A “good” DET score isn’t one number. It depends entirely on where you’re applying and what level you’re applying for.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is scored on a scale of 10 to 160, unlike IELTS’s 9-band scale or TOEFL’s new 1–6band scale. Your overall score reflects performance across four subscores: literacy, comprehension, conversation, and production.
What counts as competitive
There is no universal “passing” DET score; each university sets its own minimum. Based on 2025–2026 requirements across thousands of institutions:
- Undergraduate programs: typical minimums around 100–110; competitive scores 115+.
- Mid-tier / competitive programs: often expect 120–125+.
- Highly selective universities and many graduate programs: increasingly look for 125–130+, with top-tier programs sometimes preferring 130+.
These ranges vary a lot by institution and program, so always check your target program’s own stated minimum rather than relying on general benchmarks.
How DET compares to IELTS and TOEFL
Duolingo publishes an official concordance table that many admissions offices use to translate DET scores against IELTSand TOEFL iBT on the 0–120 scale.
Important 2026 update:
In January 2026, TOEFL introduced a new 1–6 band score scale alongside the existing 0–120 scale. ETS has stated it has not conducted a score concordance study with the Duolingo English Test for this new 1–6 scale. Duolingo’s existing DET–TOEFL concordance is still based on the 0–120 scale, which ETS continues to report.
Because of this:
- DET scores are not directly comparable to TOEFL’s new 1–6 bands via an official concordance.
- Duolingo recommends comparing scores by CEFR level rather than a direct numeric conversion to the 1–6 scale.
Should you retake the test?
There’s no official limit on DET retakes, and Duolingo doesn’t flag a retaken score as a negative signal to institutions. If your score falls short of your target program’s stated minimum, retaking is a normal and low-risk next step — and if cost is a factor, registering through Comet gets you 15% off, bringing the fee to $60 instead of $70.
Frequently asked questions
DET scores range from 10 to 160 in total, with separate subscores for literacy, comprehension, conversation, and production.
Many universities set a minimum around 100–110 for undergraduate admission, with competitive programs often expecting 115–125+, and highly selective institutions looking for 125–130+. Requirements vary significantly by institution and program.
t yet. TOEFL introduced its new 1–6 scale in January 2026, and ETS has stated it has not conducted a concordance study with DET for this scale. Duolingo’s official concordance still uses TOEFL’s 0–120 scale, and Duolingo recommends comparing via CEFR levels instead.
Yes. There’s no official limit on retakes, and retaking isn’t flagged as a negative to the institutions receiving your score.