The Duolingo English Test has seen rapid and sustained growth over the past few years, reflecting a broader shift in how students and institutions approach English proficiency assessment. Today, the test is accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide, more than doubling its acceptance since 2020, shared Tara Kapur, India Market Lead, Duolingo English Test in an exclusive interview with Kaanchi Chawla of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:
What emerging patterns are you seeing in program selection and career-driven decision making among students?
India’s outbound education ambitions continue to accelerate and we’re seeing this reflected clearly in how students plan their academic and career journeys. As more Indian students pursue international education across markets such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe, demand for English proficiency testing has grown in parallel. India is one of the largest markets for the Duolingo English Test, underscoring both the scale of aspiration and the need for more accessible pathways.
From a program perspective, students are largely focused on graduate education, with business, computer science, mathematics and engineering among the most sought-after fields. While States such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat continue to be study abroad hubs, the DET has been taken from over 4500 unique locations in India, including remote towns, indicating that interest is no longer confined to a few urban centres but spread across the country.
More importantly, students today are far more intentional about how education aligns with long-term career outcomes. Program selection is increasingly shaped by employability, skill relevance and future resilience. Destination preferences are also evolving. While traditional markets like the United States and Canada continue to attract strong interest, students are expanding their consideration set to include countries such as Germany, Japan and Ireland. These destinations are being evaluated not just on academic reputation but on practical factors such as cost efficiency, visa clarity and post-study work opportunities. This reflects a more informed, research-led mindset, where students are balancing aspiration with return on investment rather than relying solely on legacy perceptions.
What are your expectations for 2026 in terms of student mobility, overall demand, and destination stability?
The demand for international education is expected to remain resilient in 2026, even amid evolving geopolitical and policy landscapes. Indian students will continue to be one of the largest and most influential cohorts globally, driven by strong demographic momentum and sustained aspirations for international education. With over 1.8 million Indian students already studying abroad, the intent to pursue overseas education remains firmly intact.
Student behaviour is also becoming more pragmatic and adaptive. While traditional destinations such as the United States and Canada are expected to continue attracting the highest volumes of Indian students, growth is likely to be steadier rather than accelerated. The United Kingdom and Australia should see stable demand, while Europe and parts of Asia are gaining traction as complementary options rather than replacements. Students are increasingly diversifying their choices to manage risk, cost and policy uncertainty. This shift points to a more balanced and sustainable global education ecosystem in 2026, one where flexibility, transparency and accessibility will play a critical role in sustaining mobility, even in a more constrained macro environment.
How has the Duolingo English Test grown in recent years, and what does its acceptance by over 6,000 institutions signal about changing admissions practices?
The Duolingo English Test has seen rapid and sustained growth over the past few years, reflecting a broader shift in how students and institutions approach English proficiency assessment. Today, the test is accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide, more than doubling its acceptance since 2020. This includes all eight Ivy League universities and all 15 members of Canada’s U15 for undergraduate studies.
The test is trusted by over 3 million test-takers globally and has been taken across 70,000 locations in more than 230 countries and territories, underscoring its global reach. More than half of these students are using the test for undergraduate admissions while nearly a third are certifying their English proficiency for graduate studies. In the United States alone, the Duolingo English Test is accepted by over 4000 institutions, including a significant number of top-ranked universities, with graduate-level acceptance continuing to grow across disciplines such as engineering, business and the sciences.
Beyond scale, this growth signals a meaningful change in admissions philosophy. Historically, English testing has often been limited by access to physical test centres, high costs and logistical barriers, challenges that disproportionately affect students outside major cities. The Duolingo English Test was developed to address these gaps by offering a secure, digital-first assessment that expands access without compromising academic rigour. In India, adoption continues to grow not just in metros but across smaller towns, improving access for students in remote and underserved regions.
This shift is also being driven by student preferences. Globally In 2025, one in five international applicants to US universities applied with Duolingo English Test scores, highlighting growing demand for testing options that are faster, more affordable and aligned with how today’s students live and learn. As universities increasingly prioritise accessibility, fairness and security in admissions, the expanding acceptance of the Duolingo English Test reflects growing confidence in technology-enabled assessments as a credible and inclusive alternative to legacy testing models.
Acceptance numbers:
- North America : 4300+
- Europe : 800+
- Asia : 600+
- Australia: 200+
- South America: 110+
- Africa : 40+
How is growing comfort with digital and accessible testing influencing the adoption of online English proficiency tests, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities?
For many students outside major urban centres, traditional English proficiency testing has long been constrained by geography, cost and access. Centre-based exams often require students to travel long distances, incur additional expenses for transport and accommodation and spend time away from academic preparation. These barriers are structural in nature and often unrelated to a student’s actual ability or readiness.
Digital-first assessments like the Duolingo English Test are helping dismantle these limitations. The ability to take a test from home, receive results quickly and retake the exam without significant logistical burden is particularly impactful for students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Cost also plays a critical role. Compared to traditional exams, digital tests reduce not only the exam fee but also hidden costs associated with travel, lodging and missed study time making the overall process far more affordable.
Beyond convenience and cost, digital testing also helps reduce test-related anxiety, an important factor in high-stakes assessments. Studies comparing the Duolingo English Test with traditional exams show significantly lower anxiety levels among test takers, which can meaningfully influence performance. Together, these factors are expanding access and enabling a broader, more representative pool of students to participate in global education pathways.
In fact, research conducted by The Quantum Hub further shows that technology-enabled assessments can strengthen India’s testing ecosystem by removing long-standing barriers, improving accessibility, lowering costs and enhancing security. Models such as the Duolingo English Test demonstrate how next-generation testing can align with modern requirements while supporting Indian talent in pursuing global academic opportunities.
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What are your plans to further expand DET’s reach and institutional partnerships in the coming year?
Over the coming year, the focus is not just on scale but on depth; building sustained awareness and engagement among students, counsellors and institutions, particularly beyond metro centres where access gaps are most pronounced.
On the institutional side, the acceptance milestones achieved over the past year provide a strong foundation. The priority now is to continue expanding global recognition while working more closely with universities to ensure testing innovation aligns with evolving admissions requirements. Partnerships will play a central role in this effort, helping create clearer, more inclusive pathways for students planning to study abroad.
In India, this includes continued collaboration with study-abroad counsellors and education partners to increase awareness and access to global opportunities. Partners such as Leap, TCY and Canam support students with structured practice material through their test prep products, live coaching and personalised feedback, making the admissions journey more navigable. This year also saw the launch of the DETermined scholarship, in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, aimed at supporting Indian women pursuing STEM education overseas. Additionally, we entered into strategic partnerships with the Neeraj Chopra Classic and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series to engage students through relatable role models and local-language content, making outreach more accessible and relevant to learners across India
The focus on reach is supported by a dedicated on-ground team driving outreach, partnerships and student engagement across regions. Collaborations with youth organisations such as AIESEC, DU Beat and Under25, are helping extend awareness beyond traditional channels. Market investments, including targeted campaigns and initiatives reflect a long-term commitment to India, not only as a growth market, but as a core part of the broader mission to make high-quality global education more accessible, fair and inclusive.
