Duolingo English Test Pattern 2023: Test Format, Syllabus, Score Report, Sections

Duolingo English Test Pattern 2023: Candidates planning to attempt the Duolingo test must understand the Duolingo English Test syllabus and pattern in order to maximize their results. Knowing the test format helps applicants in knowing the types of questions that will be asked, the different types of sections, and the time that would be given to solve each section. It is crucial to understand such factors as this helps to perform better and get the desired test score.

The Duolingo exam is an English proficiency test used by candidates planning to migrate to English-speaking countries for work or study purposes. Top institutions and schools demand a language test score as an admission criterion to check the applicant’s ability to communicate in English. Hence, international applicants who intend to enrol themselves in English-taught courses must submit documentation of their English language ability. This guarantees that they possess the English language proficiency needed to comprehend academic writing, produce scholarly writing, and effectively interact with their mentors. That is when the Duolingo English Test plays a vital role.

Check Exam Overview: Dulingo Test 2023

The exam is much more affordable and convenient than other language proficiency tests available in the market. Moreover, it just takes 60 minutes to complete the test which is a shortened duration than most language exams. The test result is also delivered within 48 hours of giving the exam and can be sent to target institutions immediately without any hassle. The test can be taken online the same day students register for it making it well-suited for many. 

Read on to understand the Duolingo pattern, its benefits, and the score range structure.

Duolingo English Test Pattern 2023

The Duolingo test is recognized by over 4000+ institutions and organizations abroad. Unlike IELTS and TOEFL, the test is only given at home and not at a designated test centre. The Duolingo English Test is a one-hour online test with a two-part exam format. One is a 45-minute adaptive test that consists of a series of questions meant to gauge a candidate's proficiency in English. The other is a 10-minute Writing and Speaking test which is an unscored section. 

New: Starting May 1 2023, the exam conducting body will introduce a new question type called Interactive Listening. Applicants will be asked to assess stimulate conversations using their listing and reading skills. The paper will still be an hour long, and to adjust the duration the Listen and Select section has now been removed from the curriculum. 

The test regulations and prerequisites are explained to test-takers within the first five minutes of the test, which is termed the introduction section. The test is graded from 10 to 160 score range. Check the table below to know some prominent details of the exam.

Students will be tested on a total of four components, which are:

• Production- the test taker’s ability to speak and write in English
• Literacy- the test taker’s ability to read and write in English
• Comprehension- the test taker’s ability to read and listen in English
• Conversion- the test taker’s ability to listen and speak in English

According to these sections, an overall score would be provided to applicants. The score will be based on the student’s language flexibility for academic, social, and professional purposes. Moreover, it will determine whether the applicant understands a variety of written and spoken English Languages. 

Duolingo English Test Pattern 2023: Sections

The sections of the Duolingo Pattern mentioned in the table below are intended to track the candidate's overall English language proficiency. Plus, an introduction to understanding the test requirements is also provided in the pattern.

Duolingo English Test Pattern: Adaptive Test

Just like GRE and other aptitude exams, the Duolingo exam is adaptive in nature. An adaptive test presents the next question based on how the test-taker answered the previous question. For instance, if the student has answered correctly, the difficulty level of the next presented question will increase. Similarly, if the question was wrongly answered, the next question will be comparatively easier. Questions that are in each student's "learning zone" are ensured by adaptive tests. Such a test matches the student's ability level, and then, encourages a more positive test-taking experience.

Duolingo English Test Syllabus

As mentioned earlier, the test has 3 major sections. 

Introduction: The first section is just an introduction to the test which will notify students of the rules and regulations of the exam. Additionally, in this section, students will be asked to answer some of their personal questions like gender, full name, and contact details and would be asked to take a real-time picture. They will also be required to present their valid and updated IDs.

Adaptive Test: This section is said to be the most important as it holds the maximum weightage. It will include questions of different varieties to the English skills of students. The questions will be short and crisp with the difficulty level of the presented problems increasing or decreasing based on the performance of the candidates. The topics will range from the field of English and will test students on their capability to write, speak, listen, and read in the English language. 

Writing and Speaking Sample: This is an ungraded section wherein students will be given 30 seconds to select the prompt. This section will contain a video speaking sample of 1 to 3 minutes and a writing sample of 3 to 5 minutes. 

Duolingo English Test Pattern: Score Report

The score report will be delivered to applicants 48 hours after they take the exam. Some features of the Duolingo score report include-

• Test scores will be reported on a 10 - 160 scale
• A general description of what students can do is included in the overall results
• There will be subscores to assess proficiency in specific areas
• Each certificate will have a unique and secure link

Duolingo English Test Pattern: Benefits 

Students may question why to register for the Duolingo test with so many alternatives for language exams available in the market. For the reference of students, here are some benefits of taking the Duolingo English Test-