bySayantani Barman Study Abroad Expert
The Duolingo English Test is an online, high stakes English language proficiency test that assesses your English language skills and communication abilities. The test evaluates multiple language competencies, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking, providing a comprehensive assessment of the test-taker's English proficiency. The DET is a unique computer adaptive test that tailors its sequence of questions and difficulty level to each individual test taker based on their skill set and fluency. The duration of the Duolingo English Test is one hour. It is accepted by more than 5000 educational institutions around the world as a valid measure of English proficiency.
Click here to register for Duolingo English Test
The Duolingo English Test Sections
There are three main sections included in the Duolingo English Test Pattern: Introduction and onboarding, the Adaptive test section, and Writing and Speaking sample section. The final score is based on the candidate’s vocabulary, accuracy in grammar, fluency in English, pronunciation of the words, and ability to deliver the correct and unique answers. Candidates must follow the rules and restrictions while attempting the DET rules to avoid being disqualified.
| Introduction and onboarding | 5 minutes |
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| Adaptive test | 45 minutes |
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| Writing Sample and Speaking Sample | 10 minutes |
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Section 1: Introduction and Onboarding
During the introduction and onboarding phase, which takes approximately five minutes, test takers need to ensure that their computer's camera, speakers, and microphone are functioning correctly. This section includes an overview of the test and the instructions that candidates need to follow while taking this test. You have to enter the required details asked while starting the test such as basic information about the candidate, verification of the photo, and government-issued identity card. After this, you will be required to go through a short video tutorial giving a clear overview of the DET - how to attempt the test and what to expect during it. Remember to prepare for the DET before you actually take the test as this will familiarize you with the test structure. You can also practice on the DET website for free with unlimited mock tests. .
After completing the introduction, you will move to the Adaptive test section.
Section 2: Adaptive Test
The adaptive test, which takes approximately 45 minutes, measures a test taker's English skills through a series of different question types. The questions are administered randomly, and the difficulty level adapts based on the test taker's performance. This helps to get a fair and accurate result and test the candidate's English proficiency level. All the questions in this section are scored.
Section 3: Writing and Speaking Sample
The writing and speaking sample section is designed to test the natural writing and speaking abilities of the candidates. This section takes approximately 10 minutes, and a test taker will be given a prompt to respond to at length. In the writing sample, you have to answer the two prompts of varying length and difficulty levels. It may include the summary of the passage or expressing a personal opinion on any given topic. Candidates will be given 3-5 minutes to respond , and they have to answer these two prompts within the given time limit. In the speaking section, candidates will be given 30–90 seconds to speak continuously on the given speaking question. The long pauses and repeated words will not be counted and can reduce the speaking test score. In this section, candidates may be asked to speak on any image and describe any real-life or imaginary situation. This helps to evaluate a test-taker’s ability to communicate in English correctly and effectively.
All the responses will be scored, and the test taker will have the opportunity to review them after the test's conclusion. Institutions that receive the test taker's results will also receive these samples.
FAQs
Question: What is the duration of the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: The total duration of the Duolingo English Test is 60 minutes. It includes three sections: Introduction and Onboarding section (5 minutes), Adaptive Test section (45 minutes), and Writing and Speaking samples section (10 minutes). You may avail a free practice test to understand the test structure better.
Question: Is it easy to crack the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: The Duolingo English Test is a convenient and affordable alternative compared to other traditional language proficiency tests. It is adaptive which means that the difficulty of the questions is based on the candidate's performance in the previous questions thus making it a top choice for students.
Question: Is it easy to score 115 marks on the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: 115 is a good score on the Duolingo English Test.Generally, a DET score of around 120 or more is generally considered good for most leading universities. However, acceptable scores can vary among institutions, so we recommend checking the specific admission requirements of your chosen university. It’s recommended that you take the practice test first before attempting the DET to understand the test structure better.
Question: Is there a negative marking on the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: There is no negative marking for the unanswered questions in the Duolingo English Test. When it comes to answering questions, entering an incorrect response carries no greater penalty than skipping the question entirely. You won’t be penalized more for entering an incorrect response rather than skipping the question. If your answer isn’t entirely correct, you will receive partial credit. For example, in Read and Complete, you will receive the same score for a blank or an incorrect response. For Listen and Type, you will be penalized more for missing a word than mistyping the word. In other words, it is always best to try to answer a question.
Question: What is the score range in the B2 level of the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: The students in the B2 level of the Duolingo English Test have a score in the range of 100-125
Question: How many times can students take the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: There is no limit to the number of attempts in the Duolingo English Test. Once you purchase the DET, you can take the exam within 21 days. Unless you purchase the 2 test bundle, you will have to pay the registration fee every time you wish to attempt the exam.
Question: How is the Duolingo English Test score calculated?
Answer: The Duolingo English Test employs statistical machine learning algorithms to evaluate test takers’ responses, focusing on the content provided. The overall score and subscores are estimated independently and are weighted combinations of the questions that contribute to each score. The Duolingo English Test score is calculated on a scale ranging from 10-160. It is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). You can also view this link to know more about the comparison of the DET scores with other traditional tests such IELTS and TOEFL.
Question: Is it possible to convert the Duolingo English Test score to the IELTS band?
Answer: Yes, candidates can convert the Duolingo English Test score to the IELTS band. You can also check this link to gain further insights into how DET scores compare to IELTS and TOEFL.
Question: Which countries will accept the Duolingo English Test score?
Answer: The Duolingo English Test score is accepted by more than 5000 universities around the world in countries like the USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.
Question: What is the meaning of the adaptive nature of the Duolingo English Test?
Answer: The adaptive nature of the Duolingo English Test means that the difficulty level of the upcoming questions in the test will be set as per the accuracy of the previous questions attempted by the candidates.
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