Duolingo Not Certified: Quick Decision Guide
| Your Situation | What You Can Do | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid result + account blocked | ✅ Appeal within 72 hours | 72 hours from notification email |
| Invalid result consumed your credit immediately | ✅ Appeal within 72 hours | 72 hours from notification email |
| Invalid result + you still have attempts left on a 2-test credit | ❌ Not eligible to appeal — just retake | Retake within 21 days of purchase |
| Technical issue (camera failed, upload failed) | ❌ Not appealable — eligible for free retake | Retake within 21 days of purchase |
| 2 broken-rule tests on same credit | ❌ Credit expires — buy new credit | N/A |
| Invalid ID only | ✅ Resubmit valid ID — no retake needed | Check your email for instructions |
| Account suspended (pattern of violations) | ✅ One appeal allowed | 72 hours from suspension notice |
| Permanent ban (serious violation) | ✅ One appeal allowed | 72 hours from ban notice |
Why Was Your Duolingo Test Not Certified?
Before deciding whether to appeal or retake, check your invalidation email. Duolingo lists the specific reason your test was not certified. These are the official reasons they use:
- You looked away from the screen for an extended period
- Your camera did not work during the test
- Your face was not always visible — testing area was too dark
- Duolingo could not verify the security of your testing environment
- Your microphone did not work during the test
- The test was not completed and uploaded
- The testing area was not always private (someone entered the room)
- Outside materials or software were present during the test
- You spoke very little during the graded speaking section
- Your speaking response appears to have been rehearsed or written in advance
- Your microphone volume was too low to grade your speaking correctly
- Your ID was invalid or did not match your profile
The reason matters because it determines your path forward. Technical reasons (camera failed, upload failed, microphone didn't work) are not eligible for appeal — but you get a free retake. Rule violations are appealable in specific circumstances. Rehearsed responses and deliberate misconduct are the hardest to overturn.
How to Appeal a Duolingo English Test Invalidation: Step by Step
You have exactly 72 hours from the moment you receive the "not certified" notification to submit your appeal. After 72 hours, the "Appeal This Result" button disappears permanently and cannot be restored. Act immediately.
- Log in to englishtest.duolingo.com using the same account you used to take the test.
- Click "My Tests" in your dashboard. You will see the invalidated test with a status of "Invalid."
- Read the reason for invalidation listed beneath the Invalid status. This is what your appeal needs to address directly.
- Click "Appeal This Result" below the reason. This opens the appeal form. Your email address is pre-filled.
- Write your appeal explanation (see templates below). Describe the specific reason you believe the flag was triggered unintentionally. Be factual, specific, and brief.
- Submit the form. The button changes to "Appeal Submitted" — this confirms your appeal is in the queue.
- Check your email within 4 business days. A proctoring supervisor (not the original reviewer) will send a decision to the email address you used to take the test. The decision is final.
What to Write in Your Duolingo Appeal: 3 Ready-to-Use Templates
Your appeal should be written in clear, professional English. One paragraph is sufficient — do not write an essay. State the specific flag, explain the innocent context, and confirm your commitment to the rules. Here are three templates for the most common invalidation reasons:
Template 1: "Looked Away From Screen"
I am writing to respectfully appeal the invalidation of my Duolingo English Test taken on [date]. My test was flagged for looking away from the screen. I want to clarify that at no point did I consult any external notes, materials, or assistance. Any off-screen eye movement was an involuntary reflex while formulating my responses — a natural cognitive habit I was not aware of. I took the test alone in a private, locked room with no other individuals present and no unauthorized materials on my desk. I respectfully request that a proctoring supervisor review my full session recording and reconsider the certification of my result. I am committed to full compliance with all DET rules and would ensure this does not occur on any future attempt.
Template 2: "External Voice Detected"
I am writing to appeal the invalidation of my Duolingo English Test taken on [date], flagged for an external voice being detected. I took my test in a private room with the door locked. I believe the audio flag may have been triggered by [ambient building noise / a brief sound from outside the room / a notification sound from a device in another room] — not by any form of assistance or coaching. I was alone throughout the entire test session and received no help from any person. I respectfully request that a supervisor review the audio recording in full context and reconsider the certification of my result.
Template 3: "Testing Environment Not Verified / Private"
I am writing to appeal the invalidation of my Duolingo English Test taken on [date]. My test was flagged because the testing environment could not always be verified as private. I was testing in [my bedroom / home office] with the door closed. If someone briefly appeared in the background, it was entirely unintentional and without my knowledge — I had informed all members of my household not to enter the room. I did not receive any assistance and had no unauthorized materials present. I respectfully ask that a proctoring supervisor review my full session and reconsider the certification decision.
Important: If your test was flagged for a rehearsed speaking response or deliberate rule violation, an appeal is unlikely to succeed. The proctoring supervisor reviews the full recording — not just the flagged moment. Only appeal if you genuinely believe the flag was triggered by an innocent, unintentional action.
What Happens After You Submit Your Appeal
A proctoring supervisor — different from the original reviewer — watches your full session recording with the flagged event in context. They can pause, rewind, and slow down the recording to examine exactly what happened.
