Duolingo Exam: Syllabus, Eligibility & Requirements
Updated on 11 May, 2022
Mrinal Mandal
Study Abroad Expert
Study Abroad Expert
The computer-based English test determines the language proficiency of the candidates planning to migrate to any English-speaking country. Duolingo also tests students' reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities like any other English language exam. You can take the test online anytime from any corner of the world.
The Duolingo exam is computer-adaptive. Computer-adaptive tests This is due to the fact that with every correct answer the difficulty level keeps rising. If your answer is wrong, the next question will be relatively easier. You can also choose the upgraded test version, where you can opt for the ten-minute interview and record your answers for all the open-ended questions.
Here are some essential facts about the Duolingo English Test -:
The Duolingo exam is designed for international students preparing to move to other countries. Compared to other language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc., the Duolingo English Test is affordable and takes less time. The exam assesses the candidate's ability in four sections, including writing, reading, listening, and speaking. The test is designed on-demand to enroll at various universities. The test is designed using AI and Data Forensics Technology, making the test transparent and secure for every candidate.
The test does not require any academic documents or transcripts. Anyone who wishes to appear for the test can do so without hassle. Before appearing for the test, please check the language proficiency requirement stated by the university you are applying to. There is no age restriction. However, candidates younger than 13 need to get their parents' consent to apply for the test.
You can register for the test from anywhere globally as the test is conducted online and through the Duolingo app. You can appear for the test immediately after registration. Here are the steps you'll have to follow to register for the test-:
● UG University Admissions
● School building
● Graduate admissions
● Middle or high school admission
● Applying for a promotion or job
● None of the above
Upon completing the payment and process mentioned above, you can give the test.
The fee is highly affordable compared to other English language tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and more. The price for the Duolingo exam is $49 (INR 3,678*) plus the taxes (if applicable), whereas the other tests cost around INR 15,000 and more. There are zero test waivers for the exam.
To pay the exam fee, click the ‘purchase the test' tab and go ahead with the buy now option. All credit cards, as well as PayPal, are accepted. Upon successfully submitting the fees, you will have to take the test within 90 days, or the duration will expire.
There are no fixed dates for the Duolingo english test. You need to open the website, purchase the test, and give the exam. Enter all the information required on the website and log in with your initials. You can take the test from anywhere if you meet all the requirements.
The online test helps aspirants to check their knowledge of the English language. Here's a brief about the exam and the Duolingo exam syllabus-:
Test | Duolingo English Exam |
Mode of exam | Online |
Sections in exam | 2 |
Exam Duration | 1 hour |
Question types | Descriptive and objective |
The 45-minute-long graded section of the English assessment exam evaluates the candidates' reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. All the different questions are combined and keep appearing randomly during the test in the section. The scores are provided separately for this section. None of the questions are repeated in the test. There is no limited number of questions in this section. The test will end when the grading engine is persuaded by your score.
Here are the different types of questions you will come across-
● Answer the missing letters and complete the sentences.
● Record yourself while repeating any given sentence.
● Describe the given image in writing.
● Hear the words and identify the correct one.
● Read the words and identify the real English ones.
● Type the sentence that you hear.
● Write down your answer in at least 50 words.
● Speak your answer to a spoken question.
The video interview test is the second segment of the exam, with a time limit of 10 minutes. The section requires candidates to answer open-ended questions via recording. You may be asked to speak about any situation, image, or topic.
Remember these points while answering the video questions-
● Ensure that your face is in the frame.
● You must be audible, loud, and straightforward.
● Plan your answers accordingly, and do not jumble the answers.
Here are the benefits of the Duolingo English Test
The score is calculated on the 10 to 160 scale. The entire score is bifurcated in the overall and four sub-scores. Here's how-
120-160 | Learners are apt in writing and speaking the language. Learners can understand the pragmatic, figurative and idiomatic phrases. |
90-115 | The learner can communicate about new topics which are unknown to him/her. Learners can clearly understand and interact on both abstract and concrete topics. |
60-85 | Learners can grasp the valuable and main aspects and points related to work or their educational content. Learners can easily communicate personal details without any hassle. |
10-55 | Learners can identify all of the basic English and phrases. Learners can articulate the straight given information. |
You can receive your Duolingo English test score within 24 to 48 hours of giving the test. The exam score usually provides information about the applicant, the overall performance, and subscore. The candidates can access the score through the application.
