a meaningful premium that isn’t necessary if you have a week or more before you need your sc
Yes. Everything in your score report, including the video interview sample, writing sample, subscores, and certification, is included in the base test fee at no extra cost.
Next steps
Ready to book at the best price? Get a discounted DET voucher through Comet for $60, delivered to your inbox in under a minute.
Still deciding if DET is the right test for your situation? See our full comparison guide. Want to avoid the cost of a retake altogether? Our DET preparation guide covers a complete study plan.
