Duolingo English Test

Mussa fled his home in the DRC and had to rebuild everything, including finding his voice in a new language. Today, he’s studying genetics as a Duolingo Scholar at Royal Holloway, University of London. 🇬🇧 His journey is a reminder that where you start does not define where you can go. What matters is the determination to keep moving forward, even when the path feels impossible. We believe talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. That is why the Duolingo Access Scholar Program exists, to help high-potential students access global education through application support, university readiness, and pathways to fully funded degrees. So far: 🎓 70 scholars supported 💰 $16M+ in scholarships earned 🌍 4 cohorts and counting Swipe to read Mussa's full story ➡️ 🎨 Illustration by Matthew Sorgie

Assessment is shifting from single outputs to dynamic, AI-driven systems Duolingo Chief of Assessment Alina von Davier will explore this in her keynote, "From Item Generation to Agentic Measurement Systems," at the LLM Psychometrics Workshop, part of #LAK2026 conference, hosted by the Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR) Research at the University of Bergen (UiB) in Norway.  Alina will introduce a new way of thinking about assessment: not as a static product, but as a dynamic system powered by collaborating AI agents and guided by human expertise. If you’re attending LAK, don’t miss this discussion! Check the conference program for details:  https://lnkd.in/ekaZAkbw

Bringing together educators from around the world, IATEFL is a space for sharing ideas, research, and classroom practice. We’re proud to be sponsoring #IATEFL2026 in Brighton & Hove and supporting a community that plays such a critical role in helping learners access global opportunities! 💚 If you’re attending, stop by our bright green booth on the first floor of the expo hall (you can't miss it!) where we’re sharing classroom-ready materials to help your students prepare with confidence.

📍 Three cities. Three expert perspectives. Join the Duolingo English Test Masterclass Series to explore how AI is reshaping assessment integrity and education systems across the globe. 🗺️Sydney | 28 April Professor Cath Ellis (Western Sydney University) Exploring integrity challenges, detection limitations, and where current approaches are falling short. 🗺️Melbourne | 29 April Professor Therese N. Hopfenbeck (University of Melbourne) On assessment design, validity, and balancing innovation with rigour. 🗺️Brisbane | 1 May Associate Professor Mark A. Bassett (Charles Sturt University) On governance, institutional risk, and the system-level impact of emerging technologies. You’ll also hear from Duolingo experts Maria (Masha) Kostromitina, Ph.D. and Basim B. on: • AI in assessment design • Research, product development, and innovation • Security and integrity in a digital-first environment This series is designed for leaders across admissions, English language programs, and international education interested in building a stronger, more resilient future. 👉 Reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/gAqbabPa

MBA readiness isn’t captured by a single test. In a recent episode of Inside the GMAT, Duolingo's Elie Bechara joins host Zachary Fernebok (GMAC) to explore how GMAT and the Duolingo English Test work together to give a more complete view of MBA readiness. Drawing on his own experience as an INSEAD MBA candidate, Elie discusses how language proficiency shapes the application journey and how schools are thinking about communication skills in a global classroom. A useful perspective for anyone thinking about how admissions criteria are evolving. Link to listen in the comments!

👉 "Hold on. Your courage today is the foundation of your future tomorrow."

Higher education is entering a new phase, and the conversations shaping it are already underway. Here's your chance to be a part of them: 📍 DETcon London returns 10 June 2026 at Senate House, University of London. We’re honored to welcome BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner OBE as our keynote speaker. Frank brings decades of expertise as one of the BBC's most respected voices on global security, and a timely perspective on the future of international education. 🎟️ Spots are limited, so register early to secure your place! https://lnkd.in/dhVFncbN Will you be joining us? Drop a comment below, and tag someone who needs to be in the room! 👇

“Draw me a sheep.” It’s a simple prompt—but in the world of AI-driven test development, it raises a complex question: Is generating a test item really that straightforward? At the ALTE Conference in Munich, Yigal Attali will explore two approaches to using AI in assessment. One relies on direct prompts to generate complete items; the other takes a more structured path, building and refining components step by step. Yigal will explain how this second, more compositional approach offers greater control over quality, difficulty, and fairness in high-stakes testing. Co-authored by Andrew Runge, Yena Park, and Jacqueline Church, this work contributes to the growing conversation on how AI can support more rigorous and scalable assessment. The DET is proud to be sponsoring this year's ALTE conference, centered on the theme "Responsible Language Assessment to Empower Learners." Check out the program to explore more presentations: https://lnkd.in/eDR52Yb8

One-off exams are no longer enough. In a recent episode of Education Futures, host Svenia Busson sits down with Alina von Davier and Elie Bechara from the Duolingo English Test to explore how assessment is evolving. Their conversation looks at a clear shift toward more continuous, contextual approaches that reflect how learners actually use language in real-world settings, not just how they perform in isolated test conditions. If you’re thinking about where assessment is headed next, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective grounded in research and practice. 🎧 Find links to the full episode in the comments! 

📣 Coming to a city near you! Duolingo is hosting a Masterclass Series in partnership with English Australia. Join us this April in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane to explore the future of English language assessment in higher education. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people shaping the world’s most affordable and accessible digital language assessment, now trusted by nearly 6,000 institutions worldwide. 🎟️ Registration is free, but space is limited! Secure your spot now: https://lnkd.in/gAqbabPa