Duolingo is emerging as a key contender for a major UK government contract to deliver English language testing for migrants, marking a shift toward fully digital assessments.

Hi — Teacher Luke here.

There’s a big update that could completely change how English tests work in the UK… especially if you’re planning to work or live in the UK.

Let’s break it down in a simple way.

What’s happening?

According to a recent report by The Telegraph (21 April 2026), Duolingo is one of the main companies bidding for a £816 million contract with the Home Office to host the new Home Office English Language Test (HOELT)

This contract would allow them to run English language tests for UK visas.

In simple terms:

• Right now → You take tests like IELTS UKVI in a test centre
• In the future → You might take the test online, from home

That’s a huge shift.

Why does this matter?

At the moment, if you want a UK visa, you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT).

These tests are:

• Done in official centres
• Super strict
• Closely monitored

But the UK government now wants to move toward a fully digital system.

This is being pushed by the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who also wants higher English standards for migrants.

So we’re likely to see:

• Harder requirements
• But more convenient testing

Where does Duolingo come in?

You probably already know Duolingo for its app.

But they also run the Duolingo English Test (DET) — and it’s been growing fast.

It became popular during COVID when test centres were closed, and now:

• Many universities accept it
• Millions of people take it every year

However, here’s the key point:

Right now, the DET is NOT approved for UK visas.

If Duolingo wins this contract, that could change.

Why are people worried?

Not everyone is happy about this move.

The main current provider of the SELT tests, IELTS, recently pulled out of the bidding process, and their main concern is quite simple:

Online tests are harder to control.

They’ve warned about issues like:

• Cheating using AI
• People getting help off-camera
• Identity fraud (someone else taking the test)

It’s reasonable that IELTS stepped away if they felt they couldn’t guarantee a sufficiently secure testing environment. That said, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible — it may simply mean that other organisations like Duolingo are better positioned to solve these challenges.

Can online tests really be secure?

Duolingo says yes.

They already use:

• ID verification
• AI monitoring
• Eye-tracking technology
• Video recording during the test

In many ways, they’re trying to make online testing just as secure as test centres.

But the big question is:

Will the UK government trust this system enough for visas?

My take (important)

This is where it gets interesting.

If this goes through, it could completely change the testing industry:

• IELTS and traditional centres could lose dominance
• Online testing could become the new standard – a big win for the DET
• Tests could become faster, cheaper, and more accessible – a big win for test-takers!

But…

Security will decide everything.

If candidates (or governments) don’t trust the system, it won’t work.

What happens next?

Here’s the timeline:

• May 2026 → Technical testing of companies
• Summer 2026 → Final bids
• November 2026 → Decision expected

So nothing is confirmed yet.

But this is definitely something to watch.

Final thoughts

If you’re preparing for the Duolingo English Test right now, this is very good news.

It shows that:

• The test is growing fast
• Governments are starting to take it seriously
• And it could soon play a much bigger role globally

I’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear more.

Teacher Luke

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See you there,— Teacher Luke 👨🏫Helping 1,000+ students pass the DET every month