"What is a good score?" is the most common question about the DET and the one with the least satisfying answer: it depends on the institution you are applying to. A number that clears one university's bar sits below another's. So the goal is not a universally "good" score — it is the specific minimum on your program's page, plus a comfortable margin. This piece gives you the ranges to orient by and the method to pin down your real target.
The 10–160 scale in one look
The DET is scored from 10 to 160, in increments of 5. Your overall score is the mean of the four skill subscores, rounded to the nearest 5, and the report also breaks your English into eight parts in total — the four skills plus four integrated areas (every number is unpacked in what your DET score means). Drag the scale below to see roughly where a number lands:
Why "good" depends on where you apply
Institutions set their own thresholds, and they vary widely. A foundation or pathway program may accept a score in the 90s; a competitive master's may want 120 or more; a handful of highly selective schools ask for 130+. The same 115 is "above target", "on target" or "below target" depending entirely on whose admissions page you are reading. Never work from a general reputation of what is "good" — work from the number your program publishes.
Rough targets by program type
These are orientation ranges, not rules. They are drawn from the pattern of published requirements, and any individual program can sit outside them. Confirm yours.
| Where you are applying | Common target range | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation / pathway / some colleges | 90–105 | CEFR B1–low B2 |
| Undergraduate (many universities) | 105–120 | CEFR B2 |
| Postgraduate / competitive undergrad | 120–130 | CEFR high B2–C1 |
| Highly selective / top-tier programs | 130–140+ | CEFR C1+ |
Notice the overlap. A 120 is a strong undergraduate score and a baseline postgraduate one at the same time — which is exactly why the "is this good?" question has no answer without the destination attached.
What each band means (CEFR)
If your institution states a CEFR level (B2, C1) rather than a DET number, Duolingo publishes an alignment you can map against:
| CEFR level | DET score |
|---|---|
| A1–A2 | 10–55 |
| B1 | 60–95 |
| B2 | 100–125 |
| C1 | 130–150 |
| C2 | 155–160 |
Most university-level requirements land in the B2–C1 span, which is the 100–150 stretch of the scale. The full mechanics — how the eight subscores are built and what each one rewards — are on the how the DET is scored page.
What the number is worth in IELTS and TOEFL
If you already think in IELTS bands or TOEFL points, an approximate concordance helps you translate a target:
| DET | Approx. IELTS | Approx. TOEFL iBT (0–120) |
|---|---|---|
| 100–115 | 6.0–6.5 | 60–83 |
| 120–125 | 6.5–7.0 | 84–93 |
| 130–135 | 7.0 | 94–105 |
| 140–145 | 7.5 | 106–116 |
| 150 | 8.0 | 117–118 |
| 155–160 | 8.5–9.0 | 119–120 |
Conversion tables are a rough bridge, not an exchange rate. The DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL comparison explains where they mislead and why an institution's own DET minimum always beats a number you converted yourself.
Why a practice score is only an estimate
Any score you get here, or from any practice tool, is an estimate. Our engine is adaptive and reports all eight subscores the way the real test does, but our question difficulties are our own calibration, not Duolingo's official one. Use a practice score to find your weakest skill and track whether it is moving — not to predict your official result to the point. When a decision depends on an exact number, only an official sitting settles it.
How to move your score toward the target
Because the overall score is the mean of four subscores, the fastest gains come from lifting your lowest one, not polishing your best. The preparation guide walks through diagnosing which subscore is costing you most and what actually fixes each. In short: identify the weak skill, drill the task types that feed it, and re-test to confirm the number moved.
The right target is not "a good DET score." It is your program’s published minimum, plus a band of margin for a bad morning.
Questions people ask
What is a good Duolingo English Test score?
It depends on where you apply. As a rough guide: 105–120 meets many undergraduate requirements, 120–130 matches competitive and postgraduate programs, and 130+ suits selective admissions. The only "good" score that matters is your specific program's published minimum, plus a margin.
What is the average Duolingo English Test score?
Duolingo does not publish a single official global average, and it would not help you much if it did — you are not admitted against the average, you are admitted against your institution's minimum. Aim at the requirement on your program's page rather than at a mean.
What DET score do I need for undergraduate study?
Many undergraduate programs sit in the 105–120 range, roughly CEFR B2, but this varies widely by university and country. Some accept lower with a pathway program; competitive ones ask for more. Check the exact figure on the admissions page you are applying through.
What DET score do I need for a master’s?
