Understanding Your Duolingo Score: Results, How to Check, Validity & More

Once you get your Duolingo results, you are one step closer to your dream foreign university. 

Whether you’ve already received your scorecard or not, it helps to know how to interpret your score. 

Find out in this guide. Let’s dive right in. 

Getting your Duolingo test results

Duolingo has the fastest scoring process among English language proficiency tests. Test-takers usually receive their Duolingo English Test scores within 48 hours. 

Here’s a sample Duolingo scorecard that you’ll get.

Source

Wish to get your Duolingo results even faster?

By paying an additional $40 with the registration fee, you can get your Duolingo results in 12 hours.

Irrespective of whether you choose standard or faster results, the scoring and proctoring methods remain consistent.

Also, faster results are a new feature and may not be currently available to all candidates.

How to access your Duolingo total scores?

Your Duolingo total score will be sent to your registered email ID. You can also check the Duolingo scorecard through these steps: 

Step 1: Visit the official website.
Step 2: Login, fill in your details, and check your score report.
Step 3: Click ‘print’ to view the Duolingo English Test certificate.
Step 4: Download the score report as a PDF.

Have you taken the Duolingo test multiple times?
You can compare your scores with previous attempts with the test history option on the site.

Understanding your Duolingo total score

Once you have your Duolingo scorecard with you, it is time to understand what the numbers on the report mean. 

To begin with, it is important to understand that the Duolingo result includes 2 types of scores. 

• One, the overall score you received in the DET
• Second, the subscores you received in each of the different skills. 

Let’s see how you can interpret your performance based on overall and subscores.

Duolingo overall scores

The overall Duolingo score range is between 10 – 160.
This means the lowest score is 10 and the Duolingo max score is 160. 

This overall Duolingo score is NOT a summation or average of your subscores. It is calculated by using statistical machine learning algorithms to score your answers. 

Duolingo subscores

The Duolingo scorecard also offers subscores that show the candidate’s skill in various aspects of English proficiency. 

The four categories for which subscores are given include:

• Literacy:  How well the candidate can read and write in English
• Comprehension: How well the candidate can listen to and understand English
• Conversation: How well the candidate can listen and speak in English 
• Production: How well the candidate can write and speak in English

Each subscore has a minimum value of 10 and a maximum value of 160.

You will also be told the Duolingo scores for the 25th and 75th percentile. This helps you contextualize your score. 

For example, say the 25th and 75th Duolingo score percentiles for Comprehension are 105 and 130 respectively. This means 25% of students scored lower than 105 and 25% of students scored higher than 130.

What is a good Duolingo score?

For anyone, the aim would be to get the Duolingo max score of 160. That may not always be possible. However, a good enough score can help you get admission to your preferred institution.

To understand what a good Duolingo score is, you must check the requirements because it varies from institution to institution.

Whether a certain score will help you get an admission, a scholarship, or even an education loan depends on the institution checking the score.

In general, Duolingo score ranges are divided into the following categories:

Duolingo score range: 10-50
English proficiency: Basic

• The candidate knows basic English words and can understand simple information. 
• They can also talk about familiar topics.

Duolingo Score Range: 55-80
English Proficiency: Intermediate

• The candidate can grasp the main ideas in everyday conversations about work and school. 
• They can also talk about their experiences, goals, and opinions. Although there may be some hesitation or difficulty

Duolingo Score Range: 85-120
English Proficiency: Upper-Intermediate

• The candidate can achieve most communication tasks, even on new subjects. 
• They understand the main points of both straightforward and complex writing. 
• They can also communicate comfortably with fluent speakers.

Duolingo Score Range: 125-160
English Proficiency: Advanced

• The candidate can comprehend complex written and spoken language, including specialised topics. 
• They understand implicit, figurative, and idiomatic expressions. 
• They can use English fluently and appropriately in social, academic, and professional settings.

According to the Duolingo official manual, the global average Duolingo scores are

Source

The data is based on test-takers who attempted the DET between 01 May 2023 and 14 December 2023.

