What Is a Good Duolingo Score? A Complete Guide to Understanding Your Results
Of course you want to get a good score in DET, but what does that mean exactly?
What exactly is a good score?
Like so many questions in the world of English, the answer is ‘it depends’.
In this article, we will:
- Break down Duolingo’s scoring system
- Define exactly what a good score looks like
- And share some top tips to help you achieve your DET goal
Before we get started with the scoring guide, though, let’s just take a moment to remind ourselves exactly what the Duolingo English Test is.
What is DET?
In simple terms, the Duolingo English Test is a test to prove your English level, so that you can study, work or live in an English-speaking country.
DET is an increasingly popular option for students and professionals looking to demonstrate their level of English.
It’s especially common for students looking to gain admission to a top university, qualify for a job, or even meet visa requirements for some countries.
Many of our students choose DET over other exams because it’s faster and cheaper than exams like IELTS and TOEFL.
It’s taken 100% online and is accepted by more and more organisations around the world.
The Last Minute English YouTube channel has detailed guides for each question type, but for now, let’s get back to that scoring guide.
Understanding Duolingo English Test Scores
How the Duolingo Scoring System Works
Duolingo English Test uses a scoring scale of 10 to 160. The better your English, the higher your score will be.
The test evaluates four key areas of language skills:
Overall Scores and Subscores Explained
- Literacy: Reading and writing.
- Comprehension: Listening and reading.
- Conversation: Listening and speaking.
- Production: Writing and speaking.
Your overall score reflects your combined abilities, while subscores give a detailed breakdown of your strengths and weaknesses.
In 2024, the DET also added separate individual subscores, which are:
- Speaking
- Writing
- Reading
- Listening
These scores will also appear on your test results.
Duolingo English Test Score Range
Let’s take a look at what each score means:
- 10-55: Beginner level; basic understanding of English.
- 60-85: Intermediate level; can handle simple tasks and conversations.
- 90-115: Upper intermediate; ready for most academic or workplace requirements.
- 120-160: Advanced to proficient; comparable to native speakers in many contexts.
Duolingo English Test vs. Other Exams: Scoring Insights
Comparing Duolingo Scores to IELTS and TOEFL
If you’ve been studying English for a while, you might have heard of IELTS or TOEFL.
These are other exams that students often use to show their level of English.
My students often ask me how DET scores compare to IELTS, CEFR or TOEFL scores, and you can see the answer in this table:
| DET Score | IELTS Band | TOEFL iBT Score | CEFR Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 9.0 | 120 | C2 |
| 150–155 | 8.0–8.5 | 115–119 | C1 |
| 140–145 | 7.5 | 110–114 | C1 |
| 130–135 | 7.0 | 104–109 | C1 |
| 120–125 | 6.5 | 93–97 | B2 |
| 110–115 | 6.0 | 82–86 | B2 |
| 100–105 | 5.5 | 65–78 | B2 |
| 90–95 | 5.0 | 59–64 | B1 |
| 80–85 | 4.5 | 47–52 | B1 |
| 70–75 | 4.0 | 41–46 | B1 |
Other Scoring Differences In Duolingo English Test
- Firstly, Duolingo has faster results (they usually come within 48 hours).
- It’s also much cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL, which has made it very popular!
- And it’s not just popular with students – it’s also popular with universities. There are now over 5000 institutions that accept the DET as a way of proving your English level.
- So it’s getting likelier and likelier that the university or country you are aiming for accepts DET.
What Is Considered a Good Score on the Duolingo English Test?
Now that you’re familiar with the DET scores, let’s take a look at some specific examples.
Minimum Scores for University Admission
We’ll begin with one of the most common situations – a student who wants to study abroad.
Most universities have a minimum score requirement. This is usually from:
- 105-120: For undergraduate programs (also known as bachelor’s degree).
- 115-130: For graduate programs (also known as master’s degree).
Recommended Scores for Competitive Applications
If you’re applying to a very competitive programme or institution, aim for a score of 120 or above.
