What this test is and who takes it

The Duolingo English Test is taken at home on your own computer, costs considerably less than IELTS or PTE, takes about an hour, and returns results in about two days.

Those four facts are the whole argument for it. For a candidate in Pakistan applying to several universities, the cost difference across multiple applications is substantial, and not travelling to a test centre matters if you are not in a large city.

Acceptance has grown a great deal and it is still narrower than IELTS. Many universities in America, Canada, Britain and Australia accept it. Immigration authorities largely do not, and this is the critical distinction: a test that gets you a university place may not get you a visa. Check both requirements before choosing.

How it works. It is adaptive, so questions get harder when you answer correctly and easier when you do not. Your score comes from the difficulty level you sustain rather than from a count of correct answers.

It is shorter and more intense. Under an hour with no breaks, and question types change rapidly.

It is proctored remotely, with your camera and microphone recording throughout, and your session is reviewed afterwards. The rules are strict and enforced, and scores are invalidated for breaches.

The scale runs from 10 to 160, and universities publish their required score. Find the requirement before you start preparing.