Is Duolingo English Test as Reliable as TOEFL or IELTS?

I scored more than 125 on the Duolingo English Test which is equivalent to an IELTS score ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. The testing authority is very careful about the honesty and ingenuity of the test candidate. I needed to sit for the test several times 7–8 times before they accepted my last test, and certified that. My journey succeeded. I became stubborn when it was continuously rejected by proctors. I did not give up. And, success came. The reason for what I think I needed to give several tests I guess is that my country is a corrupted country. People can cheat during the test by several means. So, the testing authority is very strict during the test. They remain vigilant over every blink of a candidate’s eyes. What I think is that the proctors of home-based TOEFL are similarly strict. I got this idea about the home-based TOEFF after reading some articles of some candidates of home-based TOEFL. However, I was very happy with DUOLINGO because the system aims to find out the honesty of the candidates. However, a test taker needs to be fully honest while giving his or her test, otherwise the test proctor will not be able to verify the given test. An examinee also needs to follow the instructions of the test carefully during his or her preparations or before giving the test. A test taker needs to set her or his equipment and system very appropriately and excellently such as camera, microphone, keyboard, background apps, wired-internet connection and room atmosphere. After being satisfied with the authenticity of the candidate, then a proctor or supervisor will certify the test. In compare to other English tests, Duolingo has a video part which is an interview over several minutes. It is a valuable asset for the candidate because he or she can show this to his or her university admission team or the employer as an evidence of skill.

Since people are giving test from own home, so, I am describing several reasons below telling why a candidate’s appeared test can be rejected:

• Internet connection may not be trusted if it is on an wifi system. A wifi connection does not remain stable all the time. An unstable internet level may cause the given test being failed to be uploaded by the system. End of the test, a candidate’s entire given test will start to be uploaded by the system. This process may take maximum 20 minutes. In the case of an unstable internet, usually uploading progress is not shown. The best way for a candidate is to connect the direct internet wire to his or her computer’s port.

• Some running background apps like skype, messenger, AVG anti-virus etc can send signal to Duolingo which may question the authenticity of the test. A candidate is needed to uninstall or deactivate those before the test. If the system traces any background app’s signal, it will not upload the given test or if started, the upload process bar will not show any progress.

• If the computer’s windows are not updated, then it may not support the system of the Duolingo. A candidate should update the operating system before sitting for the test. However, a candidate should pause/deactivate any update before starting the test.

• If the candidates, had the notifications turned on for media like Facebook, newspapers, youtube, LinkedIn etc, they must need to go to the URL setting and switch off or block those notifications.

• If an examinee’s internet speed is not stable, it may cause the test to be rejected by a proctor. So, the examinee should test his or her internet condition on speedtest.com or with other speed test service providers. An examinee may find so many good internet speed test providers on google search engine. Following their reports, he or she can improve the internet capacity. In fact, sometimes, a candidate may need to change her or his internet service provider.

• If an examinee’s computer has no camera, he or she should not connect it with mobile camera with the help of a software. This method will not be trusted by Duolingo. In most cases, with this method, a candidate’s given test will not show progress at the start of uploading process. The candidate should connect the latest web camera with good pixels. The best method is to use a laptop.

• There is usually neighborhood’s sounds or noise pollution in a congested urban area. If there is sound affect or noise, it will hamper the test procedure. This situation enhances the likely impression that a second person might have been present in the candidate’s test room during the test, and it will definitely cause the proctor of the test being unable to certify the test.

• During the test, suddenly, by mistake, an examinee should not put his or her eyes away from the screen. It may not be trusted by the proctor i.e. it does not help the examiner to trust that someone was not present in front of the examinee’s computer.

It is recommended that the candidates put a large mirror behind them, so, it will ensure that there is nobody behind the camera.

When, I improved my settings from all these errors, my given test was allowed to be examined for a score, and within two days I was certified by a supervisor with the score.

All these situations prove that the Duolingo test results are authentic.

One of the super features of the Duolingo test is that it allows the successful candidate with Duolingo online link with his or her certification. The link actually has the compatibility to live the interview part of the test taker which he or she can provide to her university academic, admission team or recruiting employer as an evidence of his or her skill. This is an unique side of the Duolingo as a latest technology based English Language Testing system that many other conventional testing systems lack.

I experienced sitting for TOEFL and IELTS tests in the past. My thought is that Duolingo is an advanced and well smart testing system. I appreciate Duolingo.

– Mehedi Hasan