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Duolingo is the Future of Study Abroad

All aspiring study abroad students might have wondered how to apply to their desired university. But? Then the first hurdle comes up is to have an English proficiency test score which is a must and a deciding factor as you get familiar with the study abroad application process. However, the good news is that rather than paying more than INR 15,000 or at times the traveling cost, now you can get an English proficiency test done at a much less cost and with same-day delivery. Yes, we are talking about the latest talk among international students and in academia, the Duolingo English test. We will explicate the subject here onwards.

1. Duolingo as a Proficiency Platform

Since its inception in 2011, Duolingo has gained immediate popularity. Duolingo offers English proficiency certifications and language training that are accessible both on the website and on the app. The platform provides language training for German, Spanish, French and many other languages. Here, our discussion lies on the Duolingo English Test only.

2. What is a Duolingo English Proficiency Certification

Duolingo English Test quintessentially measures a potential candidate’s reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English. All these skills will sum up the candidate’s communication skills. It’s a computer adaptive test that the test taker has the liberty and freedom to attempt from anywhere, anytime provided they have an internet connection and have paid the fee. Once an applicant registers with Duolingo for the test, the test taker gets a 90 days window to attempt the test. The test scores are not isolated or difficult to measure or compare with IELTS or TOEFL. It’s a test that has been rapidly accepted by universities worldwide.

3. Requirements for Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test has some requirements. They are enlisted here:

  • A system with a webcam, microphone and speakers
  • Passport
  • High-speed internet connection
  • Continuously 60 mins of time

4. Advantages of Duolingo English Proficiency Test

There are varieties of English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE Academic but somehow Duolingo’s test wins the game because it provides certain advantages altogether. They are cited underneath:

  • It is less costly, in fact, one-third of a regular English proficiency test.
  • It just takes 60 mins that includes all the subsections of the test. Time is money too. The test takers are not losing ground because of this very reason.
  • The scorecard is delivered within a day. Although, officially the platform says 48 hours.
  • Free mock tests are available on the website.
  • You can access free English training on the official app.
  • Accepted in all English-speaking nations.
  • Around 1000+ institutions gave the green signal to Duolingo and verified its authenticity.

5. Limitations of the Duolingo English Test

Inasmuch, Duolingo has some advantages, there are some limitations or drawbacks when it comes to the test. Some of them are mentioned here:

  • Lesser academic study materials compared to other long-established English proficiency tests.
  • The test demands high-speed internet and the latest updates in the hardware and software of the system.

There are some other objections as well that are subjective and can vary depending on the users of the test. In summation:

  • It is more for the beginner level than for the advanced learners.
  • Some say its primary audiences are either native speakers or Anglophone folks!
  • Duolingo trains learners with a gamified approach. It might not adhere to the textbook example of teaching methodologies. For that reason alone learners might not take the process seriously.

6. Use Duolingo for Study Abroad Programs and Universities

While you might negotiate the aforementioned opinion points in your head, the best highlight of the test is that it is acceptable for international programs and universities for Indian students. The upcoming January intake 2024 is nearby and here’s a country-wise list of universities accepting Duolingo test and where to apply but not limited to.

6.1. The USA

USA’s top institutions accept Duolingo as an entry requirement for international students in the USA. Check out some of the universities here:

6.2. The UK

The following UK institutions that accept Duolingo as a measure of English proficiency are:

6.3. Canada

The following universities that accept Duolingo are in Canada. Do check the score requirements on their website.

6.4. Australia

Top Australian universities that accept Duolingo are given here: 

6.5. New Zealand

Some highly ranked New Zealand universities that accept Duolingo are posited here:

7. Duolingo for Non-English Speaking Countries

When it comes to measuring the English proficiency level, the non-English speaking countries’ English-taught programs accept Duolingo as the base measurement. Some of those countries are Germany, France and Spain.

7.1. Germany

Here’s a list of universities in Germany that accept Duolingo:

  • Jacobs University Bremen
  • University of Applied Sciences Europe
  • Bard College Berlin
  • Schiller International University

7.2. France

Some of the top QS-ranking France universities accept Duolingo. They are:

7.3. Spain

There are some of the top Spain universities accept Duolingo too. Here are they:

  • Saint Louis University
  • IE University
  • EU Business School
  • Universidad de Navarra

8. Duolingo Scorecard Conversions

Duolingo English Test (DET) has a standard measurement of English skills. Thus, DET scores are very much convertible.  Below is a DET and other English proficiency test comparison table.

Duolingo English Test (10-160)

IELTS Academic Band (0-9)

TOEFL iBT Score (0-100)

160

8.5-9

120

155

8

119

150

117-118

145

7.5

113-116

140

109-112

135

7

104-108

130

98-103

125

6.5

93-97

120

87-92

115

6

82-86

110

76-81

105

70-75

100

5.5

65-69

95

59-64

90

5

53-58

85

47-52

80

41-46

75

4.5

34-40

70

30-34

65

24-29

10-60

0-4

0-23

9. Who We Are

We are a Noida-based study abroad consultancy group namely Career Clinic. We specialize in your study abroad venture free of cost. Along with that, we provide training for English proficiency tests like Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL etc. The breaking news is- apply for Duolingo now and begin your application process for January intake 2024 with us. You can contact us for more assistance and surefire success in these tests!

10. Conclusion

We have reached the final point now. Duolingo English Test is the most convenient proficiency test as of now that helps international students to fasten up their study abroad application process. We hope this article is informative to you! If so, read our other resources as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

A good Duolingo score is between 90 to 120. You can think of the score in terms of the conversion table that we have provided in the blog.

Prospective test takers can attempt as many as the test they please. Thus, the moral of the failure is to change your study methods and use the resources available to you.

Like most English proficiency tests, the DET score has a validity of 2 years. Since it is economical and doesn’t put strain on your pocket you can reappear.

No, the results declared once can not be contested or reevaluated. However, you may reappear.