Why Dual Subscores in the DET Matter for Test Takers and Institutions

The Duolingo English Test (DET) continues to evolve, and its latest scoring update brings dual subscores—a game-changer for both test takers and institutions.

These two sets of subscores offer deeper insights into your language abilities, helping you pinpoint strengths and weaknesses while ensuring institutions get a clearer picture of your English proficiency.

Here’s what’s new, why it matters, and how you can use this scoring system to your advantage.

Understanding the Two Sets of Subscores

Language isn’t just about memorizing words—it’s about how well you use English in real-life situations. The DET now includes:

✅ Integrated Subscores (assessing how well you combine multiple skills)
✅ Individual Subscores (measuring specific abilities in each language skill)

This dual approach ensures that your score reflects both practical communication skills and performance in each key area.

1. Why Integrated Subscores Matter

Integrated Subscores reflect how skills naturally blend in real-world communication.

• Literacy → Reading + Writing
• Comprehension → Reading + Listening
• Production → Writing + Speaking
• Conversation → Listening + Speaking

For example:

• Writing an essay requires both reading and writing skills.
• Engaging in a discussion requires both listening and speaking skills.

These scores offer a realistic evaluation of how prepared you are for academic or professional settings, making them particularly useful for universities and employers.

Answer Guides & Templates to Improve Your Score

2. Why Individual Subscores Were Introduced

While Integrated Subscores give a big-picture view, Individual Subscores break things down into specific skill areas:

• Speaking
• Writing
• Reading
• Listening

This update makes the DET more comparable to other high-stakes exams like IELTS and TOEFL, which also report these categories separately.

For test takers, this means greater transparency:

• If you score well in Speaking but struggle in Listening, you know exactly where to focus your practice.
• Institutions can now set more precise admission requirements for specific programs.

3. How DET Scores Are Calculated

Understanding how scores are calculated can help you strategize your study plan.

🔹 Individual Subscores come from specific test questions related to each skill.
🔹 Integrated Subscores are calculated using an average of two related Individual Subscores:

Finally, your Overall Score is an average of the four Individual Subscores, rounded to the nearest 5 points.

This refined system makes DET scores easier to interpret while maintaining accuracy and reliability.

4. How Dual Subscores Benefit Test Takers

The biggest advantage of having both Integrated and Individual Subscores? A clear, detailed roadmap for improvement.

🔹 Integrated Subscores show how well you use multiple skills together.
🔹 Individual Subscores pinpoint exactly which skill needs work.

For example:

• If your Literacy Subscore is low, your Reading and Writing scores will show which area needs more attention.
• If your Conversation Subscore is weak, your Listening or Speaking scores will indicate whether you should focus on improving your pronunciation, fluency, or comprehension.

This level of detail empowers you to create a targeted study plan rather than guessing where you need improvement.

Save Money on Your Duolingo English Test with Official Coupon Code

5. How Institutions Benefit from Dual Subscores

For universities and employers, these updates bring greater clarity and flexibility:

✔ Integrated Subscores align with program-specific requirements.
✔ Individual Subscores allow for direct comparison with IELTS and TOEFL results.
✔ More precise evaluation of applicants’ English abilities.

This means institutions can set fairer score expectations and make better-informed admission decisions based on their specific needs.

Conclusion: Confidence in Your Proficiency

With the introduction of Individual Subscores alongside Integrated Subscores, the DET offers a more detailed, fair, and transparent evaluation of English proficiency.

For test takers, this means a clearer path to improvement.
For institutions, it provides a more comprehensive way to assess applicants.

🔹 Want to improve your subscores? Check your target institution’s requirements and start practicing smarter today.

Click Here to Start Preparing with DET Study