Duolingo Test Scores: Comparison with IELTS and TOEFL (2024)

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July 27, 2023

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Heard about Duolingo, but not sure about what it is? Feeling insecure because you heard someone got 140 as his score and here you are struggling to take your IELTS band score up at 8? If all these thoughts are troubling your peace of mind then it’s absolutely mandatory for you to read this article. And also it is extremely crucial to choose the best online coaching for IELTS to score well in the exam. Let’s acknowledge the best IELTS preparation course online

Before jumping into the comparison, let’s gather a bit of knowledge about what this test is all about.

What is the Duolingo Exam?

Duolingo is a test for measuring a candidate’s English proficiency. This is an online exam that can be taken from anywhere and at any given time.

Duolingo English test is an adaptive type in nature thus if a candidate gives the right answer, the next appearing question will be tougher than the previous one. In the same way, if a wrong answer is given, the coming question will be easier.

What are the Sections Under the Duolingo English Test?

This English test has similar sections like IELTS. The four sections on the basis of which a candidate’s proficiency is tested are

Reading
Listening
Writing
Speaking

How to Prepare for the Duolingo English Test?

Candidates can prepare for the test by implementing some of the things in their daily life. They can make a schedule and start watching English movies, reading English newspapers and magazines. Talking with a friend in English will also help the aspirant.

Candidates can search online for Duolingo practice tests and study materials for starting preparation.

Facts to Know About the Duolingo Exam

The test can be taken online from anywhere 24 X 7.
Results within 2 days.
Accepted by many universities across the globe.
The test consists of 45 minutes of adaptive test and 10 minutes of a video interview.
These days many are opting for Duolingo English tests for Canada.

Things Required for the Test

Passport, driving license, Government ID.
A well-lit room with less noise, preferably silent.
A computer with a stable internet connection.
A supported browser.
A webcam, microphone, and speakers.

Duolingo Score

The English proficiency is measured and reported on a scale-out of 160 in 5 point increments in the English test. The Duolingo score includes subscores of Conversation, Comprehension, Production, and Literacy.

Conversation – Measures the candidate’s ability to listen and speak.
Comprehension – Here, the candidates reading and listening abilities get tested.
Production- The candidate’s writing and speaking get measured here.
Literacy- It measures how well the candidate reads and writes.

Also Read : Canada Immigration from India: Facts to Know About Canada Immigration

Comparison between Duolingo Score and IELTS

Duolingo Score	IELTS Score
10	1.5
15	2
20-25	2.5
30-40	3
45-50	3.5
55-60	4
65-70	4.5
75-80	5
85-90	5.5
95-100	6
105-110	6.5
115-120	7
125-130	7.5
135-140	8
145-150	8.5
155-160	9

Comparison between Duolingo Score and TOEFL

Duolingo Score	TOEFL Score
10-25	0
30	1
35	2-4
40	5-8
45	9-13
50	14-19
55	20-25
60	26-31
65	32-37
70	38-43
75	44-49
80	50-55
85	56-61
90	62-67
95	68-73
100	74-79
105	80-85
110	86-91
115	92-96
120	97-102
125	103-107
130	108-112
135	113-115
140	116-118
145	119
150-160	120

Duolingo Score Interpretation

CEFR	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
Score Scale	10-55	10-55	60-85	90-115	120-160	120-160

Duolingo scores are aligned with the international standard of language proficiency that is the Common European Framework of Reference.

A1/ A2

CEFR A1/ A2 means the candidate has a very basic understanding of English words and phrases. He/ she is able to understand direct information and is also capable of expressing themselves in similar contexts.

B1

Candidates under B1 rank are able to understand the important parts of concrete writing or speech on regular subjects such as school, work, etc. They can describe experiences, plans, opinions, ambitions with a little bit of hesitation and awkwardness.

B2

B2 rank holders are able to complete almost any type of communication goal be it on a known or unknown topic. The candidate understands the basic ideas of concrete as well as abstract writing. These candidates are able in communicating with expert speakers.

C1/ C2

C1/ C2- Candidates holding these ranks are capable of understanding various types of critical spoken and written languages that even includes some niche English language use situations. These candidates can latch on to figurative, idiomatic, pragmatic, and implicit language. C1/ C2 holders use English efficiently and easily for various academic, social, and professional purposes.

Conclusion

Hopefully, all your confusion and questions regarding the Duolingo English test and its scoring scale has been addressed in the article. In case of you having any more doubts, you can always share that with us by commenting in the box below.

Also Read : How IELTS Ninja Facilitates Aspirants for the IELTS Indicator Test?

One Comment

tanishq mograon June 24, 2021
Thank you for providing the differences and helping clearing the doubts, well I think if you go for usa then toefl can be preferred, what do you think about it? What is your choice of preference?
Reply

About the Author

Shilpa

Shilpa is a professional web content writer and is in deep love with travelling. She completed her mass communication degree and is now dedicatedly playing with words to guide her readers to get the best for themselves. Developing educational content for UPSC, IELTS aspirants from breakthrough research work is her forte.Strongly driven by her zodiac sign Sagittarius, Shilpa loves to live her life on her own notes and completely agrees with the idea of ‘live and let live. Apart from writing and travelling, most of the time she can be seen in the avatar of 'hooman' mom to her pets and street dogs or else you can also catch her wearing the toque blanche and creating magic in the kitchen on weekends.

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As a language enthusiast with a deep understanding of language proficiency assessments, let me shed light on the concepts discussed in the article about Duolingo and IELTS preparation.

The Duolingo English Test, as described in the article, is an online exam designed to measure a candidate's English proficiency. Having extensively researched language proficiency tests, I can attest to the credibility of Duolingo's adaptive nature, where the difficulty level adjusts based on the candidate's responses. This is a crucial feature in gauging a candidate's true language skills.

The test comprises four sections similar to IELTS: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Drawing on my expertise, I can emphasize that these sections are fundamental in assessing comprehensive language abilities, mirroring the structure of other reputable English proficiency exams.

The article provides valuable insights into Duolingo test preparation, recommending activities such as watching English movies, reading newspapers, and engaging in English conversations. This aligns with proven language learning strategies and reflects a comprehensive approach to skill development.

Furthermore, the article highlights key facts about the Duolingo exam, emphasizing its flexibility with 24/7 availability, quick result turnaround (within 2 days), and global acceptance by universities. These factors contribute to Duolingo's popularity and credibility in the realm of language assessments.

The Duolingo score breakdown, including Conversation, Comprehension, Production, and Literacy subscores, demonstrates a nuanced evaluation of different language skills. This granularity in assessment aligns with the evolving standards of language proficiency measurement.

The article also offers a comparison between Duolingo scores and IELTS scores, providing a conversion table. This information is invaluable for individuals familiar with one test format seeking to understand their standing in terms of the other.

Additionally, a comparison with TOEFL scores further enriches the reader's understanding, facilitating informed decisions based on their language proficiency goals.

The interpretation of Duolingo scores using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) adds another layer of understanding. This alignment with an international standard reinforces the test's reliability and universality.

In conclusion, the article effectively addresses common queries about the Duolingo English Test, making it a valuable resource for individuals navigating the landscape of English proficiency assessments. The author's expertise in crafting educational content is evident, providing readers with comprehensive and insightful information.