DET Score Converter: What Your Score Means on IELTS, TOEFL & CEFR
One test, four scales. Enter a score from the Duolingo English Test, IELTS, TOEFL iBT or the CEFR, and this converter works out the nearest equivalent on the other three — and tells you plainly where the answer is a range rather than an exact number.
Your score
DET bands in plain words
- Basic (10–55) — You can handle simple English words and phrases — greetings, directions, everyday basics — in situations you already know.
- Intermediate (60–85) — You get the gist of ordinary school or work topics and can describe plans, views and experiences, even if you sometimes search for a word.
- Upper-Intermediate (90–115) — You follow both familiar and new topics, pick up the key points in factual and abstract texts, and chat easily with fluent speakers.
- Advanced (120–160) — You cope with demanding written and spoken English — academic and specialist material included — and use the language effectively at work, at university and socially.
Every DET score against IELTS, TOEFL and CEFR
The same table our DET Score Guide uses — so the two tools always agree.
| DET score | CEFR | IELTS | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155–160 | C2 | 8.5–9.0 | 119–120 |
| 130–150 | C1 | 7.0–8.0 | 94–118 * |
| 120–125 | B2 | 6.5–7.0 | 84–93 |
| 100–115 | B2 | 6.0–6.5 | 60–83 |
| 90–95 | B1 | 5.5 | 46–59 |
| 60–85 | B1 | 4.5–5.0 | 35–52 |
| 10–55 | A1–A2 | up to 4.0 | up to 31 |
* TOEFL 94–118 for DET 130–150 is worked out from the published rows on either side of it, so take it as an estimate. TOEFL scores here use the 0–120 scale: ETS moved TOEFL reporting to a 1–6 band scale in January 2026, but score reports still show the 0–120 equivalent through January 2028. Duolingo’s published CEFR alignment covers B1 to C2 only — scores under 60 are grouped as A1–A2, with no split between the two levels.
Worked examples
Questions people ask about score conversion
Is a converted score exact?
No. A concordance links the scores that stand for a similar level of English on two different tests — it never promises you would score exactly that on the other test. Universities set their own minimum per test, so check the number your university actually asks for.
Why do I get a range instead of one number?
Because the tests measure English in slightly different ways, one DET band lines up with a whole spread of scores on the other test. A range is the honest answer — a single number would look more precise than the data really is.
What does the star next to TOEFL 94–118 mean?
That range is worked out from the published rows on either side of it (84–93 below and 119–120 above) instead of being printed in Duolingo’s own table. It is a sensible estimate, not a published figure.
Why are A1 and A2 lumped together?
Duolingo’s published CEFR alignment covers B1 to C2 only. Scores below 60 are grouped as A1–A2 because there is no published split between the two levels on the DET scale.
Does this tell me what I would score on another test?
No. It shows the most comparable score on the other test, based on published concordance tables. What you actually score on a different test depends on the day, the format and how you prepare for that test in particular.
Which TOEFL scale is this using?
The 0–120 total score scale, which is the scale Duolingo’s comparison uses. ETS moved TOEFL reporting to a 1–6 band scale in January 2026, and score reports show the 0–120 equivalent alongside it through January 2028.
Keep reading on DuolingoGuides
DuolingoGuides is an independent guides site and is not connected to Duolingo, IELTS or ETS. Conversions are approximate — always check the exact score your university or programme asks for on its own admissions page.