Duolingo English Test - A Detailed Overview

The Duolingo English Test and TOEFL are different from each other on many fronts. Unlike TOEFL which has lengthy questions and passages, Duolingo has comparatively briefer questions. Also, there are no separate sections in a Duolingo test to assess reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills as in TOEFL. Duolingo English test consists of a blend of different types of questions. The tabular list shows the difference between the two exams on various other parameters: 
 

A great advantage Duolingo offers over the IELTS is that it can be taken in one seating as opposed to the two-day testing period for IELTS. Moreover, Duolingo is adaptive but IELTS is not. 
As mentioned before, instead of traditional item types tested by IELTS like MCQs, essay type questions, and short answer questions, Duolingo’s questions take on new formats. Also, while IELTS has two versions - Academic and General; Duolingo has only a general test. But the scores of this test will come in handy for both cases in the long term.
More differences are listed below in the table:

There are a few things you need to do right to ace the Duolingo test. Since it is a relatively new exam with an unconventional pattern, you would need to prepare for it in a slightly different manner.

Here is how you should prepare for the Duolingo test: 

1. Work on your overall English proficiency. Reading high-quality blogs and articles, such as those published in the Guardian, the New York Times, and Wall Street Journal will help you in developing your English skills. 
2. Listen to English podcasts on YouTube or iTunes and other online streaming apps. Make sure you listen to podcasts on different topics. 
3. Try conversing with native speakers. You can easily find partners online - on Facebook groups, for example. 
4. Take the free practice test on the Duolingo website. This will familiarize you with the actual exam pattern and environment. You need to log in to your account to access the practice questions. 

Recently, Harvard Medical School announced that it will be accepting Duolingo test results from international students. The results of this test would be enough, and students won’t need to take IELTS or TOEFL additionally. 
Generally, Duolingo English test results are accepted by over 1,100 institutions worldwide. Some of the universities accepting Duolingo English language test scores for graduate admissions are: 

• USA: Harvard University, Auburn University, Arizona State University, Northeastern University, San Diego State University, etc. 
• Australia: Monash College, Australian National University, Melbourne Institute of Technology, etc.
• Canada: Concordia University, Lakehead University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Alberta, etc.
• New Zealand: University of Otago, Massey University, etc.
• Switzerland: Webster University, Geneva, etc. 
• UK: Cardiff University, University of Aberdeen, etc.