120 overall; Literacy and Production 125
Scope: Undergraduate direct entry; DET tests completed after July 1, 2024.
| Policy | DET overall | IELTS requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate direct entry | 120 | 6.5 overall; Writing/Speaking 6.5, Reading/Listening 6.0 |
These are the university’s own requirements for each test. The IELTS column is not a conversion of the DET column.
Subscores and program differences
Literacy and Production must each reach 125. These integrated subscores are not the individual Reading and Writing scores. Results without subscores are not accepted. The BASE pathway is separate from direct entry and has its own admission decision.
Sending your result and checking dates
The reviewed page accepts tests completed on or after May 1, 2025; recheck the date for your intake. Send your result to University of Waterloo – Undergraduate by the program’s document deadline, with identifying details matching your application.
Confirm the current instructions for your program and intake on the official Waterloo admissions page.
How the DET score compares with IELTS
DET 120 compares with IELTS 6.5 in Duolingo’s overall concordance. Waterloo sets its own test requirements, shown above; those requirements take precedence for your application.
Explore the DET 120 comparison or use the full DET to IELTS converter and its official sources.
Practice around your remaining requirement
Literacy combines Reading and Writing; Production combines Writing and Speaking. Review Writing first if it is weak across both, then address Reading or Speaking as needed. Do not replace either integrated subscore with an overall estimate.
PrepEx scores are independent practice estimates, not official DET results. Meeting a test threshold does not guarantee admission.
Check the policy before applying
Source: University of Waterloo — official admissions requirements. Reviewed by PrepEx on .
This is an independent summary of the stated policy. Recheck program, campus, exemption, and intake details with the university. Inclusion does not imply a partnership with or endorsement of PrepEx.
Considering TOEFL instead? Read the separate Waterloo TOEFL requirements. Each test’s policy is independently set.
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