Can’t Take the TOEFL? Duolingo Might Offer an Alternative

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, work and study for the foreseeable future, with universities moving classes online and many services closing their buildings.

Test centers around the world have been affected by these closures, leaving students with nowhere to study the TOEFL, IELTS or other English language proficiency tests. So where does that leave university hopefuls?

A number of US and UK institutions are now accepting the Duolingo English Test (DET) as stand-alone proof or as a supplement to other English-language proficiency measures – with close to 1,000 universities across the globe welcoming DET results.

TopUniversities spoke with Jeff Tousignant, head of marketing for the Duolingo English Test, about the future of the online exam.

Advantages of using Duolingo

In a digital and virtual world, technology is involved in everything we do – making our lives more accessible, affordable, and convenient. However, Tousignant says traditional English testing hasn’t evolved at the same pace.

He said: “To certify your English, you need to make an appointment well in advance, pay hundreds of dollars, travel – sometimes long distances – to the test center, take a stressful test, and wait weeks for your results.

“In a world where technology is changing the way we do everything, the Duolingo English Test is the future of testing: convenient, fast, and affordable while remaining secure and accurate.”

The benefits of remote learning are unprecedented, and the positives associated with the Duolingo English Test – it being online, on demand, and able to be taken from the comfort of your home – means certifying English is easier all round.

Tousignant said: “For some students, it lowers a critical barrier in the application process. Certain parts of the world are not well served by traditional testing options in terms of test dates and locations of test centers.

“This was the experience of Duolingo’s Founder and CEO, Luis von Ahn, who had to fly to another country to take an English test when he was applying to undergraduate programs in the US.”

Due to this experience von Ahn recognized Duolingo was uniquely qualified to offer an alternative. Tousignant said: “We hear similar stories from students around the world who do not have access to a testing center or can’t afford to travel to one. More recently, due to Covid-19, students have no option to take their exams due to test centers closing.”

Diverse and talented global cohorts are what universities look for to enhance the learning experience, and Duolingo’s test has clear benefits for admissions staff reviewing applications. Tousignant told us: “The DET helps them reach more students by making an important part of the application process more accessible. 

“It also helps them make faster and more informed admissions decisions by reviewing a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample within two days.”

Schools accepting the DET

Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Duolingo saw an increasing rate of acceptance from colleges and universities around the world including Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, Yale University, University College London (UCL), SOAS University of London, and many more.

Tousignant said: “More and more schools recognized the need for an improved English proficiency test, and this was affirmed by the widespread test cancellations caused by COVID-19.”

Although Duolingo’s efforts have largely focused on acceptance onto undergraduate programs, the company also supports business schools that can benefit from the DET.

Some of note include NYU Stern School of Business, Cornell University's Johnson School of Management, University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Business.

Looking ahead

Duolingo notes its use of high-end tech to constantly develop the test-taking quality and experience. Tousignant said: “We’re constantly working to use technology to improve language learning and language testing, and there is a lot of room to grow in that space.

“We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality education, and that AI can help us do it at scale. We’re proud to serve as a model for how technology can be used to make education and testing more accessible and affordable.”

Read more about Covid-19

Coronavirus Student Hub

Everything Students Need to Know About the Novel Coronavirus

Confused About Coronavirus? Imperial College Launches Free Covid-19 Course

Wharton Offers Course on Consequences of Coronavirus Crisis

Discovering where to study

Is Postgraduate Education Still Worth It During a Global Recession?

Cambridge University: Online Only Lectures Until Summer 2021

Imperial College Business School Holds Virtual MSc Information Session

What to Consider When Comparing Universities Online

How to Choose a Business School Without Leaving the House

Comparing Virtual Tours of Top Business Schools

Why Higher Education is Still Necessary in Times of Change

How Can I Still Study Abroad?

