There were relatively few valid applications for learning other languages in the early days of smartphones. If you looked for similar programs back in the day, you’d almost certainly come across Duolingo. In 2018, the same company launched an English language exam.
Several factors make the test almost better than the IELTS and TOEFL. The most significant benefit of the test is that it may be completed without having to leave your house or drive to an exam location.
As a result, many colleges accept Duolingo English test results for foreign student admissions, and it is rising in favor among study abroad applicants over IELTS and TOEFL.
More than a thousand colleges throughout the globe, including Harvard Medical School, accept Duolingo. Hundreds of institutions in the United States are included, and major universities in Asia, South America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In this article, we will discuss the test by examining the features and benefits of the Duolingo English Test.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Exam (DET) is a computer-based English proficiency exam for international students. It is fast, simple, and affordable when compared to other English language proficiency examinations. It is a modern English proficiency exam intended to help overseas students and institutions.
You may take the exam utilizing a computer and a webcam from the comfort of your own home; there is no need to make an appointment or go to a testing center.
Because it is quick and convenient, the Duolingo English test is becoming more popular. Duolingo is accepted as a requirement for admission to several international schools.
Institutions such as Monash College in Australia, California State University in the United States, Brandon University in Canada, and Schiller International University in Germany are located not only in Canada but also in the United States, China, Japan, and Germany. In the United Kingdom, the Duolingo English Test is also recognized by several organizations.
The IELTS or TOEFL examinations are identical to the Duolingo English Test. We’ll go through the Duolingo English test in detail and present all relevant material in this section.
Why Choose to Take the Duolingo English Test?
There are various convincing reasons you should choose to take the Duolingo English Test. Here are a few of them:
- Take it anytime and anywhere:
One of the most significant advantages of taking the Duolingo English test is that you don’t have to travel to a testing center. It may be taken from anywhere if the proper test environment is in place.
Before enrolling for the exam, you may choose the day and time you want to take it. You may schedule the exam whenever it is convenient for you.
- User-friendly:
Duolingo English Test is simple to use. You may simply sign up for the exam and pay for it.
Once you’ve signed in to take the exam, you’ll be taken through the guidelines and an introduction to the test before being able to take it. The test’s user interface is user-friendly, and each part is well-labeled.
- Budget-friendly:
The cost of the test is simply USD 49. Not only do you save money on the exam, but you also save money on travel and the stress of traveling to the facility. You may take numerous Duolingo exams for the price of one IELTS or TOEFL exam.
Without incurring any additional fees, Duolingo results may be submitted to an infinite number of institutions. You can only submit your TOEFL results to four colleges for free, and you can only send your IELTS scores to five. There is a cost of roughly $20 for each consecutive university after that. Duolingo saves you money on all of these expenses. Within 48 hours, the findings are accessible.
7 Benefits of Choosing the Duolingo English Test
Apart from the compelling reasons of convenience, affordability, and adaptability, we have also listed numerous advantages of why the Duolingo English Test is your best option for an English Language Proficiency exam:
1. Registration Policies
One advantage of the DET is its easy online enrollment: quick and uncomplicated. You may register for the test minutes before it starts. No specific test dates are set for the Duolingo English Test.
You just have to follow directions and the requirements for the Duolingo English Test. To finish the registration procedure, you must pay the test price.
To register for the exam, you will need a computer/laptop and internet access to register for the exam. Also, make sure you can pay the Duolingo English Test registration price online.
Taking the Duolingo English Test is simple. You may register for the exam immediately before taking it.
The steps to apply for the exam are as follows:
- Visit the Duolingo English Test webpage.
- To buy the exam, click ‘Purchase the Test.’
- Enter your email ID and age, or log in with your email.
- Registration paperwork must be uploaded.
- Pay to register for the exam.
2. Eligibility Criteria
An added benefit of taking the Duolingo English Test is that you do not need to provide academic credentials or establish your qualifications.
Anyone from anywhere globally may register for the Duolingo English Test and take it. However, some specific standards and restrictions must be observed before registering for the exam and while taking it.
Also, suppose the objective of taking the Duolingo English Test is to apply for admission. In that case, exam takers must ensure that the test is admissible at the targeted institution overseas before taking it.
The Duolingo English test is open to anybody. The Duolingo councils have not established any age requirements. If you are under the age of 13 or the age at which your nation requires parental consent, you will need your parents’ or guardians’ permission to take the exam.
There is also no necessity to take the Duolingo English Test if you are a non-native English speaker. The applicant must merely register for the test and pay for it to begin the examination.
3. Exam Pattern and Format
In addition to the benefits of taking the DET, the test has a distinct structure that differs from the standard IELTS and TOEFL exams. Long questions are not included in Duolingo.
The exam evaluates your proficiency in the language based on your intonation and idiom knowledge.
Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing are all examined, just like they are in TOEFL and IELTS, but the questions are unique and unlike anything you’ve seen before in an English language test.
In a Duolingo test, you’ll usually be given the following questions:
4. Adaptive Section
You will be required to complete an adaptive test after the exam has begun. This is a portion of the Duolingo test that is graded or scored. This test assesses your English language reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. You will be needed to complete a variety of short tests here.
Read and Complete
You’ll notice that certain letters are missing from the words in the provided text. You must complete the missing letters.
Read Aloud
In this phase, a sentence will show on the screen. You must record yourself remarking on camera. This is a test of your communication skills.
Write about the Photo
You will see an image on the screen throughout this activity. In the provided text box, write one or more phrases to describe the picture. It does not have a word limit.