You can send the test score to the selected university or college as a test-taker. Here's how you can check your scores-:
● Log in to the Duolingo website with credentials.
● Enter your registration information. Ensure the details are correct.
● View your scorecard.
● You can download or print the report if required.
Duolingo English test, IELTS exam, and TOEFL analyzes English language proficiency. If you are a student migrating to a different country to pursue higher education, you will have to take one of these tests to be eligible for admission to English-speaking countries. Here’s the difference between the three tests
IELTS test- Managed by IDP, the IELTS score is accepted by over 10,000 academic institutions worldwide. There are two different types of IELTS- Academic IELTS and General IELTS. You can also choose from paper-based tests and computer-based tests. The test will analyze your communication skills on the basis of listening, speaking, reading, and writing for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
TOEFL- TOEFL is administered and designed by the Educational Testing Service and over 11,000 universities in 140+ countries. The TOEFL is conducted in two ways- internet-based and paper-based. TOEFL iBT is 3 hours long, whereas the PBT is 2 hours and 30 minutes long. The test will analyze your speaking, listening, writing, and reading abilities.
Duolingo- Duolingo is one of the most famous language-learning platforms and over 3000 academic institutions around the globe. The test has three parts: set-up, adaptive, and virtual interviews.
There is no fixed syllabus or book to score higher bands in the Duolingo exam. Though the exam assesses the candidate's skills on four different spectrums, you can practice with other materials. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the Duolingo exam-:
● Read novels containing advanced English. Read newspapers, and practice writing and learning new words to enhance your vocabulary.
● Indulge in random conversations with people fluent in the English language.
● Get a clear understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and the types of questions asked in the exam.
● You can try mock tests available on the Duolingo website.
● Read the blog section on the Duolingo website and understand the resource materials provided.
*"Disclaimer! All course fees/salaries/expenses are indicative."
Duolingo Test analyzes the English language proficiency of the candidates planning to study abroad. You can prepare for the test by conducting informal research on YouTube or various educational websites. Apart from that, you can visit the test readiness page on the Duolingo website, where you can sign up for the free practice test, check the question type, and download the official guide for further help.
The Duolingo test scores are reported on a scale of 10 to 160. A 10 to 55 scorecard means that you have a basic understanding of language, whereas 60 to 85 falls in the intermediate category, which means you can describe your ambitions, experiences, and plans. 90 to 115 falls in the upper intermediate category, meaning you can easily fulfill most goals, interact with others, and communicate with proficient speakers. However, 120 to 160 is the advanced score indicating you are skilled in the English language and able to grasp the pragmatic, idiomatic, and use English flexibility. Various universities have set their requirements, though scores above 120 can open doors to various higher educational institutions.
Various prestigious universities around the globe back the Duolingo test. Countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, China, Ireland, Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Italy, and more accept the Duolingo score.
To score at an advanced level in the Duolingo English Test, you will have to learn new vocabulary, enhance your listening skills, understand sentence structures, focus on accent and pronunciation. Practice on sample tests, and you will be able to score well.
Visit the official website of the Duolingo exam and create your account by adding your email id, age, and password. Step 2 is to select ‘what are you interested in?’ You will have to choose from a list of options, and once you choose an option, you are ready to create your account. Once you create your account, you will be redirected to the registration page, where you can either try the test, purchase or take the test.
Login to your Duolingo test account, and then click on the ‘send result’ tab. Enter the university’s name and click on various choices given on-screen. You can select up to 40 universities and send your score. You can enter your application id if any university demands it. Click the send button, and your scores will be sent to institutions.
Even though there is no limit to how many times you can take the test, you can only appear for it twice in 30 days.
The Duolingo test score is released in the certificate form, and you can access it through your test account. You can download the certificate as well.
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