EFL Tertiary Students’ Challenges and Coping Strategies on Duolingo English Practice Test - A Reflection Journal

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn

This study examined the challenges faced by college-level EFL students when taking the Duolingo English Practice Test and the strategies they used to overcome them. Using a journal reflection method, participants recorded their experiences during test-taking, and qualitative analysis identified recurring patterns of difficulty and adjustment mechanisms. Findings highlight listening comprehension, time management, and psychological pressure as key barriers. Students responded through intensive practice, added applications, and stress-management techniques. The study recommends integrating technology-based training to improve readiness for digital exams.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Language testing and online assessment

The Duolingo English Test and its use

EFL learners’ common challenges

Research focus and rationale

EFL TERTIARY STUDENTS’ CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES ON DUOLINGO ENGLISH PRACTICE TEST: A REFLECTION JOURNAL Nirmala1, Maulina2, Tri Indah Rusli3 1Students, Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education,Muhammadiyah University of Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, Email: [immlala20@gmail.com](immlala20@gmail.com) 2Lecturer in English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education,Muhammadiyah University of Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, [Corresponding author:](Corresponding author: maulina@umkendari.ac.id)[ ](Corresponding author: maulina@umkendari.ac.id)[maulina@umkendari.ac.id](Corresponding author: maulina@umkendari.ac.id)[ ](Corresponding author: maulina@umkendari.ac.id)3Lecturer in English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education,Muhammadiyah University of Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia,Corresponding author: [tri.indahrusli@umkendari.ac.id](tri.indahrusli@umkendari.ac.id) ABSTRACT This study examined the challenges faced by college-level EFL students in taking the Duolingo English Practice Test and the strategies they used to overcome them. The study utilised the journal reflection method, where participants recorded their experiences while taking the test. Data were analysed qualitatively to identify patterns of difficulty and adjustment mechanisms used. The results showed that students faced challenges in listening comprehension, time management, and psychological pressure during the test. To overcome them, they applied various strategies, such as intensive practice, the use of additional applications, and stress management techniques. These findings highlight the importance of developing self-directed learning strategies for EFL students in the face of digital-based exams. In conclusion, although the Duolingo English Practice Test presents challenges for EFL students, effective adaptation strategies can help them improve their performance. This study recommends the integration of technology-based training in the curriculum to improve students' preparedness for online exams. Keywords: English Test, Technology, Duolingo English Test, Challengesand Strategies Students’. Article history: Received 02-18-2025 Revised 03-13-2025 Accepted 03-15-2025 This is an open-access article under the CC BY-SA license INTRODUCTION In learning English, there is a need for testing to determine the extent to which students improve their English learning (Kameneva et al., 2018) . The English proficiency test evaluates the four core language abilities of speaking, writing, listening, and reading. The exam's success is based on the total points earned (Xiaoyan, 2019) . The English proficiency test is used to assess competence at the phoneme level, with respect to pronunciation, grammar, fluency, and lexical stress of native speakers (Ivanova & Ivanov, 2021) . The successful growth of students' foreign language proficiency may be determined by employing both online and offline assessment technologies, according to several compelling research. Currently, however, a lot of people use internet media. Additionally, online assessments might offer a chance to evaluate language proficiency objectively. New forms of online learning and teaching through various apps or online media have made learning English easier, faster and more entertaining atthe same time (Maulina et al., 2023) . Learning options both inside and outside of the classroom have increased due to the quick development of computer and mobile technologies. Technology has been used as a technique to improve education and teaching methods (Ahmed, 2016; Al-Mashaadani & Al-Rawe, 2018; Nami, 2020; Maulina et al., 2023; Maulina, 2024) . In previous decades, Dhanavandan et al. (2008) technology only served asa communication tool. The increasing use of online technologies allows us to use multimedia content, engage in continuous communication and interaction, draw diagrams, take notes, complete a

FAQs

What challenges do EFL tertiary students face during the Duolingo English Practice Test?

The study identifies difficulties in listening comprehension, time management, and psychological pressure during the test.

How do students cope with these challenges?

Students reported using intensive practice, additional applications, and stress-management techniques to adjust during preparation and test-taking.

Why does the study recommend technology-based training for online exams?

The findings suggest that effective adaptation strategies can improve performance, so curriculum integration of technology-based training can strengthen students’ preparedness for digital exams.

Aug 29, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn