Duolingo is a language learning skill tool developed to help international students and institutions. Duolingo has an application as a skill tree of torturing that includes listening tests, flashcards, and multiple-choice questions to ease the process of learning new words, phrases, and sentences. 

The Duolingo application has a community feature that allows candidates to compare with other people who are also in the process of learning the same language. Therefore Duolingo created a standardized language proficiency test, as valuable as prominent tests including IELTS, TOEFL, etc. This test has been gaining considerable attention among both English test takers and universities, especially after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In this post, Radviser, your intelligent adviser, will inform you of all the things about the Duolingo English test and whether it is a good choice for you or not.

What Is Duolingo English Test?

Generally speaking, the Duolingo English test is an online exam that everyone can take on their computers. This test is suitable for all the candidates who need to prove their English proficiency, and they can take the test anytime, anywhere. 

Duolingo, like other language proficiency tests (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE), will test four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This test is adaptive, and the difficulty level will increase with every correct answer, but if you answer it wrong, the next question will become easier. The duration of the Duolingo test is around one hour, but you should know that it can test the ability of the test takers very quickly. 

If you are a candidate, you can take this test from your home anytime and anywhere at your convenience. The Duolingo test also has an upgraded section where you can take a 10-minute video interview and record the answers to open-ended questions. 

Some Key Features of the Duolingo English Test 

• The test can be completed in one hour, and the result will be delivered within two days. 
• The Duolingo test is accepted by more than 1000 institutions worldwide.
• Candidates can receive the scores for $49 USD.
• The Duolingo test scores can be sent to as many institutions as desired for free.
• Candidates can use their driver's license, passport, or valid national photo ID to register for the test. 
• Candidates must prepare the required setup and equipment for the test. 

Is Duolingo a Good Choice?

Considering the COVID-19 crisis, the Duolingo test is the perfect choice for students who cannot take the English proficiency test in the test centers. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to pass the test from their homes. But you should keep in mind that all colleges do not accept the Duolingo test scores. 

Other language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL are accepted by thousands of programs worldwide, and candidates can send these score reports to different educational institutions by paying a $20 USD fee. However, candidates who take the Duolingo tests can send scores to as many educational institutions as they want for free.

How to Take the Duolingo Test?

Everyone can take the Duolingo test online anywhere and anytime from their home. There is some necessary equipment needed. While taking the test, Duolingo makes sure that candidates follow the stringent rules, so the test continues without any help. The candidate needs to be alone in the room while taking the test, and nobody should be talking to them at the time. The aspirants cannot navigate from the browser at the time of taking the test.

The Duolingo English Test Duration

The duration of the Duolingo test is about 1 hour. 45 minutes for an adaptive test where the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills will be tested. There is also a video interview for 10 minutes that records the answers to open-ended questions.

The Duolingo English Test Fee

The Duolingo English test is considered one of the most affordable language tests as it requires about $49 USD. If you want to get your results within 12 hours, you can pay an extra $40 USD.

The Duolingo English Test Pattern

The following part shows you the exact patterns of the Duolingo English test:

1. Adaptive Test 

This part is a graded section that evaluates the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, and it will last about 45 minutes.

2. Video Interview

This part of the test is an upgraded section that will record the answers to open-ended questions, and it will take about 10 minutes.

Duolingo English Test Result

The Duolingo test results will be delivered within 48 hours or 2 days of completing it.

How Is the Duolingo English Test Scored?

The Duolingo English Test is computer-based, and it is designed to assess real-world language ability by evaluating the four skills, i.e., reading, writing, listening, and writing. This test is measured as a holistic score on a scale of 1 to 160. Once the exam is over, the candidate will receive a complete score and not a section-wise one. Usually, the best programs ask for a score of more than 120.

The Duolingo Fluency Badge Score 

A fluency score is an estimation of one's fluency in the language one is learning. In Duolingo, candidates can achieve fluency as high as 50-60% with it. Fluency can increase as you know more words and become more familiar with the language.

Who Accepts the Duolingo English Test?

According to Duolingo, thousands of institutions worldwide will accept the test score. Many educational organizations in the US, including top ones like Duke University, University of Chicago, Yale University, and Columbia University, accept the Duolingo English test scores.

How Can I Prepare for the Duolingo English Test?

Taking any test needs preparation. To pass the Duolingo English test, you need to work on your reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. Start by listening to English podcasts or watching English movies. Try to read magazines and articles in English. Also, practicing speaking with native speakers will help you improve that part. 

