Duolingo Divisions: League Standings, XP, and the Diamond Tournament

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Article written by

Marina

Updated on

August 28, 2026

Duolingo Divisions: League Standings, XP, and the Diamond Tournament

You finish a few lessons, and Duolingo suddenly places you on a leaderboard with users you don't know. You find yourself in Bronze, then maybe Silver, without the app really taking the time to explain the rules to you.

These divisions add a bit of competition to the learning process. They may encourage you to practice more often, but they don't directly measure your proficiency in the language. Find out in this article how the ranking system works.

What is a Duolingo division?

Duolingo divisions are weekly leaderboards. They are also known as leagues.

Throughout the week, your activities earn you experience points, known as XP. The more XP you earn, the higher you climb in the rankings.

By the end of the week, there are three possible scenarios:

Zone|Result
Promotion | You would normally move up to the next division
Relegation|You remain in the same division
Relegation | You are relegated to the previous division

The number of people in each zone may vary. So be sure to check the colors and boundaries shown in your own rankings rather than a number found in an old article.

The new week begins on Sunday, depending on your time zone. Duolingo matches you with users who have learning habits similar to yours and are in a similar time zone.

These people aren't necessarily learning the same language. You could very well be studying Spanish and competing in the same league against someone who is taking English, Japanese, or music classes.

What is the order of the Duolingo levels?

Duolingo has ten divisions. You start in Bronze and normally move up one league at a time until you reach Diamond 💎

No.|Division|Next Step
1|Bronze|Silver
2|Silver|Gold
3|Gold|Sapphire
4|Sapphire|Ruby
5|Ruby|Emerald
6|Emerald|Amethyst
7|Amethyst|Pearl
8|Pearl|Obsidian
9|Obsidian|Diamond
10|Diamond|Promotion, relegation, or tournament, depending on the week

The challenge doesn't come from changes to the lessons. The exercises are still tied to your personal progress. It's mainly the habits of the other users in your group that make the rankings more or less competitive.

So you might find an Obsidian league that's pretty quiet one week, then come across a much more active group the next week.

How do you move up a level on Duolingo?

To be promoted, you must finish the week in the promotion zone. This part of the standings is usually highlighted in green.

Your ranking depends on the amount of XP you earn during the week. XP earned in previous weeks will still appear in your stats, but it does not determine your position in the new leaderboard.

You normally advance through the leagues in order. Finishing well ahead of the rest in Gold doesn't send you directly to Ruby—you move on to Sapphire first.

The number of spots available for promotion may vary. Therefore, an old rule such as “the top seven move up” should not be considered permanent. The threshold displayed in the app is the one that applies to your group.

How can I avoid falling back down?

The relegation zone is usually marked in red. If you finish the week in that zone, you’ll be relegated to the next division.

You don't have to finish first to stay in your league. You just need to get out of that zone before the standings are finalized.

If Duolingo displays a "stay" zone, you can finish the week in the middle of the leaderboard without moving up or down. However, some configurations tested by the app may show different zones.

The easiest thing to do is to check your status at various times throughout the week:

after your first few lessons
midweek
a few hours before the standings are finalized

Avoid waiting until the last minute. The rankings can change quickly when several people try to get out of the red zone at the same time.

Being demoted doesn't erase anything. You keep your lessons, your progress, your daily routine, and your statistics. Only your division changes.

Which activities earn XP?

XP is awarded when you complete certain activities. The number of points usually appears before or after the exercise.

Values may vary depending on the course, the type of lesson, the features available in your account, and tests conducted by Duolingo. It’s therefore best to check the number displayed in the app rather than memorize a fixed scale.

Activity|Division Account|Accuracy
New Lesson|Yes|Moves you forward in the course
Review|Yes|Allows you to revisit a previous concept
History|Yes|Available in certain courses
Timed Exercise|Yes|The amount of XP depends on the challenge
Legendary Level|Yes|A more difficult exercise, with no hints
Math, music, or chess|Yes|The XP are included in the same ranking
XP Boost|Yes|Temporarily multiplies the points earned
Daily Series | Not Directly | Completing the lesson to keep it active earns you XP
Series Gel|No|Protects the series, but does not grant XP
Gems|No|Internal currency separate from XP

XP earned in different subjects are added together. So you can complete a language lesson, followed by a math or music exercise, and see all your points listed in the same leaderboard.

How many XP do you need to level up?

There is no universal threshold.

Duolingo doesn't require you to earn a specific number of XP to advance from Silver to Gold or from Obsidian to Diamond. Your promotion depends on your ranking relative to other members in the group.

The same total might be enough one week but leave you out of the green zone the next. It all depends on your competitors' activity.

This means that estimates like “it takes 5,000 XP to reach Diamond” are misleading. Some groups remain steady, while others accumulate many more points.

To see where you stand, take a look at:

your current location
the boundary of the green zone
the XP gap between you and the person right ahead of you
the time remaining until the end of the week

How can you earn XP without neglecting your studies?

