As humanity is trying hard to cope up with the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevailing uncertainty has led to an unprecedented shift in the way schools and universities across the globe propose to go about their admission process. If you are planning to apply to foreign universities, it is important for you to understand the deviations from the norm that are being considered in English proficiency testing in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. While in-person classes are being shifted to the online/remote mode in keeping with the social distancing norms and safety guidelines, one of the crucial aspects of applying to any foreign university – taking the English language proficiency test has also become more revolutionary, adaptable and convenient.

While you are familiar with TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, there is a new testing option that has been introduced to test your English proficiency –the Duolingo English Test (DET).

So what is DET? How is it different in terms of cost-effectiveness, testing methodology, and convenience as compared to the standard English language tests that are available?  

Let us take a closer look at how DET compares to other tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE.

English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL are not only challenging to take but also cumbersome given the prior scheduling, traveling, cost and assessment time involved, costing hundreds of dollars and weeks of waiting time for results to come in.

DET is a technology-driven adaptive exam used to measure the English language proficiency of students applying to foreign universities and colleges.   The advantages of taking the DET test are manifold. DET is different from the traditional testing methodologies, as it is ‘adaptive’ and ‘revolutionary’ in nature. What this essentially means is that the test moves along in an intuitive way by generating successive questions based on how you have answered the preceding questions. Accordingly, you will be presented with easy or difficult questions based on your response to questions that you have attempted – thereby offering a more precise and accurate assessment as compared to the traditional tests.

As a result, DET not only offers an intuitive approach to testing but also excludes dependent activities like scheduling appointments and booking test centers. Even though TOEFL and IELTS are computer-based tests, you can take DET from the comfort of your home using your home computer. The test costs $49 and you can take the online test anytime you want. While the test duration is usually spread over an hour, you can get your results in two days. You can take the test as many times you want,but not more than twice a month.

The icing on the cake is that you can send your results to unlimited schools and colleges at no extra cost. While TOEFL allows you to send your scores to four universities for free, IELTS permits you to send to five universities. Subsequently, you are charged for additional reports. With DET, there are no charges for additional reports.

What makes the DET test more valuable is that it also includes a video interview section, in which you can speak for 1-3 minutes on any of the two assigned topics. You will be asked to respond to questions by a proctor as you will be on camera while taking the test.
There is also a writing sample test that you can send to universities. The test is secure and reliable as it uses cutting edge technologies like data forensic and biometric technology for assessing your test preparedness and English language skills.

Here is a comparison of DET to other standardized tests:

Today, more than half of the top tier universities in the US accept DET in place of the IELTS or TOEFL. As a result, the test is slowly gaining prominence across many countries, as many leading institutions across the world such as Duke, UCLA, NYU, Cardiff, Trinity College to name a few, have started using DET as part of their admission process.  It is important to note that some universities may ask for additional proof of English proficiency.

If the university that you are applying to accepts DET, then you might want to consider taking this test, as DET  is intuitive, cost-effective and significantly dynamic in evaluation. Opting for DET will not only enable you to take the test from your home, cutting down on the traveling time, cost, and evaluation period but also help you to showcase your English skills with ease and comfort.

Should you need any further information on DET, you can email us at [email protected] We, at Collegepond remain fully committed to supporting you through these uncertain times and preparing you for your future success.