Hi, I have just undertaken the Duolingo English Test recently, right before Tet holiday. And after exacting 2 days, I received my result, it looked like this:
This is Duolingo sample certificate from their website:
https://englishtest.duolingo.com/sample_certificate
(Remember that your photo will be captured when you are taking the test, so prepare well before you take the test.)
What is Duolingo English Test?
It is a kind of English certification to assess your level of English. And it is accepted by many institutions currently. You can check the list of accepted institutions on Duolingo website.
We will not receive the certificate in paper, instead we will receive it online. Duolingo will send you an email with a link, then you must log in into your account on Duolingo and you can download your certificate. You can also choose to send this certificate to the institutions you are communicating with (of course this process is free).
Some of the notices you need to be aware before taking the test:
– You do not have to use a tablet or an iPad. You must use your computer or laptop, so make sure your devices are well equipped with the microphone and speakers. They also do not allow you to use earphones or headphones too. So, if your speakers malfunction, try to find or borrow another one. This also happened to me, and I had to borrow two laptops, one was a MacBook from my cousin, one was an HP laptop from my younger sister’s friend. And I just knew it at midnight, so I needed to wait for the next morning when their laptops arrived, then I could begin my test.
– You must download an application of Duolingo to take the test. You cannot use the browser to take the test.
– Make sure your laptop is fully charged for a full battery or is charging during the examination process. I used my cousin’s MacBook. He helped me to charge 90 % but it was not enough. He did not give me the charger; Oh God blessed me because even when you finish the test, you still must wait for the system to upload your test, this process is about half an hour or more.
- Prepare your passport or your identification card (no need to take photos of them because you will have to show your passport/your identification card directly to your camera
Yes, even when it is reverse, the camera still can read those documents.
Is Duolingo Test easier than IELTS?
Yes, Duolingo Test is easier than IELTS. You do not need to prepare carefully for IELTS tests, especially for academic version of IELTS. Furthermore, the result is commensurate with the IELTS result. And it is cheaper and faster than IELTS. If your institutions accept Duolingo English Test, it is okay to purchase the test (in my case I purchased one test and it cost me 59$, equivalent to 1.440.000 VND). However, if you aren’t in a hurry and you need an English certificate to prove your English level, you should take one test as IELTS or TOEFL, because it saves your cost.
My advice:
Should I need to take Duolingo English Test? Yes, if the institutions you are applying accept Duolingo English Test and you do not have enough time to register an IELTS test, in other cases, you can save a bit cost. However, remember to prepare an appropriate computer or laptop in a quiet room.
If you can take the IELTS test, it is better because it is more widely accepted and popular, but you must pay more and study more carefully in advance. Remember to travel to the examination venue on time to make sure you will not be late for the test.
If you have any comments about Duolingo English Test, leave your comments below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
FAQ (will be added if necessary)
Can you cheat on the test?
No. Even though you are the only one person in the room and it seems no one else is supervising you, if you do not look in the camera or have abnormal behaviors, your test result might not be admitted.
(To be continued)