Why Technology Can Save University Enrolment in Trying Times

QS digital events

QS Digital Events Calendar

How to Prepare For a QS Digital Event

How to Impress MBA Recruiters at Home

How to Navigate Your University Search During Covid-19

Why Aspiring Grad Students Should Attend HE Events

Coronavirus Advice for In-Person QS Events

Admissions advice

University Admissions: Coronavirus Hub

Business School Admissions: Coronavirus Hub

How Will the New Clearing Process Affect Students?

‘We’re Working to Ensure Candidate Applications Aren’t Disrupted’: Instagram Live with Imperial College Business School

Universities Changing Tuition Fees in Response to Coronavirus

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Wharton MBA Applications

Online Resources to Use in Your MBA Application

UK Government to Cap University Admissions: Will You Be Affected?

How To Defer Your University Offer In the UK

How To Defer Your University Offer In the US

How to Defer Your University Offer in Canada

How To Defer Your University Offer In Australia

Wharton Holds First Virtual Campus Tour For Students Stuck at Home

Entrance tests & exams

Six Tips to Ace the At-Home GRE and GMAT

INSEAD Accepting Applications Without the GMAT Due to Coronavirus

Can't Take TOEFL? Duolingo Might Offer Alternative

How to Take the GRE and GMAT at Home

China's National University Entrance Exam Will Go Ahead in July

Studying online

80% of UK Students Struggling Financially Due to COVID-19

Business As Usual: ESCP Replaces In-Person Project With Online Version

Why Coronavirus Will Cause an Ed-Tech Boom

Should UK Students Get A Refund For The Academic Year?

Majority of International Students Happy to Study Online

Benefits of Online Degrees, According to Students

How to Successfully Work From Home

How to Organize Your Routine When Working From Home

How to Set Up Your Home Office When Studying Your MBA

How to Stay Focused When Studying Your MBA at Home

How to Stay Engaged While Studying Online

75 Percent of Students Expect Lower Tuition Fees For Studying Online

9 Top Universities Offering Free Online Courses

Why Hybrid Teaching Might Be the Future of Online Courses

UK Students Will Pay Full Tuition Fees If Classes Remain Online, Say Government

10 Online Courses to Boost Your Business Curriculum

Life in lockdown

Quiz: Which Quarantine Cliché Are You?

Meet the Charity Helping International Students Left Homeless By COVID-19

Re-opening Businesses in COVID-19: Pros and Cons

What It’s Like Being in B-school During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Life Under Quarantine: How Coronavirus is Affecting University Students

Coronavirus: Life is Changing on Campus in the United States

25 Productive Things To Do While Social Distancing

Five Inventive Things B-School Students Can Do While Social Distancing

How to Keep Employee Morale High While Working From Home

How UK Students Can Help Out During the Coronavirus Crisis

9 Books All B-School Candidates Should Read While Social Distancing

How to Avoid Back Pain When Working From Home, According to a Chiropractor

Business School Professors Recommend Activities to Pass the Time in the Pandemic

Staying healthy

Five Ways to Look After Your Mental Health in Lockdown

How Can Students Stay Healthy At Home?

Should You Try to ‘Improve Yourself’ in Quarantine?

Fun and Unusual Ways Students are Staying Active in Quarantine

How You Can Stay Happy and Healthy While Studying at Home

Careers advice

The 'New Normal': Why Digital Skills Matter More Than Ever

The EdTech Sector Grows as Other Industries Take a Hit from the Coronavirus Crisis

Bounce Back Loans: Everything You Need to Know for Your Small Business

Staying Hopeful: MBA Grads on Job Hunting During a Recession

What Does Coronavirus Mean For The Hospitality Industry?

How to Adapt Your Small Business During a Pandemic

How to Get Hired Without Leaving the House

How 2020 Graduates Can Find Jobs Amid Coronavirus

Everything Students Need to Know About Virtual Internships

Staying Afloat: UK Small Business Owners on Adapting to a Pandemic

How My B-School Experience Is Helping Me Run a Hospital During Covid-19

Summer Internships Are Going Online

Safeguarding Talent During Coronavirus: Will Internships Go Digital?