A Duolingo English Test score of 120 is a CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) level. On Duolingo’s official comparison table it is roughly IELTS 6.5 and TOEFL iBT 87 – 92. Among the 1001 institutions that publish a DET minimum on their website, 927 (93%) ask for 120 or lower, and 103 list exactly 120.
Score 120 compared with nearby scores
| DET | CEFR | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Institutions listing this minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130 | C1 | 7 | 98 – 103 | 43 |
| 125 | B2 | 6.5 | 93 – 97 | 21 |
| 120 | B2 | 6.5 | 87 – 92 | 103 |
| 115 | B2 | 6 | 82 – 86 | 103 |
| 110 | B2 | 6 | 76 – 81 | 139 |
Institutions that list 120 as their minimum DET score
Minimum taken from each institution’s own website; programs may differ and requirements change — confirm before you book.
- Australia: Murdoch University
- Austria: SAE Institute
- Belgium: Hasselt University
- Canada: Alberta University of the Arts · Brandon University · British Columbia Institute of Technology · Cape Breton University · Carleton University · Concordia University of Edmonton · Confederation College · Fairleigh Dickinson University · Justice Institute of British Columbia · Mount Royal University · Nipawin Bible College · Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) · Ontario Tech University · Queen's University · Regent College (Canada) · Sault College · University of Alberta · University of Guelph · University of Prince Edward Island · University of Saskatchewan · University of Toronto · University of Victoria · University of Waterloo · University of Winnipeg · Wilfrid Laurier International College · Wilfrid Laurier University · York University
- China: New York University
- France: American College of the Mediterranean
- Germany: Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin · Bard College · PFH Private University of Applied Sciences · SAE Institute
- Indonesia: Murdoch University
- Iraq: American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
- Ireland: Dublin City University · National College of Art and Design · University College Cork · University College Dublin
- Netherlands: SAE Institute
- Singapore: Murdoch University
- Spain: Aquinas American School · Atlas American School of Malaga
- United Arab Emirates: Murdoch University · New York University
- United Kingdom: LCAE · Liverpool John Moores University · Loughborough University · Royal Holloway, University of London · SAE Institute
- United States: Bard College · Baylor College of Medicine · Bentley University · Blackburn College · Clark University · Colorado State University · Continents States University
See all 103 in the directory →
Is 120 a good Duolingo score?
Yes, for most programs. 120 meets the minimum at 93% of institutions that publish one, including most undergraduate programs in the US, Canada and the UK. Competitive graduate programs often ask for 120–130.
How to go from 120 to 125 or higher
- Most students between 100 and 125 lose points on Production: write at least 5 connected sentences in Write About the Photo and Writing Sample, with linking words (because, although, which, therefore).
- In Read and Select, be strict — a wrong “yes” on a fake word costs more than skipping a real one.
- Speak for the whole time in Speaking tasks: a 60-second answer with 2 clear reasons and an example beats a short, perfect sentence.
Start with the free level test to estimate your current score, train your typing with the typing trainer, and prepare properly with the Duolingo English Test course.
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Last updated: November 2026