What is 130 on the Duolingo English Test in IELTS?

A Duolingo English Test score of 130 is equivalent to roughly IELTS 7.5. The DET 125-130 band maps to IELTS 7.5 (CEFR C1), which is a strong score accepted by most universities and skilled-migration programmes.

What IELTS band is 120 on Duolingo?

A Duolingo score of 120 is equivalent to about IELTS 7.0 (CEFR B2+). The DET 115-120 range maps to IELTS 7.0, which meets the requirement for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Is the Duolingo English Test easier than IELTS?

Neither test is objectively easier; they measure the same underlying English ability, which is why the scores map onto each other. The DET is shorter (about one hour), cheaper, and taken at home, but it uses adaptive questions and strict proctoring. Many test-takers find IELTS Speaking easier because it is a live human conversation, while others prefer the DET's shorter format.

Do universities accept Duolingo instead of IELTS?

Thousands of universities now accept the Duolingo English Test, but acceptance is not universal, and some visa authorities (such as UKVI and IRCC for certain routes) still require IELTS or another SELT. Always confirm the accepted tests and minimum score with your specific institution or immigration route before booking.

Duolingo English Test to IELTS Score Conversion (Full Table 2026)

Last updated: August 2026.

Quick answer: A Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 120 ≈ IELTS 7.0, 130 ≈ IELTS 7.5, 140 ≈ IELTS 8.0, and 150 ≈ IELTS 8.5. The DET is scored from 10 to 160 in 5-point steps, and each step maps to a slice of the IELTS 0-9 band scale. Use the IELTS score comparison tool to convert any Duolingo, TOEFL, or PTE score to IELTS instantly, or read on for the full table.

Duolingo to IELTS conversion table

The Duolingo English Test reports an overall score between 10 and 160. Here is how each DET range converts to an IELTS band, alongside the matching CEFR level:

Duolingo (DET)	IELTS band	CEFR level
155-160	9.0	C2
145-150	8.5	C2
135-140	8.0	C1
125-130	7.5	C1
115-120	7.0	B2+
105-110	6.5	B2
90-100	6.0	B2
80-85	5.5	B1+
70-75	5.0	B1
60-65	4.5	B1
50-55	4.0	A2-B1

The fastest way to convert your exact score is the free IELTS score comparison tool at ielts9.io, which lets you enter a Duolingo, TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS result and see every equivalent side by side, along with the CEFR level each one represents.

What common Duolingo scores mean in IELTS

Duolingo 145, 140, 135 → IELTS 8.0-8.5

This is the top tier. A DET of 135-140 equals IELTS 8.0 (CEFR C1), and 145-150 equals IELTS 8.5. These scores clear the bar for competitive graduate programmes, professional registration, and high-threshold immigration streams. Below the very top, the difference between 135 and 145 on Duolingo is only half an IELTS band, so if you are already at this level, small gains matter less than they did earlier.

Duolingo 130 and 125 → IELTS 7.5

A score of 125-130 maps to IELTS 7.5 (CEFR C1). This is a genuinely strong result. Most universities that ask for "IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5" will comfortably accept it, and it satisfies many skilled-migration language requirements. If your target is IELTS 7.0, a DET of 130 already exceeds it.

Duolingo 120, 115 → IELTS 7.0

115-120 on the DET equals IELTS 7.0 (CEFR B2+). IELTS 7.0 is the single most common admission requirement worldwide, so this is the score band most test-takers are aiming for. If a university lists "7.0 overall," a Duolingo 120 is your equivalent target.

Duolingo 105-110 → IELTS 6.5

A DET of 105-110 converts to IELTS 6.5 (CEFR B2). This meets the standard undergraduate entry requirement at a large share of English-speaking universities and many postgraduate courses.

Duolingo 90-100 → IELTS 6.0

90-100 maps to IELTS 6.0. This is the typical minimum for foundation and pathway programmes, and for some visa categories. It signals a competent B2 user who can handle everyday academic and professional communication with occasional errors.

Duolingo 80-85 → IELTS 5.5

A DET around 80-85 equals IELTS 5.5 (CEFR B1+). This is often the floor for pre-sessional English courses and some vocational programmes, but it falls short of most direct-entry degree requirements.

Why the two scores line up

The Duolingo English Test and IELTS both measure the same underlying construct: how well you can understand and produce English across reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Because they measure the same thing on different scales, their scores can be placed onto a shared concordance. IELTS uses a 0-9 band scale in half-band steps; Duolingo uses a 10-160 scale in 5-point steps. The CEFR framework (A1 to C2) acts as the common yardstick that both tests can be mapped against, which is why the table above includes the CEFR column.

One practical consequence: because IELTS moves in half bands and Duolingo moves in 5-point steps, several Duolingo scores can round to the same IELTS band. A DET of 90, 95, and 100 all correspond to IELTS 6.0. So if you are converting from Duolingo, always treat the IELTS figure as the nearest equivalent band rather than an exact one-to-one match.

The same caution applies to CEFR-based tools. An AI text analyzer such as Cathoven will grade your writing to a CEFR level (B2, C1, and so on), but a CEFR level is not an IELTS band and cannot tell you which IELTS criterion is costing you marks. For IELTS prep, score against the IELTS band descriptors, not CEFR.

Should you take Duolingo or IELTS?

The right test depends on where you are applying, not on which is "easier."

Take the Duolingo English Test if your institution accepts it, you want a cheaper test you can sit at home, and you are comfortable with an adaptive, computer-scored format. Results usually arrive within about two days.
Take IELTS if your university or visa route requires it (many UKVI and IRCC pathways still do), you prefer a live human examiner for Speaking, or you want a test with the widest global acceptance.

Whichever you choose, prepare on the scale you will actually be scored on. If you are set on IELTS, practise with real IELTS-format questions and check your progress with the IELTS band score calculator so you know exactly which section is holding your overall band back. For a fuller breakdown of the differences between the main tests, see our IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE 2026 comparison.

Convert your score both ways

The conversion works in both directions. If you already have an IELTS band and want to know your likely Duolingo equivalent (for example, to apply somewhere that only accepts the DET), read the table from right to left: IELTS 7.0 ≈ Duolingo 115-120, IELTS 6.5 ≈ Duolingo 105-110, and so on. The score comparison tool handles both directions automatically and adds TOEFL and PTE equivalents in the same view.