Besides, you can take a few sample tests to get familiar with the types of questions you may encounter in the actual test. These samples are free on Duolingo's website. Do not feel threatened; you can take the test as many times as you want.

The Duolingo Test Requirements

• Passport, driver's license, or government-issued photo ID
• A quiet, well-lit room
• A computer 
• A speaker
• A microphone
• A front-facing camera
• A reliable internet connection
• A supported browser like Chrome

What Is the Difference Between the Duolingo English Test and the IELTS Exam?

Both are English language proficiency tests; Duolingo can be given in one attempt, but IELTS usually needs a two-day period. IELTS and Duolingo test the English language fluency; however, there is no sign of long texts in the Duolingo exam. The IELTS exam asks some essay questions, short answers, and multiple-choice questions, while Duolingo mostly tests candidates' ability to use intonation and knowledge of idioms. We covered everything you need to know about IELTS in our article IELTS Introduction: Learn All About the IELTS Test.

What Is the Difference Between the Duolingo English Test and the TOEFL Exam?

The Duolingo test is famous for its brief items. Whereas the TOEFL exam mainly focuses on scenarios from real-world situations, particularly academics. Questions in TOEFL exams are divided into different sections of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but Duolingo combines them all. This means candidates need to adapt quickly to solve the next questions as one question may test your listening skills while the next one may test your reading skills. The Duolingo test is adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of questions is related to your previous answer. In the TOEFL test, the difficulty level does not change according to your answers.

Read more: TOEFL 101: Everything You Need to Know

What Happens after the Duolingo Test?

Once the test is completed, it is sent to the proctors, and you will receive an email when the scores are given to you, which is 48 hours later. 

When the scores are ready, you will be notified again with an email. You can take two certified tests within 30 days. Also, if you encounter any technical difficulties during the test, it won't be counted against the two-time limit. 

The Duolingo English test scores will be valid for two years. When you receive the scores, you can send them to the educational institutions straight from the result page; there is no limit for sending the report, and you can send it to as many as you desire.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Duolingo English Test 

1. Can I become fluent with Duolingo?
   • Duolingo will help you learn many new words and sentences while it prepares you for the exam. Still, to be totally fluent, you need to put everything you have learned into practice and regularly have a conversation with someone.
2. How many times can I take the Duolingo test?
   • There is no specific limit to taking a Duolingo exam, but one cannot take it more than twice in 30 days. 
3. Is Duolingo easier than IELTS and TOEFL? 
   • No. it is a myth that Duolingo is easier than TOEFL and IELTS. The Duolingo test is based on an adaptive process which means the questions will get harder to answer whenever you answer a question correctly. Check out the samples on their website to determine how the Duolingo questions are adaptive to candidates' levels.  
4. Does the US accept Duolingo scores?
   • According to reports, more than 1,000 new programs have started accepting this test's scores, and now more than 2,000 institutions accept the Duolingo English test. Over 70% of these institutions are based in the US. 
5. Is 130 a good score for Duolingo?
   • Duolingo is scored on a scale of 10-160. Granting a score of more than 120 means a candidate understands written and spoken English and can use it for academic and professional situations. 
6. How is the Duolingo test scored?
   • Candidates' proficiency will be determined as a holistic score on a scale of 10-160 with 5-point increments. The result will be the overall score and score of conversation, comprehension, literacy, and production. 
7. Does Harvard accept Duolingo test scores? 
   • Harvard uses the English language as a medium for instruction. It accepts IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo for admission. Other educational institutions like Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Duke University, and Yale University also accept the Duolingo English test scores.
8. What is a good Duolingo score?
   • A total score of 120 or more is believed to be a good Duolingo score worldwide. You must know about the score interpretation and requirements beforehand. 
9. Is the Duolingo test hard?
   • Determining the difficulty of the Duolingo test can be subjective. The test has an adaptive pace that evaluates candidates' level of proficiency. It is as difficult as other English language proficiency tests.  
10. What does Duolingo assess?
    • The Duolingo test measures the English language proficiency for communicating in English. It checks candidates' language skills for literacy, conversation, comprehension, and production. 

Final Words

Taking an English language proficiency test can be intimidating and challenging for many students. Some have to travel long distances based on the schedule for the test weeks or, in some cases, months in advance, and the cost can go to hundreds of dollars. The Duolingo exam uses technology to make education easy and accessible for everyone. It can be an excellent way for people to certify their English skills at a reasonable price at the convenience of their home. 

In this article, we discuss the details of the Duolingo test, what the Duolingo test is, how it works, and all the things you might be wondering about. 

Check out the Library to learn more about other language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOFEL, PTE, etc.