The Duolingo English Test (DET) has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional English proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL. This innovative online test has become popular due to its fast, affordable, and accurate way to assess your English skills. Whether you are applying to a university, seeking employment, or simply want to improve your language abilities, the Duolingo English Test offers a convenient and accessible solution.
Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers free lessons in various languages, including English. Established in 2011, the organization has experienced remarkable growth and now stands as one of the most widely recognized language-learning applications worldwide.
In addition to its language courses, Duolingo also offers the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency exam designed to assess a person's reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
It is an online test that can be taken from anywhere with a stable internet connection and a computer with a webcam and microphone. This makes it more accessible than traditional exams, which often require test-takers to travel to a testing center.
The DET costs $59 (approximately BDT 6390; $1=108.29), which is significantly cheaper than the fees for IELTS and TOEFL, which can range from $195 to $215 (IELTS test cost BDT 20,250 in Bangladesh, and TOEFL is around BDT 21,000)
Test-takers receive their Duolingo results within 48 hours, whereas IELTS and TOEFL results can take up to 13 days or more.The DET is accepted by over 4,000 institutions worldwide, including top universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
While the DET is accepted by many institutions, it is not as widely recognized as IELTS and TOEFL. Some universities and organizations may still require IELTS or TOEFL scores for admission or employment purposes.DET is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the test-takers performance. IELTS and TOEFL have fixed question formats.
The DET takes approximately 60 minutes to complete, while IELTS and TOEFL can take up to 2 hours and 45 minutes, and 3 hours, respectively. Go to the Duolingo English Test website (englishtest.duolingo.com) and create an account. You will need to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and date of birth.
Once you have created your account, you can purchase the test. The cost of the test is $59, and you can pay online via debit or credit card. You must need a dual currency card if you are registering from Bangladesh. However, if you do not have a card, anyone can pay your fee.
The test consists of a series of sections, including Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production. Literacy analyzes the ability to read and write, Comprehension measures the listening and reading ability, Conversation tests your listening and speaking, and Production checks your writing and speaking.
Once you've completed the test, you will receive your results within 48 hours. Your score will be based on a scale of 10 to 160, and it will be valid for two years.