Avoid this common mistake! How to close external programs before taking the Duolingo English Test

Watch this before taking the Duolingo English Test! This simple step can help you to avoid breaking a rule that can result in an uncertified test.

It's really important to have all your programs not only minimized, but closed, quit, and/or logged out. If you break this rule, you might receive an email with the following message: "We could not verify the security of your test environment. You must test again alone in a room with no external programs, devices, or resources present." This requirement helps to ensure the validity of your test and protects the DET from security threats.

The good news is that on Mac and Windows, closing all your external programs/applications is pretty easy to do! When you're ready to take the test, your test session should be the only thing running on your computer. Before you start the test, close programs including all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.), telecommunication software (Skype, Discord, etc.), remote desktop software (Teamviewer, Anydesk, etc.), and spelling or grammar checkers (Grammarly, etc.), and essentially all other programs other than the Duolingo English Test app. You should double check that there aren’t any programs running in the background without you knowing. If in doubt, you can shut down your computer entirely and only launch the Duolingo English Test desktop application. In addition to passing a security check, this also helps ensure you have a stable test experience!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:10 About DET Support
00:44 About this rule
01:44 How to close programs on Windows
02:05: How to close programs on Mac

Please leave us a comment if you have any videos you'd like to see next!

Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test, a high-stakes language assessment that can be taken online, any time, for only $49USD. Receive your results in 48 hours and send them to as many universities as you want, for free. The Duolingo English Test is accepted by thousands of universities around the world.

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[narayanthakor]

To address a matter of concern regarding the Duolingo English test. It has come to my attention that the test team has been issuing "Invalid" results (test could not be certified) without providing any proof or evidence to support their determination. I kindly request that the Duolingo English test team revise their protocol and provide test takers with tangible proof when deeming their results as "INVALID."

As a test taker, it is essential to have access to the information and justification behind such a significant decision. Without proper documentation or evidence, it becomes challenging for individuals to comprehend the basis for the "INVALID" result and to rectify any potential issues in their language proficiency assessment.

Transparency and fairness should be the cornerstone of any evaluation process, and I believe it is crucial for the Duolingo English test team to adopt these principles. Providing test takers with a clear explanation or supporting documentation when issuing an "Invalid" result will enable them to better understand any areas that require improvement and will empower them to take appropriate actions to enhance their language skills.

By implementing a proof-based approach, the Duolingo English test team can establish trust and confidence among test takers, ensuring that the process is unbiased and reliable. This will not only benefit the test takers but also enhance the overall reputation and credibility of the Duolingo English test as a whole.

I kindly urge you to consider this request seriously and take the necessary steps to implement a system that provides verifiable evidence when declaring a test result as "invalid." I believe this adjustment will significantly improve the experience of test takers and promote a fair and accountable evaluation process.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to a positive resolution that benefits all stakeholders involved.

[SharifulIslam-uhjl]

Dear support team, you should make a more engaging video so that we can really close external programs. This video did not help me to do so. If you read people's comment, you can see that a lot of people are still experiencing problems.

[bimpe]

My appeal was rejected. This is incredibly frustrating, as I urgently require the test scores for my university applications. Furthermore, my conscience is clear that my responses to the test questions were genuine and there was no use of the external source this I can beat my test. Please certify my test and release the scorecard. Remember one thing It's not a one-hour effort or one hour exam, coupled with the money paid please I don’t want this to go wasted like that, this is my life and my dream, my life can’t be paused because of an accusation I wasn’t guilty of I never knew the laptop had an external tool. I would have confirmed with my dad if I know it was against the riles to deactivate it.

[asifbhaivahora]

Why dont duolingo make app which check if laptop is ready or not before test and validate itself or take full control of computer than just expecting all to be tech savvy or exploit them to buy another test

[Missvampire]

I just failed the test because of this problem and I followed all the instructions, what should I do now? The amount of money is way too high in my country and it is not even my fault, No one answered me correctly, and I did not understand where the problem was, Why should I pay again? It is not even fair

[mangsian]

I was accused of being a cheater only when I took the DET test. I had no idea, how can one cheat with this well-programmed test and the thought of cheating never crossed my mind. The most disgusting case is that they issue "invalid" results without tangible proof.

