2024 was another groundbreaking year for the Duolingo English Test! As we continued our work expanding educational access for students and helping institutions connect with global talent, our experts set new standards in high-stakes test design and security.
Accepted by over 5,500 programs worldwide
This year, we achieved a new milestone! Now accepted by over 5,500 academic programs—a number that has doubled since 2020—the DET continues to break down barriers of cost and access for test takers worldwide.
Freeing high-stakes English language testing from test centers means people can certify their proficiency from anywhere in the world—and we do mean anywhere! DET data published earlier this year reveals that the DET was taken in almost 40,000 locations in 2023 alone!
Connecting institutions with international talent
By supporting test takers worldwide with an accessible, affordable option, the DET also helps institutions connect with a more diverse pool of applicants. In fact, earlier this year our assessment research team collaborated with a small US university to examine how accepting the DET has helped them diversify their student body; data showed a substantial upward trend among international applicants from underrepresented backgrounds since they began accepting the DET.
In India, our largest test taker market, hundreds of aspiring international students attended our inaugural Study Abroad with the DET event in Hyderabad this summer. In Beijing, our second annual DET Gala saw students and their families, as well as agents and counselors, gather to learn more about DET, and explore opportunities to study internationally.
To help institutions better understand this incoming cohort, our report Voices from the Field: Debunking the Gen Z Myth shares findings from interviews with seven geographically and culturally diverse Gen Z students currently attending universities in the U.S., the UK, and Australia, exploring everything from social media, to AI usage, to Gen Z’s outlook on the future. We hope that by learning what makes Gen Z tick, universities can level-up their recruitment game and truly connect with this savvy, purpose-driven generation.
Innovating assessment research and security
This year we introduced several groundbreaking features designed to enhance the DET’s TTX (Test Taker Experience). The interactive writing task leverages AI to engage test takers with real-world academic scenarios, simulating the demands of university writing. We also introduced Individual Subscores, to provide a clearer breakdown of skills in speaking, writing, reading, and listening, helping both students and institutions better understand test performance.
To further ensure fairness and integrity, we launched a two-camera system, combining webcam and smartphone feeds to give proctors a comprehensive view of the test-taker’s environment. We even enlisted a team of ex-spies to test the security of the DET, ensuring it remains one of the most reliable English proficiency tests available.
Behind the scenes, our commitment to rigorous research continues apace. Studies validated the DET’s alignment with CEFR standards, examined the optimal length of writing tasks, and confirmed the test’s predictive validity for academic success.
Addressing the impacts of geopolitics on education
Throughout 2024, our team was committed to driving important conversations about what our shifting geopolitical climate means for international education. In Canada, the recent decision to end the Student Direct Stream has opened up new possibilities for aspiring students; at the annual Canadian Immigration Summit, we highlighted the importance of technology in fostering humanitarian pathways.
In London, we hosted a panel featuring leaders such as Congressman Seth Moulton and Sir David Manning to explore the implications of the US election on international student mobility. Earlier this summer, our ‘Universities Under Labour’ panel helped higher education partners understand what to expect under the UK’s newly elected Labour Government.
Setting the standard for transparency, fairness, and accountability
AI has always been central to the DET, and this year we further harnessed its potential to promote fairness and inclusion. Our newly updated Responsible AI Standards for Assessment set a benchmark for transparency, fairness, and accountability in the testing industry. Meanwhile our research team conducted new research on strategies for reducing variability in proctor decision-making.
In service of our mission to make learning and testing more accessible, we're always working to make the free DET practice test as helpful as possible. This year we made it available on mobile, so students can prepare to take the DET no matter where they are!
Advancing our mission to improve access and equity
As a proud supporter of the UNHCR’s 15by30 pledge, we aim to increase refugee enrollment in higher education to 15% by 2030. We remain committed to empowering refugee scholars through our access program and by raising awareness about the international crisis in refugee education. Through scholar workshops like the one we hosted earlier this year in Kampala, Uganda, we give refugee scholars the confidence and knowledge they need to succeed.
At the annual We Rise Together Awards, we gathered to honor community leaders, students, and advocates working to advance education mobility. Meanwhile at the annual Canadian Immigration Summit, we spotlighted innovative approaches to integrating refugee students into education systems.
As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud of the strides we’ve made in access, innovation, and equity. Yet, our mission is far from complete. We look forward to another year of breaking barriers, building bridges, and reimagining education for the better. Here’s to 2025!