Listen and Select
You must listen to each word one by one and choose the genuine ones.
Read and Select
It’s identical to the prior challenge, except this time, you’ll have to read the word rather than listen to it. Choose all of the terms that you believe are suitable for English. Ignore the ones that aren’t authentic.
Listen, Then Type
This challenge assesses your English language listening and writing abilities. You must enter the phrases that are spoken to you.
Read, Then Type
Here, you must read the question on the screen and respond in at least 50 words. This challenge assesses your writing abilities.
Read, Then Speak
Now it’s your turn to voice your answers to the questions. You must talk about the question for at least 30 seconds. Because your responses will be recorded, make sure you answer all of the questions completely and clearly.
- The video interview and the written exam are both required.
Following the adaptive test, you will be expected to shoot a video interview and pass a written exam. This part will not be included in your final score, but it will be made available to any universities that get your results.
Speaking Sample
For the video interview, you will be offered two options. Choose one and talk about it for one to three minutes. A three-minute timer will start after choosing a topic, and you may talk about it within the time limit.
Writing Sample
You must write for three to five minutes in the writing test. The timer will start after you’ve chosen a topic.
The test also includes a ‘video interview,’ in which students talk for 1-3 minutes on a subject of their choosing. Placement firms and recruiters might use this interview to select overseas job prospects in the future.
The length of the test is another crucial factor to consider. Students who find the exam difficult are given ample chances with questions they can handle since the examination changes itself based on the answers they provide.
5. Scoring Criteria
Another advantage of the DET is its unique and legit scoring. This exam assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to determine real-world language proficiency. On a scale of 10-160, your competence is measured as a holistic score.
You will be awarded a score ranging from 10 to 160 after the test. This is a total score, not a point for each section.
A score of better than 120 usually is necessary for top programs, equal to Band 7 in IELTS. You may wish to compare your scores to those of the IELTS or TOEFL examinations.
6. Exam Retaking Policy
The ease of retaking the DET exam is another added value to the long list of pros of the DET. You may repeat the Duolingo English Test like any other English Proficiency Test.
Here are some rules to remember before retaking the exam.
- If the individual receives a Duolingo English Exam certificate, they may retake the test within 30 days.
- It is unnecessary to worry if you have not gotten your certificate within the given time frame.
After the 30 days, you may take as many exams as you desire.
7. More and More Institutions are Accepting the DET
One of the main benefits of taking the DET is that thousands of prominent U.S. institutions accept Duolingo exam scores in light of the COVID-19 problem.
Recently, Harvard Medical School stated that it would be accepting Duolingo exam results from overseas students. The results of this exam would be adequate, and pupils won’t need to take IELTS or TOEFL extra.
Generally, Duolingo English exam scores are approved by over 1,100 universities worldwide (and growing).
Some of the colleges accepting Duolingo English language exam results for graduate applications are:
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Washington University
- University of Illinois’s Urbana Campaign’s College of Business
- NYU Stern School of Business
- Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management
- Yale University
- University of Toronto
- McGill University
- University of British Columbia
- Université de Montréal
- University of Alberta
- University of Waterloo
- Western University
- University of Calgary
- Cardiff University
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
- Temple University Japan Campus
- University of Aizu
- Does Harvard Accept Duolingo English Test?
- Duolingo English Test Scores for the Top Universities in Canada
- Duolingo English Test Scores for the Top Universities in Australia
- Duolingo English Test Scores for the Top Universities in the UK
- Duolingo English Test Scores for the Top Universities in the United States
- Duolingo English Test Scores for Top Universities in New Zealand
Final Thoughts
A long list of pros contributes to the benefits of choosing the Duolingo English Test. The Duolingo English Test is a more practical, accessible, and cost-effective way to measure your English abilities. Thousands of institutions all around the globe accept it.
In addition, the Duolingo English Test includes a video interview and writing sample, as well as a proficiency score so that you can show off your personality as well as your English skills.
Additional FAQs – Benefits of Taking the DET
How is the Duolingo English Test Different from the TOEFL?
The primary distinction between Duolingo and TOEFL is that Duolingo is an entirely online exam. On the other hand, candidates taking the TOEFL have the choice of taking the exam online or offline.
In comparison to the TOEFL test, the Duolingo exam is shorter. They each have distinct qualifying requirements.
Duolingo English Test vs. TOEFL: What Are The Differences?
DET is a test that applicants take to assess their English skills before deciding whether or not to go overseas. It’s an online test that you may take from anywhere. It also looks at things like reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. It’s a test that adapts to your situation.
How Do You Take the Duolingo English Test?
You may take the Duolingo English Test by downloading the Duolingo app on your phones or computers and registering.
They will have to pay a charge of USD 49 to take the exam, which will offer them a 90-day window to do so. The exam, as well as the enrollment process, takes place completely online.
How Long is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English exam is divided into three components.
1. The student has 5 minutes in the first portion to submit their ID and examine the exam’s rules and regulations.
2. The second phase is the graded segment, which takes 45 minutes to complete.
3. The time allotted for the final ungraded part is ten minutes.
It takes one hour to finish the Duolingo English Test. However, the student may answer the questions at their speed and finish the exam as early as half an hour, depending on their language skills.
How Can the Student Access Their Results?
The Duolingo English Test results will be accessible within 48 hours of the test’s completion.
The student will get an email from the Duolingo Team once the test results have been released.
On the Duolingo English Test website, the student will be able to see their test history and outcomes.
