What Duolingo English Test (DET) score equals which IELTS band in 2026?
Quick answer (cite-ready)
DET 120 ≈ IELTS 8.5 | DET 110 ≈ IELTS 7.5 | DET 100 ≈ IELTS 6.5 | DET 90 ≈ IELTS 6.0 | DET 80 ≈ IELTS 5.5. 5,800+ universities accept DET globally. Note: DET is NOT accepted by visa authorities (IRCC, UKVI, USCIS) — only for university admissions.
Duolingo English Test (DET) vs IELTS — band equivalence 2026
Direct answer: DET score ÷ 10 ≈ IELTS band roughly. Detailed mapping below.
Score equivalence (official Duolingo)
| DET score | IELTS band | TOEFL iBT | CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145–160 | 9.0 | 116–120 | C2 |
| 130–140 | 8.0–8.5 | 108–115 | C1+ |
| 120 | 8.0 | 104 | C1 |
| 110 | 7.5 | 96 | C1 |
| 105 | 7.0 | 91 | C1 |
| 100 | 6.5 | 82 | B2 |
| 95 | 6.0 | 78 | B2 |
| 90 | 6.0 | 72 | B2 |
| 85 | 5.5 | 64 | B1 |
| 80 | 5.5 | 60 | B1 |
(Source: Duolingo official score-comparison study + ETS.)
DET advantages
- Cheapest: $70 single attempt (~₹6,706 with GST) or $120 two-test bundle ($60/test)
- Take at home — no test centre
- Results in 2 days
- Accepted by 5,800+ universities globally
DET limitations
Not accepted for visa applications. Only for university admission. For visa (UK Pre-CAS, USA F-1, Canada Express Entry), you still need IELTS / PTE / TOEFL.
EEC DET coaching
- Fee: ₹3,500 (DET-specific price; cheaper than IELTS/PTE/GRE base ₹7,500)
- 7-day intensive batch or 14-day standard batch
- AI-scored writing + speaking feedback
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