Many universities accept 105–120 overall; selective ones want 120–135. There is no universal cut-off — use the exact requirement your target universities publish, and check any subscore minimum.
Duolingo English Test Scoring & IELTS Comparison
The DET gives an overall score from 10 to 160 in five-point increments, plus four subscores — Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production — each on the same scale. Universities usually set a minimum overall score, and some look at the subscores relevant to their programme.
There is no pass or fail. Knowing how your DET score maps to IELTS and TOEFL helps you set a target that matches your universities.
The four subscores
| Subscore | What it reflects |
|---|---|
| Literacy | Reading and writing ability. |
| Comprehension | Reading and listening ability. |
| Conversation | Listening and speaking ability. |
| Production | Writing and speaking ability. |
DET ↔ IELTS ↔ TOEFL comparison (approximate)
Duolingo publishes an official comparison to IELTS and TOEFL. The mappings below are approximate — always use the exact requirement your university lists.
| DET (10–160) | IELTS (approx.) | TOEFL iBT (approx.) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 8.5+ | ~120 | Expert user |
| 130–135 | 7.5–8.0 | ~105–115 | Very good user |
| 120 | 7.0 | ~95 | Good user |
| 115 | 6.5 | ~85 | Competent user |
| 105 | 6.0 | ~75 | Modest user |
| 95 | 5.5 | ~65 | Basic user |
What score should you aim for?
Many universities ask for 105–120 overall, and more selective ones ask for 120–135. Always check your specific university's DET requirement, because acceptance and minimums vary widely, and note any subscore minimum.
Frequently asked questions
Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production — each on the 10–160 scale. They break your overall score into the underlying skills so universities can see your strengths.
Approximately, DET 115 ≈ IELTS 6.5 and DET 120 ≈ IELTS 7.0, from Duolingo's official comparison. Treat these as guidance and follow your university's stated requirement.
What DET score do your universities need?
We'll convert your IELTS/TOEFL target to a DET goal for free. Message us on WhatsApp.