[Aman-ukfw]

Why don't you, support team make one testing programme for this test and once user passes all of test cases then he or she can start his or her test, then it will be helpful for all of us.

[georgezanevski]

1:44 Nope, I literally did the same thing. I even closed and logged out from NVIDIA Settings (which is just a computer system) so I had nothing in my task tray. So this week I took DET twice and (after completing each and every recommended step written (said) here and in your website) got 'Invalid' both times. So guys.... this is not a proficient English test, its a 60 USD quest about how to make your pc clean for DET.
Ps. It's better tow spend this money on RDR 2 or save it for GTA 6

[chunks]

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.

[nissky]

I strongly recommend using a Mac. I had to retake my test twice due to issues with other programs running in the background on Windows. However, after switching to a Mac (on my third attempt), I succeeded on my first attempt. The problem with Windows is that there are often many processes running, including viruses, so ensuring they're all closed can be a daunting task. You might even need to uninstall some of them. This isn't an issue with Mac.

My advice to Duolingo would be to check for any running processes before starting the test. It's frustrating to wait two days only to find out your test was canceled because of background processes.

Lastly, good luck to everyone!

[LF]

How about the windows app security that's always running?
On the other hand. Is it true that you can't look away? like up, down, to the sides, etc?
I mean, human brain processes is directly linked to the eye movements and it instinctively move the eyes to different positions depending on the task it's performing. Recalling info, listening, making up something implies different positions.

I'd appreciate your answer. :)

[karanprajapati]

I taken the test, but result was not come due to a reason that my background application was running, I checked all the application, abd and i uninstall all my personal application such as telegram, what's app, zoom meeting, etc. but at the time of result, that incident frustrated me, because I couldn't met deadline of my university application because of this issue. It wasted my time and resources. Also, it affected on my mental health.

[HJable]

I took 7 times of exams and got every invalidity, 4 times of them was for open another program, I am sure that I closed everything and even in my last attempt I changed my laptop and also use fresh windows but still get same reason of invalidity, I really got tired as I take too much test and do nothing wrong but stil become invalid😢😢😢

[fazlemalikkhan]

I lost a job opportunity because of this frustrating DUOLINGO test system as I couldn't complete the test within the deadline set by the employer.

[ElishaBenjaminSreepalle]

I diligently followed all the instructions outlined in the video, yet I received an email stating, "Your test could not be certified because you had another program, application, or window open or running during the test. Please close every other program, application, and window before testing again." I've taken two tests, and despite my efforts, my appeal for another test opportunity free of charge was denied. Could you please provide me with guidance on where I might be going wrong, supported by video evidence, so that I can rectify any mistakes and adhere to your protocol effectively?

[vicentevvga]

Got my test rejected once. It was frustrating since Duolingo notifies you two days after you did the test. Anyway, I must admit I underestimate the external programs running in my pc. So, the next time I checked each program, one by one and close them. Even uninstalled some of them. Finally, I used the trackpad of the laptop instead of my bluetooth wireless mouse. It worked for the second time, so this is finally over. Good luck to all of you!

[SyedArshadulHaque]

I have taken the DET twice, and both times, I was accused of not closing any background software during the test, despite I made sure to close all background applications before appearing the test. I'm seeking assistance from the Duolingo team or anyone with experience in taking the test.

[saisuryateja]

I Even contacted the Duolingo customer service but they said they don't know?

[SosseySalmane]

Hello it's been two times that i passed the test and i didn't open any window at all and yet you are telling me i broke the rule and you stole my opportuniy to apply to the scholarship, Tomorrow is the deadline and you ruined my opportunity thank you ! i

[AmgadUsama]

What about the anti-malware or the anti-virus application? They have to be running all the time and I do not have the authority to shut them down. Are they also count as another running applications?