Can students from Tonga use the Duolingo English Test for Canada?

DET acceptance depends on the Canada university, not your nationality. This page pairs Canada's requirements with practical notes for applicants from Tonga.

Your corridor

🇨🇦 Duolingo English Test for Canada — from Tonga

More than 400 Canadian universities and colleges accept the DET, including every English-speaking U15 research university.

What Canada asks for

Scores run on the 10–160 scale; there is no single national minimum — each university and program sets its own.

Admission is not the same as the visa

Canada ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) on 8 November 2024, which used to require IELTS specifically — so older guides are out of date. Today everyone uses the regular study-permit process: if a Canadian university accepts your DET and issues a Letter of Acceptance (LOA), that's generally sufficient for the permit. Note: Permanent Residency later requires an approved immigration test (IELTS General or CELPIP) — the DET is not used for PR.

From Tonga — the essentials

Costs in: Tongan Paʻanga (T$)
Credentials: Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB)
Funding to search: Australia Awards Pacific, New Zealand Scholarships, Chevening, Tonga Government scholarships
Where students go: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, United States, Japan
Apply from: Nukuʻalofa, Neiafu, Haveluloto

Tonga is English-medium (with Tongan); Duolingo English Test often waived where prior study was in English — confirm per university. At about $70 the DET is taken online from Tonga — no test-centre travel, and far cheaper than IELTS.

Plan the rest of your move for Canada

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Practice the DET

Try AlmiDET practice tasks on the real 10–160 scale with honest AI feedback.

Practice on the real 10–160 scale

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The Shamool pledge

AlmiDET is part of the AlmiWorld family. 25% of our sales go to the Shamool Foundation to support students who cannot afford fees and tests — so the work you do here helps fund a place for someone else.

AlmiDET is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Duolingo. All practice material is original and never copied from the Duolingo English Test. Acceptance figures and score bands change — always confirm the current requirement on the official university or government page before you rely on it.