Duolingo opens advanced content

Duolingo has opened advanced language lessons to free users, extending nine major courses to the B2 level instead of stopping most learners around A2. (techcrunch.com) The change, announced April 22, applies to English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese on web, iOS, and Android. Duolingo said the courses now reach B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale, or a Duolingo Score of 129. (blog.duolingo.com) Duolingo said most of those learners previously topped out at A2, a level for basic everyday exchanges, while B2 is the stage where users can handle workplace conversations, university lectures, and news without constant translation. CNET reported the company is pitching the update around jobs and study abroad as much as casual practice. (blog.duolingo.com; cnet.com) That puts Duolingo closer to the territory long occupied by paid language apps and formal test prep. Duolingo said it is now offering advanced content for free in those nine languages while still selling subscriptions such as Super Duolingo and Duolingo Max. (blog.duolingo.com; duolingo.com) The move also lands as Duolingo pushes harder into credentials. Its English test is accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide, including more than 800 in Europe and 4,300 in North America, according to the company’s test site. (englishtest.duolingo.com) But the test is not currently approved for the United Kingdom’s Secure English Language Test system used in many visa and immigration cases. United Kingdom government guidance says applicants who need a Secure English Language Test must use an approved provider, and Home Office rules list approved tests separately. (gov.uk; gov.uk) The Home Office is, however, procuring a new remote English testing service. A tender notice published in late 2025 said the programme seeks a “fully remote” service that is secure, accessible, and fair for visa and immigration decisions. (find-tender.service.gov.uk) That has sharpened scrutiny of online testing security. The Telegraph reported this week that Duolingo is among the companies in contention, while critics from established testing providers warned that moving the system online could make cheating easier; a government spokesperson said the contract “has not yet been awarded.” (telegraph.co.uk) Duolingo’s broader business gives the company room to make a bet like this. In its 2025 shareholder letter, Duolingo said it had passed 50 million daily active users and generated more than $1 billion in bookings, giving it a large free audience to convert into paid products later. (investors.duolingo.com) For learners, the immediate change is simpler than the policy fight around testing: the app now lets free users stay in the course long enough to practice for work, study, and daily life, not just tourist-level basics. (techcrunch.com; blog.duolingo.com)