

It’s also why you cannot have external programs, dual monitors, or predictive text software running during the test, and why we check to make sure you aren’t using template responses you’ve memorized in advance. That’s why you must be alone in the room for the duration of the test session, with your ears visible and your eyes focused on the screen. So, to certify that your score is a valid assessment of your proficiency, our proctors need to be sure the language you use to respond to items on the test comes from you, and no one else. The purpose of the DET is to assess English proficiency, and true proficiency means you can use the language in any setting, without any support, and without needing to memorize or prepare anything in advance.

Rules are an important way we ensure that people around the world taking the test from their personal computers are being assessed according to the same circumstances. With the freedom to test on demand comes the added responsibility of managing your own test environment, and we know that taking a high-stakes exam from home is new for a lot of people! So why are the rules so important, and how can you avoid breaking them? The rules are there for a reason Like most high-stakes exams, the Duolingo English Test has strict rules-and there can be serious consequences for breaking them.
