25 June 2026
Hi, Teacher Luke here!
If you are applying to study abroad, you may be wondering:
“What Duolingo English Test score is equal to my IELTS score?”
This is a very common question, especially because many universities now accept the Duolingo English Test as an alternative to IELTS.
The two tests use different scoring systems. IELTS uses band scores from 0 to 9, while the Duolingo English Test uses a score from 10 to 160. So, if your university asks for IELTS 6.5, you need to know what that means in DET terms.
In general, an IELTS 6.5 is similar to a Duolingo English Test score of around 120–125. An IELTS 7.0 is similar to a DET score of around 130–135.
Here’s my simple advice:
If your chosen university accepts the Duolingo English Test, it is usually the faster and more convenient option.
However, always check your university’s official admissions page first. Some universities accept DET, but some courses may still ask for IELTS or a specific minimum subscore.
If you need help preparing for the Duolingo English Test, join me inside DET Ready VIP. I’ll show you exactly how to improve your speaking, writing, reading, and listening scores step by step.
Many excellent universities around the world now accept the Duolingo English Test.
This is great news for study abroad students because it means you do not always need to take IELTS. In many cases, you can take the Duolingo English Test from home, get your results quickly, and use your score for university applications.
However, every university is different. Some universities have one general DET score requirement. Others have different score bands depending on the course.
So please use this list as a helpful guide, but always check the official admissions page for your exact course before applying.
The University of Warwick accepts the Duolingo English Test, with typical score requirements ranging from 110 to 130, depending on the course and English language band.
The University of Bath also accepts the Duolingo English Test. Many courses require a score between 120 and 135, depending on the level of English needed for that program.
The University of Southampton accepts DET scores too, with many course bands asking for around 120 to 130.
The University of Exeter accepts the Duolingo English Test, but the required score depends on the course profile. In many cases, students may need between 110 and 140.
Loughborough University accepts the Duolingo English Test for many courses, with a typical requirement of around 120 overall, although some courses may ask for specific subscores.
The University of Toronto accepts the Duolingo English Test. A common requirement is around 120 overall, with some programs asking for specific minimum subscores.
The University of British Columbia accepts DET, and many students will need around 125 overall.
The University of Waterloo accepts the Duolingo English Test, with a typical requirement of around 120 overall, although some programs may ask for higher scores in Literacy and Production.
Carleton University accepts the Duolingo English Test, with many direct-entry programs asking for around 120 overall.
The University of Calgary also accepts DET for many applicants, with common requirements around 120, depending on the program.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) accepts the Duolingo English Test. MIT lists 120 as a minimum, but 125 or higher is recommended.
New York University (NYU) accepts the Duolingo English Test. NYU does not always list one fixed minimum for every applicant, but a score of 135 or higher is often considered strong.
Carnegie Mellon University accepts DET, with many programs asking for around 135 overall.
Rice University accepts the Duolingo English Test, and many applicants should aim for around 130, depending on the course.
The University of Chicago accepts the Duolingo English Test, with many students aiming for around 125 or higher, although requirements can vary by program.
University College Cork accepts the Duolingo English Test, with many courses requiring around 120 overall.
Trinity College Dublin accepts DET for many applicants, with typical requirements around 120, depending on the course.
University College Dublin accepts the Duolingo English Test, and many students should aim for around 120 or higher.
The University of Galway accepts DET for many courses, with common requirements around 120, although students should always check the exact course page.
Dublin City University also accepts the Duolingo English Test, with many programs asking for around 120 overall.
If you want a simple target, I recommend aiming for 120 or above on the Duolingo English Test.
Why?
Because many universities that accept DET ask for a score between 110 and 130.
If you want to apply to more competitive universities or postgraduate courses, aim for 130+.
And remember, your subscores matter too. Some universities may ask for minimum scores in areas like:
So do not only focus on your overall score. You need to build strong skills across the whole test.
Visit the DET website for a full list of universities that accept the DET! https://englishtest.duolingo.com/institutions
If your university asks for IELTS 6.5, that is usually similar to a Duolingo English Test score of around 120–125.
If your university asks for IELTS 7.0, that is usually similar to a DET score of around 130–135.
This is why the Duolingo English Test vs IELTS score chart above is so useful.
It helps you quickly understand what DET score you may need for your study abroad application.
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See you there,— Teacher Luke 👨🏫Helping 1,000+ students pass the DET every month
DET Ready are the leaders in English proficiency test preparation. Our mission is to streamline the learning process by helping students study smarter, not harder. We achieve this by carefully curating exactly what’s required to obtain the results and by discarding the
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