Duolingo Reviews 

Duolingo english test is a total fraud, they ask you to take test under hostile environment, and even if you complete the test, it is successfully uploaded, they would tell you that your test was invalid and they could not certify the test and you need to purchase a new test. They support services are worst I have ever experienced. Non-cooperative, just referring to FAQs and articles and useless videos. They don't have answers to queries. This is total fraud. They are scammers, don't trust Duolingo English test, rather go for IELTS, or other genuine English test.

I have been banned from taking a test because their proctoring team detected " You received assistance on the test". I was sick and didn't check my email, so missed 72 hours appellation time. Nobody never explained me why they have decided I was assisted on the test. I was totally alone during the test. And now I am banned from taking any test. I can do nothing, and the most painful is that I didn't cheat.

Duolingo is a total scam.
Their email to me read as below
Unfortunately, the supervisor could not confirm that you completed the test without the aid of an external program, proofreading software, a phone, an external device, and/or written/printed materials. We understand that many people have predictive text or proofreading extensions installed, however, we do require that you deactivate all programs, extensions, and applications during the test. Due to that, unfortunately, we are unable to certify your result as this is a violation of our test.

**Since this is a violation of our test rules, your credit has been consumed. You may purchase a new test if you would like to test again. According to our Terms and conditions

I want to help you receive a valid result next time, so I can happily share some tips to consider before taking the test again!
That is all they told me and i swear i never used anything as they claim

Unfortunately, the test is a joke. I thought they were a serious company. I've been trying for a week and every time in the middle of the test they say they've lost the connection to my microphone. First, they said it was the wi fi connection, now that it's connected to the cable with 900mbps speed they say it's the computer's microphone which is tested and approved before the test.

This review will save you 65€ if you are considering taking Duolingo's english proficiency test.

So I took their test at home and apparently something they won’t tell me about invalidated my test for which I spent more than an hour working on alone in my apartment and paid 65€ for it.

After a few emails, Duolingo told me they couldn’t tell me why my exam was not validated "for privacy and security reasons".

Not only I lost 65€ but also they told me to pay another 65€ to take the exam again. Hell no.

Do you think this is normal product experience and customer service?

Looking at the reviews here, I understand I'm not the only one who got scammed. For some people, they actually paid twice and ended up with nothing.

I am horrified of their business ethics.

If you can't certify a test for X Y reason, just offer another test to your customers, don't make them pay again and make sure to tell them specifically why you invalidated their test. Basic!

I wonder how many people wasted their time and got stolen like me 😞

This is properly the worst testing software ever, failed twice on a review without writing on why I failed and having to request details. No review due to programs running and once I’ve read all the details they expect you to uninstall a number of apps and turn off virus scan,. That is completely crazy. Never again!!!

I've been having a terrible experience with DET. I have done this test three times now, and each time, it mentions that it was not certified because of some background process. I have disabled every possible application, and the issue still persists. Duolingo support cannot seem to assist, apart from parroting the same template instruction and disconnecting.

For the latest run, I have tried disabling Window's Virus & Threat protection. I recommend trying this for anyone who is in a similar situation. Nowhere does it mention that this system needs to be disabled. It's not a third-party system that can just be uninstalled. Just goes to the skill level of the engineers designing this test to not consider Windows native processes.

Worse still, Windows only allows this system to be turned off for a short period before turning off automatically. So do the test immediately after disabling it.

This test seems to be a scam. I had to buy the test twice because they claimed that my microphone and camera failed all three times on the first test, but for some reason had no problems the first time on the second one. I needed the results quickly so I had to pay for expedited review, but because I couldn't complete the test the first time, I had to pay this fee twice. I asked about a refund and was told that machines malfunction and there was nothing they could do under their terms of service. It was truly an awful experience I spent four hours and $200 on this test.

When the Duolingo Inc english test service is deemed as doubtful after a first attempt, be ready to counter its offensive advances by;

1. Record the entire process of taking a practice test for multiple times as a validation of system compatibility and function test.

2. Record an entire actual test sequence for authenticity and process securities.

3. If a third attempt had also been faulted by the Host, write in to the Duolingo Inc support with evidential materials ready in the forms of at least 2 to 3 video recorded footages or clips of practice tests and actual test, downloaded evidential documents of all corresponding communications with and from Duolingo Inc. Finally, with evidential pieces, summarise and write up a detailed report of the entire proceedings with Duolingo Inc and; 1. send the detail report to Duolingo Inc for validation and resolve; 2. Be prepared to take Duolingo Inc to summon by consulting a qualified lawyer with all evidential materials and summon Duolingo Inc if there are adequate proof that Duolingo Inc has motive and intentions to cheat payers out of their payments.

