Given the current COVID 19 situation, giving a test from home can be key to advancing your studies and work prospects abroad. You can make use of this time to prepare and attempt the Duolingo Test and get a good score. Mindmine global has been one of the first to adopt the Duolingo English Test and offer rigorous coaching for it. We offer extensive coaching to teach you how to tackle this home-based test so that you can make use of this time to ace your English language skills. Get in touch with Mindmine Global to join the coaching and be the right candidate at the school of your choice.

For all students who wish to study abroad, the Duolingo English Test is the new-gen test in town. Mindmine Global introduces to you the new English competency test. This is an alternative for IELTS and TOEFL which will make it possible for you to attend your English language test from the comfort of your home.

Many international universities have started to accept this score. You can find Duolingo tests alongside regular English-language testing like TOEFL and IELTS on various university websites.

Preparing for Duolingo test at Mindmine Global

  • We have the finest faculty consisting of qualified educators with years of experience behind them. They have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Duolingo exams to give their students the best coaching. They are constantly evaluated to ensure that their knowledge and efficiency is top-notch.
  • Mindmine Global’s Duolingo preparation course improves your language skills not only to tackle Duolingo but also helps to score well for IELTS and TOEFL as well.
  • Our faculty will also give you tips to score higher and meet the qualification for your dream university and course.

Know about the Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test is an online exam for the English language. You can take it on your personal computer at home. It tests all four necessary language skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The exam is similar to TOEFL and IELTS as it also assesses the English language proficiency, but the style is more intuitive and user friendly.

Intuitive Online English language test

You may remember Duolingo as the app that teaches you foreign languages. Now they have launched the English exam that You can take at home anytime.
It’s truly a new-gen test because the test adapts to your answers as you go. For example, if you get a question right, the next one is more challenging. But if you get a question wrong, the next one is easier. What does that do? It reduces the number of questions needed to evaluate a candidate. Thus the exam can narrow down your language skill pretty quickly.

Why Should I take the Duolingo certificate test?

Mindmine encourages our students to take the Duolingo English Test for sure. Why? Because the advantages are too many for the low cost.

  • First, many colleges have started accepting the Duolingo test score. But there are some colleges that are still on the fence about it.
  • You can take the tests at home, on your laptop with just an hour in hand.
  • Additional score reports. Duolingo has no charge for additional score reports. You can send them to as many universities as you desire. So if you think about it, it makes perfect sense to take the Duolingo test along with your TOEFL or IELTS as well.
  • Business English skill: Duolingo test has been used by many businesses to verify the English skill of applicants. In the hospitality field in the U.S.A, Duloningo is widely accepted. Unlike IELTS and TOEFL, which differentiates between academia and workplace language skill tests, Duolingo is versatile and works for applying to different fields.
  • Duolingo is now primarily used for U.S. undergraduate admissions

How much does the Duolingo English test cost?

Duolingo tests come at a good price. At just $49, it is a steal deal compared to TOEFL and IELTS. Why? Duolingo test is taken from the candidate’s home, and therefore the company doesn’t need to pay for test centres or computer hardware or even invigilating staff.

If you are applying to many universities or colleges, you will need additional score reports. TOEFL lets you send your score to four universities for free. IELTS offers to send your results to five universities free of cost. Once that limit is overrun, you will have to pay about $20 for each report. Duolingo test lets you send reports free to as many colleges as you wish. Given the current scenario, Duolingo is the right English test to take from home safely and efficiently.

Who accepts the Duolingo English Test?

Duolingo is penetrating the admissions circle today. Currently, half of the top U.S. universities accept Duolingo English Test scores in place of IELTS and TOEFL scores. This list includes prestigious schools like Yale, Duke, Columbia, and many others.

Please make a note as to how these schools are accepting Duolingo. You can find more information on it at the Duolingo site. As of today, Duolingo is used to “meet requirements” (in the English language skill) or as “supplemental” (Duolingo along with other exams) at 465 institutions. Always look into the school’s admissions page to confirm their language test status.

Duolingo English test vs TOEFL and IELTS?

If you have tried learning a language on an app, the Duolingo test is similar in style.

Both Duolingo and the TOEFL exams are computer-based. But there is a stark difference between the two.

  • Unlike traditional tests, Duolingo doesn’t have long passage reading, followed by interpreting long speeches and dragging essay writing. The test lasts for 1 hour, which means everything is brief and concise.
  • We all know that the TOEFL exam is divided into sections like Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. But Duolingo is an exciting mix of all kinds of questions which will have you jumping between different skills.
  • When we at Mindmine tried the Duolingo test, we found it to be very adaptive. You will notice that the questions change relative to everything that you’d answered on the exam so far. The TOEFL test, on the other hand, has a set pattern of questions that are unaffected by one another.

In the case of IELTS and Duolingo, it’s a matter of convenience.

