Kichemy Dorcena, a first-generation student at Berea College in Kentucky, says he chose the Duolingo English Test over similar assessments because of its availability in Haiti, his native country.
“I was living in the capital of Haiti, where armed gangs control more than 80% of it,” Dorcena says. “As a result, reaching one of the only two test centers in the country was nearly impossible.”
Dorcena says he chose the DET because he was able to take it at his convenience, adding, “My only needs were my laptop, a quiet space and a good internet connection.”
Duolingo English Test, a computer-adaptive language proficiency exam, is gaining momentum as a way to measure the language skills of prospective international students applying to U.S. colleges and universities.
Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo, a language learning platform, says English tests should test English and “not a candidate’s geography or finances.” He says the DET costs 80% less than other tests – $59 – and the company makes AI-driven security investments to allow the test to be taken anywhere.
“It’s the only way to ensure that anyone, regardless of where they are in the world, can demonstrate their ability and access the best education in the world,” von Ahn says.
Here’s what prospective international students should know about:
- How to access the Duolingo English Test.
- What the Duolingo English Test covers.
- Which schools accept the Duolingo English Test.
