Assessing Listening on the Duolingo English Test

This research report details the operationalization and measurement of listening skills on the Duolingo English Test (DET). It is part of a series of whitepapers that outline the frameworks for assessing various language skills. The report begins with an overview of the DET, emphasizing its digital-first approach and accessibility for global test-takers. It discusses the integration of listening with other language skills, highlighting the importance of an integrated-skills approach in language assessment. The report describes the DET's conceptual framework for listening, which incorporates subskills, cognitive processes, and test-taker attributes. It also explains how listening is assessed through specific task types, including Dictation and Interactive Listening, detailing the procedures and scoring methods for each task. The document concludes with a summary of the findings and future directions for research in listening assessment within the context of the DET.