These modern days where digital language became the most communicated form of work, hacking and scams becomes the fastest method for syndicates to generate high profits and hide those profits before any liabilities can ACT against them. It is crucial that such signs and symptoms must be analysed, prevented from recurrences and made to validate their actions, doesn't matter the origin of the web platform.

Duolingo is totally scam. They are draining the money of people and without any proof not certified the test, say buy test again and again.
This is my 5th test that I have completed and for the last 4 tests that I have completed so far you have accused me of cheating or have found ways to invalidate my test without any proof of cheating or anything. I have spent nearly £300 on these tests that I have taken in the same exam setting no earphone, no one in the room, no double keyboard, no talking, or anything that will be considered cheating. You can compare how I took my previous tests, and you will be able to clearly see that these answers are mine and no one else.
Now I am getting sick and tired of this,ther are just accusing me without any proof you have a video and voice recording of me taking the test faithfully.
Fully scam.

I paid for the test twice and the app kept crashing for unknown reasons. The customer support team checked my PC and found no issues with it. I attempted the test around 9 times and it kept crashing. Their customer support team is awful and the entire thing is just a scam. Save your money and go with Toefl or some other testing platform. Forget about a refund!

I paid for an English test , and instead i was taking unexcepted errors from their software.. And the funny thing is that i never took it , even if my mic - camera works fine with all apps... a 60 dollars waste

i was not able to take the test two purchases, Test software does not detect my camera/mic customer after following all the steps that the customer support suggests (apart from getting a new pc) i asked for a refund and they have a no refund policy ....

DuoLingo English Test is a scam, especially for the first test. They refused to certify my initial test due to alleged cheating, yet they cannot provide any evidence. They record a video, so why can't they provide evidence from that video proving I cheated? I believe they do this hoping that I'll pay for a second time. I do not recommend this test; TOEFL or IELTS are always better.

Hi guys!

I'm from Peru. I took the exam yesterday night and it was successfully certified. It was my first experience so I was a little nervous since I had read a lot of negative reviews. I decided to check every issue that some of you had in the past and took the best practices. This is what I've done:
1. Take everything out of my desktop. Some post its, a tabloid, etc. Nothing that can get my attention for a moment. Just my laptop, a laptop stand and wireless mouse.
2. My hair is really long, so I put my hair up that my ears were visible throughout the exam.
3. I took the exam at 12:30 am, past midnight. I ensure everything was quiet.
4. Before taking the exam, I ensured to close all the applications. Also, I have "Anydesk" application in my computer because of my job. I checked that the application was closed and remove of the desk window. Then, I restarted my laptop and started inmediately with Duolingo app exam. Check in Duolingo guidelines because there are some application forbidden during the exam (like Anydesk).
5. During the exam, the laptop stand was helpful because my face was directly to the camera.
6. In speaking and writing sections, I took a moment and close my eyes in order to prepare my answers. I have read this suggestion in a youtube video and it worked for me.
7. Avoid moving your mouse a lot and try to keep it inside the anwers boxes.

The exam is not difficult at all. I've got 125 with some days of preparation. It will retake it because I need a 135 for my post graduate application.

Good luck!

Don't be a cheapo and get other English tests if you can. Your money and time will be wasted with this app. My issue, according to them, was that my cursor was going outside the test window. It isn't that hard to keep a cursor in an area so I tried and tried but the same error happens.

Duolingo classifies this as a violation so don't bother asking for a refund. I am 100% sure they are making up issues so they don't need to review tests and still keep $$ in their pockets. Support is not helpful.

Scammers!!
They accused me of using an external device during my test after followed all the steps shown on their website. None prove was provided by them.

They've got very good business.
They deny the result of the exams, so people will purchase more test from them.

Avoid at all costs!!!!

These guys made me take the test three times because there's some ambiguous software on my machine, 'ambiguous' as in they don't know which one, that's causing my tests to fail.

I told them that I didn't have any software open that might constitute what they deemed unacceptable (quit the software from the task manager). They asked me to clean up my PC of any software that might fall under their criteria – like I need to format my PC to take their test.

Their criteria require you to double as IT support, navigate your system, and close (God knows which) applications, without providing a way to know if you've done it correctly, as their detection only works when you submit the exam. Talk about bad software design.

This was a waste of time and money.

--- The criteria ---
Here is how you can close all open programs in Windows:

1) To open the task manager, press together Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
2) You will then see a list of your opened apps and different numbers. (If you do not see the full table, please, click "More Details" at the bottom of the task manager).
3) You need the folder "Processes" and the 1st column CPU %.
4) You need all the apps and processes with the CPU more than 0% (it means that they are active now).
5) End them. To end the task or app, please, click with the right mouse key on the app and choose "End the task".

There is no word that i should explain my problems. The Duolingo company or team is such a rubbish team. Never ever try to test your English with such fake company.
The are just stealing money from people nothing else and the are making excuses after ever test