Duolingo English Test Scores: Score Report, Validity And Tips

The Duolingo English Test will report individual subscores (Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening) along with integrated subscores (Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production).

The Duolingo test scores check how well you understand the language based on four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This score is also known as the overall score. 

In addition, the test provides subscores for each skill area. 

Did you know?

The DET is an online adaptive test, which means it adjusts both the difficulty and order of questions as you progress. Your scores are determined based on your performance throughout the test.

The Duolingo test has a 160-point score scale. Your score can range on a scale of 10-160.  For every correct answer, you earn 5 points. 

Here’s a catch! There’s no penalty for wrong answers; it’s worth attempting every question.

Here’s the Duolingo scorecard to understand scores better:

Let’s first discuss the good scores in DET.

What Is a Good Duolingo English Test Score?
 

A Duolingo score of 110 is generally considered good. If you get above 120, that’s fantastic!

Most top universities accept a score of 120. However, score requirements may vary depending on the program or university you choose.

Note: Scoring above 120 in the Duolingo exam would be equivalent to scoring 6.5 and higher in IELTS.

Also Read: Duolingo Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2024

Let’s discuss DET subscores in detail.

The subscores check how well you perform in different areas of the language.

Along with your overall score, the Duolingo English test measures you on the basis of sub-scores. There are mainly  two types of subscores:

Individual Subscores 

These measure your skills in four key areas:

• Speaking: Are you a good communicator?
• Writing:  Do you have a flair for writing?
• Reading: Can you grasp key information?
• Listening: Are you a good listener?

Integrated Subscore

These subscores check how well your skills work together in real-life situations.  It provides a detailed picture of your strengths and weaknesses in each skill.

Each integrated subscore evaluates your two language proficiency skills at once as follows:

• Literacy: Your reading and writing abilities
• Comprehension: Your listening and reading abilities
• Conversation: Your speaking and listening abilities
• Production: Your writing and speaking abilities
   

Make a note of it: The overall score and subscores are calculated independently based on different sets of questions that affect each score. Your overall score is not an average or sum of the individual subscores.

DET Score Report
 

The DET score report includes both your overall scores and subscores. Here’s what each part means:
 

• Overall Score: As we mentioned, your overall score ranges on a scale of 10-160. This score is not an average of 4 subscores. It’s just a way to define your skills and language capabilities.
• Sub-Scores: These scores analyse how well you can use language in a variety of settings, providing a complete picture of your language proficiency.
   

Duolingo English Test Certificate
 

The DET offers a very convenient and affordable way to view your results through a test certificate. You can view, save, download and print it as per your requirement.
 

 A unique URL is given for each test to ensure its authenticity. The test certificate includes:

• Name
• Date of the test.
• Overall score
• Sub-scores
• Description for each sub-score

The Duolingo English test scores align with the CEFR (common European framework of reference), which is an important international language Proficiency standard.

The CEFR framework describes six levels of language proficiency, each with increasing complexity. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Duolingo scores as per the CEFR levels:
 

Did you know that DET is a machine-scored exam? This means your scores are evaluated by automated scoring models for faster and more accurate results.
 

Once your test results are out, you can access them within 48 hours of giving the test- faster than all other English proficiency tests in the market.
 

Also, you can pay to get your result faster (as early as 12 hours) for an additional charge of INR 3,340.

The test scores are valid for 2 years. But, after two years, your results will expire, and you'll need to retake the test if you require updated results.

During this time, you can use your results to apply for universities, jobs, or for immigration purposes that accept DET scores.
 

How to Access Your Duolingo Test Score?

After your test has been scored and reviewed, you will get an email alert with a link to view your test scores. 

 To access your Duolingo English test score, follow these steps:

• Visit the Duolingo website.
• Log in with your credentials. 
• Locate the “My Tests” section
• Open the certificate.
• Click on the ‘Print Result’ button.
• Save or download the test certificate in PDF format.
   

How To Send The DET Scores To Universities?

After getting your results, the next step is to send your test scores to universities.
 

Please note that since DET is a new test, it’s important to check whether the particular institution accepts scores before sending the test scores.
 

Here are the steps that you can follow to share your DET scores: 
 

• Log in to your Duolingo account.
• Click on the "My Tests"  option.
• Scroll down and  click on "Share Score." 
• Choose the the institution you wish to send scores to.
• You can select up to 40 institutions at a time.
• Provide the application ID if asked for.
• Press the “Send button”.

The surprising thing about the exam is that you can share Duolingo English test scores with as many institutions as you want—for free! 

Curious about which universities accept Duolingo English test scores? Click here

The test report received by the institution consists of many key components of the result.
 

These key components are:
 

• DET score: Your institution can view your overall scores and subscores.
• Writing sample: A copy of the response you wrote during the test.
• Speaking sample: A video recording of your speaking performance.

Please note that the speaking sample is sent as a video recording so they can see you.
 

Read about Upcoming Duolingo Exam Dates 2024

As  Duolingo test scores are accepted worldwide, it’s important to know where you stand in comparison to other English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL. 
 

Different institutions have different test requirements, so understanding score comparisons can help you better understand eligibility for the institution you want to apply for.

 

The table below shows how Duolingo English Test scores compare to TOEFL and IELTS scores.
 

Read more about Duolingo Score to IELTS Conversion: Latest Guide 2024

Did you understand how the Duolingo English Test is scored? How are your aspects of language proficiency being measured? We hope that you will now find it easier to understand the DET scoring system.
 

Getting a good score is crucial for university admissions, visa requirements or professional registration.

Here are some of the best tips to help you get a good DET Score:
 

• Vocabulary is key: Expand your word knowledge using flashcards, reading, or word games. Learn new words regularly.
• Be a good listener: Listen regularly to English podcasts, audiobooks, or TED talks to get used to different accents and speaking styles.
• Work on your speaking skills: Speak English with native speakers, use voice chat apps, or record yourself to improve pronunciation and fluency. 
• Read a lot: Reading books, articles, or news helps you understand various writing styles and vocabulary.
• Brush Up on Grammar: Review grammar rules, verb tenses, and sentence structures to polish your skills.
• Use Duolingo's prep resources: Rely only on actual practice tests, such as Duolingo's free prep materials, such as sample questions and tips. They will help you get a feel for the actual test.
• Take practice tests: Get to know the test format and question types and learn to manage your time effectively.

Remember, achieving a good DET score takes time and effort. You need the right approach and preparation resources to ace this exam.
 

Also Read: Duolingo Practice Test 2024 for Exam Preparation
 

This is where Leap Scholar comes in. Our certified trainers provide personalised feedback and study resources to help you prepare for the Duolingo exam.
 

Connect with Indiia’s Top Counsellors.