Duolingo English Test (DET) Score Calculator
Estimate your overall DET score (10–160) from your four section subscores and see your equivalent IELTS band and TOEFL iBT score.
Subscores (10–160)
Move the sliders to enter your four DET subscores. Your overall score, band, and IELTS/TOEFL equivalents appear here.
Overall DET score
—
Estimated as the average of your four subscores. Your official DET report uses an adaptive overall score that may differ.
IELTS equivalent
Below 3.5
TOEFL iBT equivalent
0
What your score means
Section breakdown
Areas for improvement
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fully digital, on-demand, adaptive English proficiency assessment accepted by thousands of institutions. It takes about one hour, and results are certified and delivered within two days — one of the fastest turnarounds of any major English test.
How is the DET overall score calculated?
The DET reports four integrated subscores — Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production — each on a 10–160 scale, alongside an overall score in the same range. This calculator estimates your overall score as the average of your four subscores. Your official report uses an adaptive model, so the real number may differ slightly.
What do the DET score bands mean?
Your overall score maps to a broad proficiency band. Aim for the band your target institutions expect.
| Overall score | Band & meaning |
|---|---|
| 120–160 | Advanced — understands a wide variety of demanding written and spoken language. |
| 100–115 | Upper Intermediate — communicates and comprehends effectively in familiar and academic contexts. |
| 60–95 | Intermediate — understands the main points of concrete matters in work or school. |
| 10–55 | Basic — understands very basic words and common expressions. |
What are the four DET subscores?
The four DET subscores are Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production, each reported on the 10–160 scale. Each subscore combines two skills, so a single task can contribute to more than one score.
| Subscore | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Literacy | Reading and writing — reading texts, filling in missing words, and responding to written prompts. |
| Comprehension | Reading and listening — interpreting audio alongside reading passages and comprehension tasks. |
| Conversation | Listening and speaking — articulating ideas orally in response to spoken prompts and dialogues. |
| Production | Writing and speaking — generating original ideas fluently and accurately in expressive tasks. |
What are the IELTS and TOEFL equivalents of a DET score?
A DET score of 130 corresponds to roughly IELTS 7.0 and TOEFL iBT 108–112, while a DET of 110 maps to about IELTS 6.0 and TOEFL 86–91. The DET publishes concordance ranges so institutions can compare scores across tests. These are approximate.
| DET | IELTS | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|
| 150+ | 8.0–9.0 | 119–120 |
| 130 | 7.0 | 108–112 |
| 120 | 6.5 | 97–102 |
| 110 | 6.0 | 86–91 |
| 100 | 5.5 | 74–79 |
| 90 | 5.0 | 62–67 |
| 60 | 3.5 | 26–31 |
What DET score do universities require?
Standard university admissions typically expect a DET of 105–115, while top-tier and elite universities look for 130–145+. Requirements vary by program and country, but these ranges are a useful starting point.
| Institution type | Typical DET |
|---|---|
| Top-tier / Ivy League / elite universities | 130–145+ |
| Competitive bachelor & master degrees | 115–125 |
| Standard university admissions | 105–115 |
| Community colleges & pathway programs | 90–100 |
How do you prepare for the DET?
- Take Duolingo’s official free practice tests to get used to the fast-paced, adaptive structure.
- Improve typing speed and accuracy — the test is fully digital, so quick, clean typing saves time.
- Master integrated tasks that combine listening with writing, and reading with speaking.
- Speak clearly at a natural pace, and prepare a quiet, well-lit, private test environment to avoid technical flags.
Comparing tests? See how your target maps on our IELTS Band Calculator and TOEFL Score Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What DET score equals IELTS 7.0?
A DET score of 130 is roughly equivalent to IELTS 7.0 and TOEFL iBT 108–112. These concordance ranges are published so institutions can compare scores across tests, and they are approximate.
What is a good Duolingo English Test score for university admission?
Standard university admissions typically expect a DET of 105–115, competitive bachelor and master degrees 115–125, and top-tier universities 130–145+. Community colleges and pathway programs often accept 90–100.
How long does it take to get DET results?
Results are certified and delivered within two days of the roughly one-hour test — one of the fastest turnarounds of any major English test.
How is the overall DET score calculated from the subscores?
This calculator averages your four subscores — Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production — each on a 10–160 scale. The official DET report uses an adaptive model, so the real number may differ slightly.
Is this DET calculator official?
No — it is a free, unofficial tool that estimates your overall score by averaging your four subscores. Only Duolingo's official score report gives your real DET result.
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