This shows that you have almost native-level English – and that means you can get an advantage over other candidates.
Academic vs. Professional Requirements
So what about professional candidates? In other words, people who need the DET to get a job.
Companies & employers may accept intermediate scores (e.g. 90-105) if you show job-specific communication needs.
In other words, some jobs don’t need you to have such a good level of English in general, as long as you can do the job well.
Individual Goals and Contexts
The same is true for visa applications. The specific score you’ll need depends on factors such as the country and type of visa you’re applying for.
Want to move to Canada? Check out our DET for Canada guide here.
In short, then:
- Applying to a competitive program? Aim for 120+.
- Looking for work abroad? A score of 90-105 may be good enough.
- Not sure what level is required for your purposes? This is an excellent question to ask during the application process.
Tips to Achieve a High Duolingo Score
By now, you should have a better idea of what the scores mean, and which one you are aiming for.
This means that it’s time to move on to some tips that will help you to improve your level.
Read on until the end, because we’ll also be looking at some key mistakes that candidates should avoid!
Strategies to Improve Each Subscore (Production, Literacy, Comprehension, and Conversation)
Let’s start by looking at the individual subscores and how to improve in each area:
- Production: Practice describing images and responding to questions aloud.
- Conversation: Use language apps or speak with a tutor to refine your fluency.
- Comprehension: Listen to podcasts or watch videos in English.
- Literacy: Read articles and write summaries to build vocabulary and accuracy.
Practice Tools to Build Confidence Before the Test
Of course, another key tip is to practise, practise, practise! There are a few ways you can do that:
- Duolingo Practice Tests: Familiarise yourself with the format and learn which areas you need to work on. Check out this video for our full mock exam.
- Online Language Platforms: Apps like Quizlet or Anki are a great way to record and practise vocabulary.
- Last Minute English Resources: We’ve got tons of free sample prompts and exercises tailored to Duolingo. You can even check out our full DET Preparation Course by clicking here.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During the Exam
Now you know what you should do, let’s focus on those common mistakes I mentioned earlier.
Working with hundreds of DET students, I’ve realised that there are three mistakes that DET students often make.
If you want to get your score, remember these things:
- Don’t Speak Too Quickly: Focus on being clear over speaking fast, so that your answers sound more natural.
- Don’t Overthink Answers: Keep your answers concise and relevant – most tasks don’t give you too much preparation time.
- Focus on Basic Grammar: There’s no need to worry if you make a few small mistakes with more difficult material, but if you keep making basic errors, it can lower your score significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Duolingo Scores
To finish up with, we’ll answer some common questions students ask about DET scoring.
Is 120 a Good Score on the Duolingo English Test?
Yes! A score of 120+ shows you have an advanced level of English and is suitable for most academic and professional goals.
Most of the students I have worked with would be very pleased with this score, though some do aim even higher.
One of the students in our Complete Duolingo Preparation Course is even aiming to score 140!
Can You Retake the Duolingo English Test to Improve Your Score?
Absolutely, and this is one of the reasons DET is becoming so popular. Duolingo allows three attempts within a 30-day period, and there’s no limit on how many times you can retake the test overall.
This means that if you don’t quite get the score you need, you don’t have to wait months to try again.
How Long Are Duolingo Scores Valid?
Duolingo scores are valid for two years, similar to IELTS and TOEFL.
If you have more questions about Duolingo scores or need help preparing, leave a comment below – we’d love to help you!
Ready to Improve Your Duolingo Score?
At this stage, you’ve learnt everything you need to know about how DET is graded, and how to get a good score in the exam.
The next step is to keep working on your skills to ensure you get that good score you’re looking for.
At Last Minute English, we specialise in helping students reach their target scores quickly and effectively.
Subscribe to our newsletter for:
- Exclusive tips to boost your subscores.
- Free practice resources tailored to Duolingo.
- Updates on the latest test trends and requirements.
And all that’s left for me to do now is wish you all the best with your Duolingo English Test – good luck!
