Verification and Badge Policy
What each Testlyn badge means, how tutors earn it, what evidence we check, what we keep, how long a badge lasts and when it is removed.
Version 1.0 · effective 17 September 2026 · code G4 · All legal documents
Badges on Testlyn tell students what Testlyn itself has checked. Tutors cannot add, edit or buy badges. This policy is part of the Tutor Agreement.
1. The four badges
| Badge | What it means | How it is checked | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity verified | The tutor is a real person whose government ID matches a live selfie | Stripe Identity or an equivalent verification provider; during early access, a Testlyn staff member reviews the ID in a video call | As long as the profile is active |
| Credential verified | A named qualification or score was confirmed with the issuer | See section 2 | Until the credential's own expiry, if any; the badge shows the name and year |
| Testlyn tested: [exam] [score] | The tutor took a full Testlyn mock test of that exam under the conditions in section 3 and achieved the score shown | Testlyn's test log | 24 months from the test date |
| Kids approved | The tutor passed a background check and agreed to the child safety rules, and shows their full name to parents | Background check provider in the tutor's country (Checkr in the US and Canada) | 24 months |
A profile without a badge shows Verification in progress. No badge means Testlyn has not yet checked that item; it does not mean a problem was found.
2. Credentials we check
| Credential | Evidence | How we confirm |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Test Report Form (TRF) number, test date, candidate name | IELTS Results Verification Service or the issuing test centre |
| TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English Test | Score report ID or shareable link | Official verification link from ETS, Pearson or Duolingo |
| SAT | College Board score report | Screenshot from the official College Board account in a live screen-share, or official score report |
| CELTA, DELTA, TKT | Certificate number and candidate number | Cambridge English certificate verification service |
| TESOL, TEFL | Certificate and course provider | Direct confirmation with the provider; only providers that confirm in writing are accepted |
| University degree | Degree certificate and transcript | University verification portal or registrar confirmation; Vietnamese degrees through the issuing university's diploma lookup |
Scores older than the issuer's own validity period (for example 2 years for IELTS and TOEFL) may still be shown as a credential with the year of the test, but they are marked as expired for the purpose of current language level.
3. Testlyn tested conditions
- The tutor takes a full-length mock of the exam on Testlyn, in one sitting, with the timer running.
- The camera is on and the session is observed live or recorded by the verification provider for this test only; the recording is deleted within 30 days of the badge decision.
- Writing and Speaking are graded by Testlyn's grader and reviewed by a Testlyn reviewer.
- The score shown on the badge is the overall score achieved. A tutor may retake after 30 days; the badge shows the most recent result, even if lower.
4. What tutors submit and what we keep
- Identity documents and selfies are processed by the verification provider. Testlyn stores only the result (verified or not), the date and the provider's reference number.
- For credentials, Testlyn stores the credential name, issuer, score and year, and the date and method of verification. Copies of certificates submitted by email are deleted within 30 days after the decision.
- Background check reports are held by the provider. Testlyn stores only the outcome and date.
- The tutor's legal name is kept privately for payments, taxes and safety and is not shown on the profile, except for Kids approved tutors in the US and Canada, whose full name is shown to parents.
5. Costs
| Check | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Identity | Testlyn |
| Credential | Free |
| Testlyn tested | Free, once every 30 days |
| Background check for Kids approved | The tutor pays the provider's fee (about 25 to 35 US dollars); Testlyn refunds it after the tutor completes 20 hours of lessons on Testlyn |
6. Removing a badge
A badge is removed when it expires, when the underlying credential is revoked or cancelled by the issuer, when the tutor asks, or when Testlyn learns that it was obtained with false or incomplete information.
Forged, altered or borrowed documents, or taking a test for someone else, lead to permanent removal from Testlyn, tied to the verified identity, under the Code of Conduct.
7. Reviews and appeals
If a check is declined, we tell the tutor the reason. The tutor may submit new evidence or ask for a review at [email protected]. We answer within 7 days.
8. Limits
A badge confirms only the specific item checked on the date shown. It is not a guarantee of teaching quality, of results, or of the tutor's conduct. Students should read reviews and use trial lessons to choose a tutor.