byCollegedunia Team Content Curator
This article was originally published by Sophie Wodzak and Mancy Liao from the Duolingo English Test team
When universities receive a Duolingo English Test (DET) score, they see a number between 10 and 160. But behind that single number lies a carefully designed scoring system that blends cutting-edge technology with deep expertise in language assessment, psychometrics, and AI.
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So, how does the DET go from your answers to your score? Here’s what you need to know.
How Does the DET Measure Language Skills?
The Duolingo English Test provides two types of subscores to give you a fuller picture of your English proficiency:
1. Individual Subscores
These reflect your ability in each of the four core skills tested (tests like IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT also report these four subscores):
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
Each question you answer is evaluated for correctness, completeness, and clarity, depending on the task type - whether it’s identifying a word, dictating a sentence, or responding to a prompt. These evaluations combine to produce your four individual subscores.
2. Integrated Subscores
Because language is used in combination—especially in academic and real-world settings—the DET also reports Integrated Subscores, which show how your skills work together:
- Literacy: reading + writing
- Comprehension: reading + listening
- Production: writing + speaking
- Conversation: listening + speaking
These subscores highlight how well you can use English in real-life contexts, such as participating in class discussions, writing essays, or following lectures.
All scores are reported on a 10–160 scale, in 5-point increments, giving both test takers and institutions a clear view of English proficiency across individual and integrated skills.
How Is Reading and Listening Scored on the DET?
Most reading and listening tasks have a clear correct answer—or a small set of acceptable answers—so they don’t require subjective evaluation.
Depending on the item type, grading may involve:
- Correct/Incorrect grading (e.g., Yes/No Vocabulary)
- Partial credit grading(e.g., Interactive Listening comprehension)
Degrees of correctness (e.g., Dictation or Highlight tasks that allow for minor variation)
These item types are scored instantly and consistently based on structured rules—not machine learning models.
How Is Speaking and Writing Scored on the DET?
While most reading and listening tasks have a clear correct answer, speaking and writing require more nuanced scoring. At the end of the test, you’ll complete open-ended speaking and writing tasks—like describing a photo, responding to a prompt, or summarizing a conversation. These responses are scored using AI models trained on thousands of expert-rated samples.
These models evaluate:
- Content: Is your response relevant and well-developed?
- Coherence: Is it organized and easy to follow?
- Vocabulary and grammar: Do you use a wide range of appropriate language?
- Fluency and pronunciation (for speaking): Do you speak clearly, naturally, and understandably?
The Duolingo English Test uses advanced technology to evaluate your answers quickly and accurately. When you speak or write, the system analyzes what you say and how you say it—looking at things like clarity, vocabulary, and how naturally your ideas connect.
Your responses are then scored by a model that’s trained to match human experts as closely as possible. We also regularly check these systems to make sure they’re fair, accurate, and reflect real English ability.
Get more details on the DET Exam Pattern
The Test Adapts to You
Unlike traditional language tests, the DET is computer adaptive. As you answer questions, the test adjusts to your level, getting a bit harder if you’re doing well and a bit easier if you’re struggling. This helps the test quickly find your true skill level without wasting your time on questions that are too easy or too hard.
Behind the scenes, the scoring system also considers how challenging each question is. That means your score reflects both how you performed and the difficulty of the questions you saw. So even if two people get different questions, their scores are still fair and comparable.
Read More: Check Top DET Accepted Universities Abroad
The Test is Fair to All Test Takers
To make sure every test is fair, the DET uses multiple layers of quality checks. Responses that are off-topic, random, or not in English are automatically flagged. Spoken responses are reviewed to ensure a real, good-faith effort.
DET also runs ongoing fairness checks across different groups of test takers, like by first language, gender, or country, to make sure no one is unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged.
DET Scores are Fair, Consistent, and Reflect Your Real Ability
The Duolingo English Test is designed to show your true English level quickly, fairly, and accurately. Every part of the test, from the questions you see to the way your responses are scored, is built to ensure results are consistent for everyone.
DET scores are valid, meaning they reflect real-world academic English ability. They’re also reliable; you’d get a similar score if you retook the test under the same conditions. And they’re comparable, so even if different test takers see different questions, their scores still mean the same thing.
Behind the scenes, expert-trained technology and ongoing quality checks keep the scoring process fair and accurate.
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