These average Duolingo scores can help you understand how much you’d have to score to be an above-average applicant at your preferred university

However, getting an average Duolingo doesn’t guarantee admission to your preferred university. 

Most educational institutions require Duolingo score ranges of 100-120. Some universities may also have minimum subscore requirements. 

Also Read: Education Loans for Abroad Studies [Comprehensive Guide]

How to compare Duolingo scores with TOEFL, IELTS, and CEFR scores

Let’s see how Duolingo total scores compare with TOEFL, IELTS, and CEFR scores:

Source

This comparison will help you understand the equivalence of your Duolingo scores to corresponding TOEFL, IELTS, and CEFR scores.

Also Read: PTE vs IELTS: Understand the Difference Between IELTS and PTE

How to send DET scores to universities or other educational institutions?

Over 5,000 universities accept Duolingo English Test scores. Candidates can send their Duolingo results to any number of accepting institutions by following these steps:

Step 1: Once you get an email notification about your Duolingo result, log into your DET account.

Step 2: Go to the ‘Your Tests’ section on the homepage to see your certified tests.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Send Results’ tab next to your certified test.

Step 4: Follow the prompts to select the universities or educational institutions where you want to send your scores.

Important: You can send your Duolingo score to any number of institutions for free.

How do institutions receive your Duolingo scores?

When you share your Duolingo results with an institution, here’s what they receive:

• Your overall Duolingo score
• Your Duolingo subscores
• Your complete writing samples
• A video recording of your speaking sample

Institutions use these scores and samples to better evaluate your English skills.

If you have any questions about your DET preparations, submitting scores, or finding the cutoff DET scores for universities, you can talk to an advisor at SelectRight. But that’s not all. SelectRight can help you find your best possible university, and here’s how it works:

1. Register and provide your personal details and educational history.
2. Outline the type of program, field of study, and university location you are seeking.
3. SelectRight will suggest programs that fit your criteria.
4. Review the matches, considering costs, rankings, and what matters most to you.
5. Get personalized advice and help with your applications.

By using SelectRight, you can ensure you make the best choices for your study abroad journey.

Also Read: How to Prepare for Duolingo English Test 2024

FAQs

How long are Duolingo scores valid?

The Duolingo score validity is for two years starting from the date you took the test. This means you took the test on the 10th of March 2024, Duolingo score validity would be till the 10th of March 2026.  

During the time of your Duolingo score validity, you can send your Duolingo test results to any number of accepting universities.

Is there a negative marking on Duolingo scores?

No, there is no negative marking on Duolingo scores. For every correct answer, you earn 5 marks. But if you don’t attempt a question or incorrectly answer a question, no marks are deducted. 

Is Duolingo retake free?

In some cases, you can retake your Duolingo English test for free. 

For every credit, you get 3 attempts. But remember, starting the test, even if you don’t finish it, uses one of these attempts. If a technical issue stops your test from being certified, you can retake it for free. That is as long as you have attempts left on your credit.

How can I improve my Duolingo score?

Not satisfied with your Duolingo results? Here are some tips to improve your score in future attempts:

• Take time to understand the test format and question types.
• Expand your vocabulary by using vocabulary apps.
• Review and practise English grammar rules.
• Read various English texts for comprehension.
• Listen to English podcasts and videos to improve your listening skills.
• Practice writing essays and texts in English.
• Work on pronunciation and fluency in speaking English.
• Take practice tests under timed conditions.
• Stay calm and confident and manage test anxiety.
• Seek feedback from teachers or tutors for improvement.

Can I get better education loan offers with a good Duolingo score?

A good Duolingo English Test (DET) score demonstrates your English proficiency to potential lenders. It may also help you get certain scholarships and fee waivers. However, good Duolingo results don’t contribute much towards getting better education loan offers. A good alternative to get favourable loan offers from lenders is to use FundRight. 

With FundRight, you can create your profile on the platform. 15+ lenders in the country will share their best offers with you. You can then pick the one that suits you best and get admission to your dream university abroad.