Duolingo Scores Displayed on LinkedIn

An agreement for LinkedIn to post Duolingo Scores provides employers with information about language learning—not necessarily proficiency. But the new partnership might give students an edge in the job search.

A writer for Monster lists language proficiency as an example of “skill stretching.” Without a test, students choose a category they believe best fits their level—and they might exaggerate. A Duolingo spokesperson described the issue and the company’s solution:

Currently, the Languages section on LinkedIn is entirely self-reported. By adding a Duolingo Score, it provides an additional level of evidence beyond self-reporting.

The Score, which will update automatically on a LinkedIn profile, represents how far someone has progressed through a Duolingo language course. For example, a score between 80 and 99 out of 160 indicates the ability to “share your opinion, tell stories, and navigate most daily situations.” That presents more evidence than self-reporting, but not everyone who has reached the course level will have the same ability, so it’s not a perfect evaluation. As a completion level, the score tells an employer what’s possible, rather than demonstrated ability, so the Duolingo representative’s claim might be overstated:

The Score’s visibility provides recruiters and employers with a clearer and more consistent understanding of a candidate’s language ability.

Perhaps the Score is a better measure than self-reported categories. On resumes, they may be basic, conversational, proficient, or fluent; in the languages section of a LinkedIn profile today, people choose elementary proficiency, limited working proficiency, professional working proficiency, full professional proficiency, and native or bilingual proficiency. These are hard for students and employers to distinguish.

If students aren’t taking Duolingo language courses, they might prove proficiency by taking a standardized test, providing written work samples, creating a video, or providing examples in their cover letter or resume of how they have used a language in personal or professional situations.