Why English testing needs to catch up with the times
Before joining Duolingo in January 2024 as managing director for Australia and New Zealand, I had worked for more than two decades in international education and higher education leadership. In that time, I saw the global education sector adapt and evolve in many ways – but English language testing remained anchored in traditional models.
Traditional in-person English tests have served their purpose over time. However, they pose significant challenges around access, cost, and consistency – affecting both students and institutions. Limited test centre locations and delays in booking or receiving results can hinder candidates from submitting applications. High fees, plus added costs for travel, accommodation, and re-sits, create further financial barriers. Inconsistent test security and integrity across varied locations also remain a concern.
With its English test, Duolingo set out to change this. Duolingo is widely known for its engaging language learning app, but what drew me to the company was the intellectual and technical depth behind the Duolingo English Test (DET). I was impressed by its distinctive combination of innovation, rigour, and a clear commitment to accessibility, equity, and test security. Beyond the test itself, I was personally drawn to Duolingo’s mission-driven culture – one that balances excellence with kindness, and encourages people to build boldly while staying grounded in purpose.
The DET team includes experts in psychometrics, AI, security, and second language acquisition, all working toward a common goal: delivering a modern, reliable, and secure test that genuinely reflects how people use language in real life and academic contexts.
A key innovation of the DET is its computer adaptive test design. Unlike fixed-form assessments, the DET adapts in real time to a test taker’s performance –presenting items that are more or less difficult based on previous responses. This enables a highly precise measurement of proficiency in a shorter time frame, reduces test fatigue, and makes it difficult to game the system. For institutions, that means more accurate results delivered faster, all within 48 hours, and at lower cost.
The DET also uses interactive item types that assess integrated, communicative skills. These tasks reflect how students use language both day to day and in higher education contexts – through listening, writing, and synthesising information. Interactive speaking tasks, launching in July 2025, will further extend this real-world approach.
All of this innovation is grounded in rigorous research. The DET has been independently benchmarked against established assessments, peer-reviewed in leading journals, and continuously validated through a robust program of psychometric analysis. The test is now recognised by leading institutions globally, led by widespread adoption in the United States and Canada, and is formally accepted into over 5,800 programs worldwide.
Traditional in-person English tests have served their purpose over time. However, they pose significant challenges around access, cost, and consistency
Duolingo’s mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. That ethos runs through everything we do – including our Access Program, which provides free tests to thousands of displaced and underserved learners each year.
As the DET continues to grow in recognition across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other key markets, I’m particularly excited to see growing interest across Australia and New Zealand. Institutions in this region are increasingly seeking assessment solutions that align with their admissions and recruitment goals while also being more accessible, affordable, and reflective of modern communication practices. The DET offers a compelling answer to that need.
English language testing should not be a gatekeeper – it should be a gateway. I’m proud to be part of a team that is redefining what a fair, modern, and mission-aligned assessment can be. And I look forward to working with partners across ANZ to support their students and institutional goals.
About the author: Brett Blacker is the managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Duolingo, the creator of the Duolingo English Test. He brings more than two decades of leadership in international education, including previous roles as CEO of English Australia, director international at the University of Newcastle and Murdoch University, and general manager at Allianz Global Assistance. Brett has played a significant role in shaping education policy and practice through his presidency of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and service on key national and state advisory bodies, including the National Council for International Education.
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