  • IELTS exams are usually given over two-days at the designated testing centre.
  • Besides that, the format is also very different. Each of these exams tests all four areas of the English language. But while IELTS has long passages to conquer, Duolingo is short and crisp. The test measures language ability by looking at your knowledge of idioms and how well you use intonations etc.
  • Duolingo questions use new and exciting formats compared to the traditional item like multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions.

Do you know the Duolingo English test pattern?

As we discussed, Duolingo is a very effective exam. Thus, it is very different from traditional tests in style and scoring. Youngsters like us may find it more interesting as it is like an app once you get used to the style. A variety of test questions on Duolingo are in formats that are entirely new to traditional test takers.
These are:

  • Listening to spoken words then selecting the real ones
  • Reviewing written words followed by selecting the real ones
  • Completing the missing letters from a text
  • Describing an image both in writing or aloud
  • Recording yourself speaking a written sentence
  • Verbally answering a spoken question
  • Responding in writing to a question (Note that writing samples extend to a maximum of 500 words. They are usually much shorter than that)
  • Typing out a statement after you hear it.

The last is a “video interview” section where you will speak for 1-3 minutes on a topic chosen from the two that they offer. Although this isn’t scored, it will be sent along with your test results to universities. This is a great way to give your application a human touch.

What is the real length of the test?

It is usually between 45 and 60 minutes. The time taken is dependent on your language skill. As we saw, the test is adaptive. A proficient speaker will have a shorter test time than amateurs.

How does one do the Duolingo English test preparation?

Duolingo is a sensible test. Therefore it really tests your language abilities. Learning for Duolingo is different from the traditional where you follow a certain format and cover topics by topic. Duolingo measures how well you can respond to questions. It looks at things like your pace and ability to precisely describe a picture you’ve never seen before.

But don’t worry, it’s not a scary test, we promise you. We, at Mindmine, have been taking the tests persistently and understanding how to ace this test.

Here are a few things you can prepare for before you can take the test.

Improve overall English proficiency: This is crucial. To nail the Duolingo test, you need to learn by experience and not by a formula.

Try to have conversations with native speakers and among friends to get it flowing.

Are there Duolingo English test sample questions available?

When you log in on the Duolingo website, you can take the Practice Test, where you can attempt sample questions. It will be in the same format as the full test. It will also give an estimate of your English proficiency. The Practice Test is very much shorter than the Certified Test.

Use high-quality learning materials: Start reading newspapers, well-written articles like The New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal etc. Start listening to English podcasts and watching English movies (well, that’s a bonus).

Short practice test: For unusual tests, you need unusual training. Start by taking the short (10-minute) practice test. This will help you gain speed and familiarize with what the actual exam will feel like.

How to Take the Duolingo assessment test?

Duolingo test is taken from home. This doesn’t mean there are no rules.

What do I need to be able to take the test?
To take the test at home, you need a computer, a stable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. The room has to be a quiet and well-lit room. You will need 60 minutes of complete privacy when attending the test.

What are the guidelines?

Duolingo is very particular and strict about these rules. Read and adhere to them thoroughly when taking the test. You can’t take additional help from anywhere. Duolingo will flag you if they find out, so be cautious. Let us look at some of the rules:

  • Take the test alone: Obviously. Nobody else can be in your room. You can not speak with anybody during the exam.
  • Browser lockdown: You can’t move away from the browser window for as long as the test is being conducted. Put your window to full-screen mode to prevent tabs or any apps opening while taking the test.
  • Show your ears: Your ears have to be visible for the entire length of the test.
  • No notes: This is a bit of a challenge. You can’t make notes during the test. This may be difficult for some, but the exam is quite short, so you don’t have the time for notes anyway.

At Mindmine Global, we coach you to adhere to the laws of the test by giving sample tests at regular intervals. Our tests are also monitored by competent staff so that they give accurate results.

How do you get the score?

The Duolingo English Test is primarily computer-scored.
The test also uses proctors who invigilate you through the test length. They make sure you are following the rules and that there is no funny business. Proctors watch you in a video while you are taking the test.

What Duolingo score do you need for your course?

The exam is scored from 10-160. This is a total score, and there is no break up of score as there are no hard sections. Top schools and advanced programs require a score above 120. This is an average, so check with each school you are applying to. Duolingo also gives you a bonus. It will tell you how your score on Duolingo roughly translates to TOEFL and IELTS scores that you take.

When do you get your result?

Once you finish your exam, it is sent to proctors. You will get an email that says your score will be available in 48 hours. When your scores are ready, then you get another email that takes to your homepage on the site where you can see the result.

The Duolingo English Test Scores are valid for two years.

One can take two “certified” tests in a 30-day period. A certified test means a test that you have completed and received a score. If your test had technical glitches during the exam, it wouldn’t be counted in the two-test limit.
Once you get your scores, you can send them to your preferred institutions from the results page itself. As stated earlier, there’s no limit on how many reports you can send.