DET, started in 2016 and today accepted by more than 4,200 higher education programs worldwide to prove English proficiency, is gaining traction in India as an affordable, convenient alternative to TOEFL and IELTS for students wanting to study abroad.
Duolingo, the world’s largest language-learning platform, is surging in popularity in India as an alternative to TOEFL and IELTS to test English proficiency among prospective international students.
The Duolingo English Test (DET), started in 2016 and today accepted by more than 4,200 higher education programs worldwide to prove English proficiency, is gaining traction in India as an affordable, convenient alternative to the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests for students wanting to study abroad.
The DET difference
“Students interested in studying abroad can certify their English with DET, in place of other standardized tests,” DET senior director of strategic engagement Jennifer Dewar told Financial Express as she attended the GSV Emeritus summit in India.
Dewar lauded the benefits of choosing DET: taking it online on demand and without the need to travel to a test center or book an appointment; the results coming in within 48 hours of completing the assessment; and priced at Rs 4,000 ($49), a fraction of the cost of similar exams. The DET is five times cheaper than its counterparts, both similarly priced in the US.
In 2022, students from 213 countries and regions took the DET. Most recently, Ireland, in 2021, recognized DET for its study visas.
TOEFL and IELTS have long dominated the market of premier tests of academic English communication. The tests measure a student’s proficiency at English reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
The Indian market
The price one needs to pay for English proficiency tests serves as a barrier, Dewar noted, citing that an Indian student must pay more than a month’s median family income to take one from an existing provider.
More students globally are taking TOEFL and IELTS, yet India is primed to become DET’s largest market, with people from over 1,200 cities and towns taking the test over the past year at a nearly 80 percent year-over-year growth in 2022.
DET takers applied to institutions in over 76 countries, but most were looking to study in the US, UK, and Canada – the markets that account for around 75 percent of DET takers, Dewar said.
The most popular degrees? Computer science, math, business and management, as well as engineering.
Duolingo particularly sees a strong uptake in Hyderabad as well as surrounding areas, which demonstrate a strong demand to study in the US.
DET also positions itself among test takers outside urban locations, who show a pressing need for accessible testing. Dewar mentioned 100% year-over-year growth in Kochi, Nellore, Bharuch, and other cities, where students are likely to find it more difficult to access traditional test centers.
In a separate Hindu BusinessLine report, Dewar said a surge in the income of the middle-income class has fueled the popularity of studying abroad, with the Indian overseas education market projected to hit $100 billion by 2025 as over 2 million Indian students intend to pursue higher education abroad.
Duolingo’s research, she said, shows that candidates favor destinations offering superior education, a high standard of living, and access to international job opportunities.