It's easy to repeat a short activity just to earn points. You can climb the leaderboard that way, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're making progress with the language.

Duolingo has also adjusted the XP distribution to better reward lessons that help you progress through the course. To maintain a good balance, use the leagues as motivation, not as your sole goal.

Continue along the course

The new lessons introduce vocabulary and concepts that you haven't studied yet. They're generally more useful than constantly repeating the same easy exercise.

If you want to move up, start by following your usual study plan. Use the review sections only when you really need to go over a specific topic.

Use the boosts during an actual session

When an XP boost is available, use it when you have enough time to complete several lessons. Activating it right before you close the app won't do you much good.

You can also set up a session that includes some review, a new lesson, and a Legendary level. You'll earn points as you switch between different exercises.

Spread the lessons out over the week

A short session every day is often easier to stick with than a long sprint on Sunday night. You’ll keep up with your schedule, retain the concepts better, and avoid having to make up for a big gap at the last minute.

If the competition starts to take up too much of your time, set a time limit instead of an XP goal: fifteen or twenty minutes of practice, then stop. The leaderboard is meant to help you come back, not keep you on the app all evening 🎯

How does the Diamond Tournament work?

Diamond is the final division in the classic series. Certain rankings then allow players to qualify for the Diamond tournament.

The tournament doesn't start every week. When a tournament is scheduled, a message appears at the top of the leaderboard. For example, Duolingo might indicate that the top ten players qualify.

The format presented by Duolingo consists of three steps:

No.|Phase|Condition
1|Quarterfinals|Finish within the posted qualification zone
2|Semifinal|Stay in the zone to continue
3|Final|Achieve the best possible ranking

The qualifying scores are listed directly in each round. Don't assume they will be the same as those from your last tournament.

If the app notifies you that the next tournament is starting soon, that means there are no open qualifiers that week. In that case, you simply need to maintain your Diamond rank until an eligible session becomes available.

The tournament offers digital rewards and recognition within the app. You do not need to complete a course or prove your language proficiency to participate.

Why do some users earn so much XP?

A very high total does not automatically mean that a person is cheating.

There are several ways to quickly earn points:

the use of boosts
Legendary Levels
timed exercises
the long daily sessions
XP earned in various subjects
the review features included in a subscription
a strong habit of exercising

Duolingo states that it monitors suspicious activity and may remove earnings deemed illegitimate from the leaderboard. If a score seems out of reach, don't try to catch up at all costs. Simply get out of the relegation zone or aim for the last spot that qualifies for promotion.

Can you turn off Duolingo leagues?

Yes. If the leaderboard stresses you out or makes you repeat uninteresting exercises, you can turn it off in the privacy settings on the Duolingo website.

You need to set your profile to private by turning off the option that makes it public. Since leagues are part of the social features, your account will no longer appear in the rankings.

The exact label may vary depending on the version of the site. Look for the profile or privacy settings in a web browser if the option doesn't appear in the app.

You'll still be able to take your classes and keep your progress. You'll simply lose access to certain social features related to your public profile.

Do Super Duolingo or Max help you level up faster?

A subscription does not automatically move you up in a league. Nor does it guarantee promotion.

Super can, however, make sessions run more smoothly thanks to the absence of ads, review exercises, and easier access to Legendary activities. Depending on the experience offered through your account, it may also remove certain limits related to hearts or energy.

Max builds on the benefits of Super and adds conversation features, such as video calls with Lily and role-playing games. These exercises can earn you XP, but Max doesn't give them special weight in the rankings.

The free version is therefore sufficient to reach Diamond. A subscription mainly offers added convenience if you play often.

Can we share Super Duolingo on Spliiit ?

Yes, with the Super Duolingo Family plan. It includes up to six Super accounts: one for the administrator and five guest accounts.

Each person uses their own account and keeps:

its languages
his lessons
his XP
its division
his daily show
his friends
his statistics

The administrator sends an invitation link. No personal passwords are shared.

If you already have the Family Plan and have some spots left, you can offer them on Spliiit. When a co-subscriber joins your plan, send them an invitation from your Duolingo dashboard.

If you're looking for a spot, go to the marketplace at Spliiit and search for Duolingo. You'll join the group using your personal account without losing your progress 🔗

Frequently Asked Questions About Duolingo Divisions

How many Duolingo divisions are there?

There are ten divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst, Pearl, Obsidian, and Diamond.

Which is the best Duolingo level?

Diamond is the highest division. It also grants access to the Diamond tournament when a qualifying round is open.

How many people come up each week?

The number may vary depending on your ranking. Check the promotion section in your app.

How much XP does it take to reach Diamond?

No specific total guarantees a promotion. You must finish in the green zone in each division, week after week.

Can you skip a division?

The normal progression is one division at a time. A high ranking allows a team to move up to the next league, but not to skip several leagues in a single week.