If your appeal is successful, your score is certified and sent to your account. You can share it with universities as normal. If your appeal is denied, the original invalid result stands. You cannot appeal again — all appeal decisions are final. Your next step is to purchase a new test credit and retake.
Can You Retake the Duolingo Test After an Invalidation?
Yes — in most cases. Here is exactly when a free retake applies versus when you need to buy a new credit:
| Situation | Retake Cost | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Technical issue (camera, upload, microphone failure) | Free — if attempts remain on your credit | 21 days from original purchase |
| Minor rule violation — first offence on a 2-test credit | Free — second attempt still available | 21 days from original purchase |
| Invalid result consumed your only/last credit | $70 — new single test credit | Any time after purchasing |
| 2 broken-rule tests on same credit | $70 (or $118 bundle) — credit has expired | Any time after purchasing |
| Received invalid result with fewer than 7 days remaining | Free extension — Duolingo grants 7 additional days | 7 days from extension grant |
Account Suspension and Permanent Bans: What You Need to Know
Duolingo applies account-level consequences when there is a pattern of violations — not just individual test invalidations:
- 1-year account suspension: Triggered when Duolingo detects a pattern of rule violations or misconduct across multiple tests taken within the past 365 days. Your account is suspended from the date of the first violation. All remaining test credits expire immediately. Certified scores already shared with universities remain accessible, but you cannot share results with any new institutions during the suspension.
- Permanent ban: Triggered by a serious violation — most commonly, having someone else take the test in your place (impersonation). All credits expire. You can still share previously certified results with institutions that already received them, but no new sharing is possible. One appeal is allowed; if denied, the ban is permanent.
How to Make Sure Your Retake Is Certified
The most important thing to do before retaking is to identify exactly what triggered the flag — then eliminate that specific issue. Beyond fixing the original problem, run through this checklist before starting your retake:
- If you were flagged for looking away: Practice keeping your eyes on the screen while thinking. Look upward toward the top of the monitor — not sideways or down. Do this consciously in 3–4 full practice sessions before retaking.
- If you were flagged for external voice: Use a phone to play audio in another room and listen for how much sound bleeds under the door. Move to a room where outside sound doesn't reach, or test at a time when your home is quietest.
- If you were flagged for lighting / face not visible: Position a desk lamp directly in front of you, at eye level. Test your camera view in the DET system check before starting the actual exam.
- If you were flagged for a rehearsed response: Do not memorize scripts. Prepare topic knowledge and vocabulary, not pre-written sentences. Your response should sound genuinely spontaneous — self-corrections and natural pauses are fine and expected.
- For every retake: Run Duolingo's official system check, set your phone to Do Not Disturb, lock the door, clear your desk completely, and do a quick compliance walkthrough of your room on the secondary camera before beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions: Duolingo Test Not Certified
My Duolingo English Test was not certified — what do I do first?
Check your email for the specific invalidation reason. Then decide: if you are eligible to appeal (account blocked, or credit consumed), submit your appeal immediately — you have only 72 hours. If you still have attempts remaining on your credit, you can retake without appealing. If it was a technical issue, you are eligible for a free retake.
How long do I have to appeal a Duolingo invalidation?
72 hours from the moment you receive the notification email. After 72 hours, the "Appeal This Result" button is permanently removed and no appeal can be submitted. Do not wait — submit as soon as you have read the invalidation reason.
Can I appeal a Duolingo test invalidation more than once?
No. You may only appeal once per invalidated test. All appeal decisions made by the proctoring supervisor are final. If your appeal is denied, you need to purchase a new credit and retake.
How long does a Duolingo appeal take?
Within 4 business days of submission. The decision is sent to the email address you used to take the test. If you have an urgent application deadline, contact your university's admissions office to explain the situation — most will grant a short extension for documented technical or appeal circumstances.
Is a Duolingo retake free after an invalidation?
It depends. If it was a technical issue (camera failure, upload error) and you still have attempts remaining on your credit, the retake is free. If your invalid result was the first offence on a 2-test credit, you still have one attempt left — also free. If your credit was fully consumed by the invalidation, you need to purchase a new test ($70 single or $118 bundle).
Can Duolingo suspend my account for one invalid test?
A single invalidation does not trigger a suspension. Account suspension (1 year) is triggered by a pattern of misconduct across multiple tests within 365 days. A permanent ban is only triggered by serious violations such as impersonation.
What happens to my shared scores if my account is suspended?
Certified scores you already shared with universities remain accessible to those institutions. You cannot share your results with any new institutions during the suspension period. After the suspension ends, you can purchase a new credit and test again.
Unfortunately my Duolingo English Test could not be certified — does this mean I cheated?
Not necessarily. Many invalidations are caused by innocent technical issues or accidental rule violations — poor lighting, a background noise, looking away while thinking — rather than intentional cheating. The proctoring system flags behavior automatically; human review determines context. If you genuinely did not cheat, submit an appeal explaining the specific circumstance.
Can I contact Duolingo support directly about my invalid result?
The official appeal process (via the "Appeal This Result" button in My Tests) is the correct and only channel for contesting an invalid result. Contacting general Duolingo support does not trigger an appeal review — only the formal appeal submission does. Use the button before the 72-hour window closes.