Duolingo English Test to include Additional Sub Scores for Better Assessment

To provide test takers with a more comprehensive understanding of their language proficiency, the Duolingo English Test (DET) will introduce additional individual subscores for each section from July 1, 2024. DET is one of the popular alternatives to IELTS, TOEFL and other English proficiency exams.

According to the latest update of the Duolingo English Test, test takers will now get additional subscores in the DET scorecard. This new change will be introduced from July 1, 2024. The Duolingo English Test (DET) will provide additional Individual Subscores (Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening) alongside integrated subscores (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production). This aims to provide test takers with a more comprehensive understanding of their language proficiency.

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DET Additional Subscore

After completing the test, applicants will receive their Duolingo English Test score report containing both their overall score and subscores. The overall score, ranging from 10 to 160 in 5-point increments, aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the international standard for language proficiency. The DET now provides individual subscores for Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, enabling test takers to identify their strengths and areas for improvement in each skill area. This will help test takers identify their strengths and areas for improvement in each section.

Integrated subscores for Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production continue to offer a holistic view of language abilities. Combining individual and integrated subscores allows institutions to gain deeper insights into a test taker's language proficiency.

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Duolingo English Test Subscore Benefits

Research in applied linguistics indicates that integrated subscores best represent how language is used in practice. Effective and natural language use often requires people to employ multiple skills, including in academic settings simultaneously. The new scoring report offers admissions offices an opportunity to review each language skill separately and also observe how test takers apply multiple skills simultaneously, as they would in real life, and make more informed decisions.

How Does DET Additional Subscore Work?

• Score Calculation: Individual subscores are determined based on performance in each skill area. The overall score is an average of the individual subscores, rounded to the nearest 5. This scoring method ensures that each skill is adequately represented in the final score, offering a balanced evaluation of the test taker's abilities.
• Integrated Subscores: Each integrated subscore is now an average of the two individual subscores that comprise it. For instance, the literacy subscore is the average of the reading and writing subscores. This integrated approach provides a comprehensive overview of a candidate's capability to understand and produce language in various contexts.

Upon scoring and review completion, test takers will receive an email notification. They can then log in to their account at englishtest.duolingo.com to access their detailed score report. This report includes both the overall score and the newly added subscores, offering a detailed breakdown of performance across different language skills.

Please note: Integrated subscores calculated before July 1, 2024, are not directly comparable to those after the update, and converting old integrated subscores to new ones is not possible.

Watch this video to learn more about the new sub-scores

The Duolingo English Test is accepted by over 5,000 universities across the globe as a measure of English Proficiency. This widespread acceptance highlights the test's reliability and recognition in the academic community.

About the Author

The Duolingo English Test is a modern English proficiency assessment for today’s international students and institutions. The test is available online, on demand. You don’t have to make an appointment or travel to a test centre—you can take the test from your home via a computer and webcam. The test is administered using computer adaptive technology, meaning that the question difficulty adapts to each test taker. The test also integrates a video interview and writing sample, which are sent to an institution along with your proficiency score when you send your results. The entire test experience takes just under an hour. Test results are certified within two days, and they can be shared with an unlimited number of institutions.