What is Duolingo? The New Standard for English Proficiency in the Post-Pandemic Era | UP-STUDY Educational Center

Are you still frustrated by stagnant TOEFL or IELTS scores?

English proficiency is a critical requirement for international students applying for study abroad, especially for master’s programs where different fields have varying standards. Most schools use TOEFL or IELTS as benchmarks, though iTEP, PTE, Cambridge, and other tests are sometimes accepted as alternatives. However, during the 2020-2021 application season, COVID-19 disrupted TOEFL and IELTS exams, prompting many schools to adopt the previously unfamiliar "Duolingo English Test" as an alternative English proficiency standard. This change has left many students wondering:

What is the Duolingo English Test?

Duolingo, also known as 多鄰國 in Chinese, is an American language learning platform that offers gamified language learning experiences through its app and website. Since its launch in 2011, Duolingo has quickly risen to the top of language learning apps, becoming a household name in foreign language education.

In 2016, Duolingo launched its online English exam, the "Duolingo English Test," which is marketed as "convenient, fast, and affordable." With the added momentum from the pandemic, the test quickly became a popular language proficiency exam by 2020.

Introduction to the Duolingo English Test

· Total Score: 160 points

· Duration: 60 minutes

· Cost: USD 49

Duolingo English Test Exam Process

Duolingo English Test: Test Format and Scoring

The Duolingo English Test focuses on students’ practical language application skills. Therefore, the test format is highly diverse, with questions appearing randomly during the official test. Additionally, there is a ten-minute interview and writing test after the official test, which are not included in the test score. However, these sections are submitted together with the score to the application schools for their reference!

Below are the main question types of the Duolingo English Test. Note that not all types of questions will appear during the test. Questions are randomly selected, so each test is unique!

*Refer to the question types provided on the Duolingo English Test official website

In addition to introducing the question types, the Duolingo English Test official website also offers practice tests to help students familiarize themselves with the question types and assess their score levels. If interested, you can click here to register for the practice test.

Duolingo English Test Scoring Method

Similar to many English tests, the Duolingo English Test evaluates students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities. However, unlike tests such as TOEFL and IELTS, which separate the four areas, Duolingo integrates these core skills into four assessment categories that measure the actual grasp of English. These categories are: Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production.

Score Comparison

*This reference is based on the Duolingo English Test official website, for accurate score comparisons please refer to the announcements of the applying schools.

Test Advantages

·Short duration, no commuting required, and the official test only takes 45 minutes

·Fast results, test scores are available within two days after the exam

·Low cost, each exam costs only $49 USD, and sending scores to applying schools is free of charge

·Authoritative, over 3,000 schools worldwide accept Duolingo scores

With the arrival of the post-pandemic era, many schools have begun to use the Duolingo English Test as an alternative to traditional English exams. This test format, which transcends time and space limitations, makes Duolingo English Test highly promising. If you are currently struggling with TOEFL, IELTS, or other exams, why not try this new way of testing English proficiency?

Book a consultation at UP-STUDY now to start your study abroad plan!

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