Postgraduate requirements commonly land around 120–130, with selective programs higher and some also setting per-skill minimums. Because a master's often depends on strong writing, watch your Literacy and Production subscores, not only the overall number.
Is 120 a good Duolingo English Test score?
120 is a solid score — roughly CEFR high-B2 and about IELTS 6.5–7.0. It clears many undergraduate bars comfortably and meets a good number of postgraduate ones. Whether it is enough is still a question for your specific program's stated minimum.
Is 130 a good score?
130 is a strong score, around CEFR C1 and roughly IELTS 7.0. It satisfies most university requirements, including many competitive and postgraduate ones. Only the most selective programs routinely ask for more, so for most applicants 130 is comfortably above target.
Is 70 a good Duolingo score?
On the Duolingo English Test, 70 is CEFR B1 — roughly IELTS 4.5–5.0 — which meets some pathway, foundation and diploma programmes but falls below the 100+ that most degree programmes ask for. In the Duolingo app, a Duolingo Score of 70 means early-B1 course progress: a learning milestone, not a test result.
Is 20 a good Duolingo score?
Not for admission. On the Duolingo English Test, 20 sits in the A1–A2 band (10–55): foundation-level English, below the entry bar at almost every degree programme. In the Duolingo app, a Duolingo Score of 20 is high A1 — a fine early milestone in a course, but not comparable with a certified DET result.
What does the score range mean?
The DET is scored from 10 to 160, in increments of 5. Your overall score is the mean of the four skill subscores, and the report shows eight subscores in total, so two people with the same overall can have very different skill profiles underneath it. What each band of the range means is set out in DET scores explained.
Where does a good DET score sit on the CEFR?
Usually in B2–C1, the 100–150 stretch of the scale, because that is where most university requirements fall. Duolingo publishes the full alignment: A1–A2 is 10–55, B1 is 60–95, B2 is 100–125, C1 is 130–150, and C2 is 155–160.
How does a DET score compare to IELTS?
Approximately: DET 120–125 is around IELTS 6.5–7.0, DET 130–135 is around IELTS 7.0, and DET 140–145 is around IELTS 7.5. These conversions are looser than they look. The comparison page explains why an institution's own DET minimum beats any figure you convert yourself.
Do universities set minimum subscores too?
Some do. As well as an overall minimum, a program may require a floor on specific skills — often Writing or Speaking. If yours does, a strong overall will not rescue a weak subscore, so check both numbers and prepare the weaker skill deliberately.
Can I see which schools accept the DET and their scores?
Duolingo maintains an official list of accepting institutions, and each institution publishes its own DET requirement. Always take the number from the institution's own admissions page — third-party lists go stale, and requirements change between admission cycles.
Is a higher score always better?
Up to a point. Once you comfortably clear your program's minimum with a margin, extra points rarely change an admissions decision that rests on your whole application. Aiming a band above the requirement is sensible; chasing 150 when the bar is 120 usually is not the best use of your time.
How accurate is a practice test score?
Treat it as an estimate. A good practice engine reports the eight subscores like the real test and is excellent for finding your weakest skill and tracking progress, but its difficulty calibration is not Duolingo's official one. Use it to steer preparation, not to predict your certified result exactly.
How can I raise my score fastest?
Because the overall is the mean of four subscores, lift your lowest one first — that moves the mean more than improving a strength. Diagnose the weak skill, drill the task types that feed it, and re-test. The preparation guide covers the method.
What DET score do I need for a foundation or pathway programme?
Usually less than for direct entry. Pathway, foundation and diploma programmes exist for applicants below a degree's minimum, and some accept scores in the B1 band — DET 60–95 on Duolingo's alignment. The provider's own page is the only reliable figure, and any score you use stays valid for 2 years from the test date.
Quick reference: What Is a Good Duolingo English Test Score at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there one "good" DET score? | No. It depends on the institution and program you are applying to. |
| Typical undergraduate target | 105–120 (about CEFR B2). |
| Typical postgraduate target | 120–130 (high B2 to C1). |
| Highly selective programs | 130–140+ (CEFR C1 and above). |
| What is the score range? | 10 to 160, in increments of 5. |
| How is the overall score made? | The mean of the four skill subscores, rounded to 5; eight subscores are reported in total. |
| DET 120 in IELTS terms | Roughly IELTS 6.5–7.0 (approximate). |
| Should I trust a practice score exactly? | No — treat it as an estimate for spotting weak skills, not a prediction. |
| Fastest way to raise it | Lift your lowest subscore, not your best. |
| How long is a score valid? | 2 years. |
Walk into the DET already knowing the room.