Sydney, Australia
Macquarie University: English test requirements
Macquarie sorts every course into Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient or Advanced English and publishes one score table for all of them. Most undergraduate and postgraduate courses need Competent (IELTS 6.5); law, medicine, health, MBA and psychology courses need Proficient, and teaching degrees need Advanced. The scores below are those for tests taken from 1 March 2026.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG from 6.5
PG from 6.5
Foundation from 5.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 86 / 4.5
PG from 86 / 4.5
Foundation from 66 / 3.5
PTE Academic
UG from 60
PG from 60
Foundation from 46
Duolingo English Test
UG from 125
PG from 125
Foundation from 100
Undergraduate
Macquarie places every course in one of five levels of English (Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient, Advanced) and publishes one score table for them, for tests from 1 March 2026. Competent covers most courses. Proficient has three score sets, shown as separate bands. Tests must be less than two years old at the start of the course and the single best result in that period is considered.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent EnglishSource for this group | 6.5Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Listening 6.0, Speaking 6.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 86 (old 0-120 scale) / 4.5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 18, Writing 20, Listening 17, Speaking 20. New scale: Reading 4, Writing 4, Listening 4, Speaking 4Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 60Reading 51, Writing 55, Listening 50, Speaking 54 | 125Reading 110, Writing 120, Listening 110, Speaking 110The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.5 in each skill)e.g. Bachelor of Clinical Science; Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science; Bachelor of Laws; Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of International StudiesSource for this group | 7.0Reading 6.5, Writing 6.5, Listening 6.5, Speaking 6.5IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 95 (old 0-120 scale) / 5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 22, Writing 23, Listening 20, Speaking 23. New scale: Reading 4.5, Writing 4.5, Listening 4.5, Speaking 4.5Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 68Reading 56, Writing 64, Listening 55, Speaking 66 | 135Reading 120, Writing 135, Listening 120, Speaking 120The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Advanced Englishe.g. Bachelor of Education (Primary); Bachelor of Education (Secondary); Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood); Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)Source for this group | 7.5Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Listening 8.0, Speaking 8.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 107 (old 0-120 scale) / 5.5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 24, Writing 26, Listening 28, Speaking 28. New scale: Reading 5, Writing 5, Listening 6, Speaking 6Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 76Reading 66, Writing 73, Listening 72, Speaking 88 | Not acceptedListed as not accepted for this band. |
Competent English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 67
Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.5 in each skill), other tests: LanguageCert Academic 73
Advanced English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 81
“Most undergraduate and postgraduate courses require Competent English (equivalent to an overall Academic IELTS of 6.5)”
English language requirements
Postgraduate
Macquarie places every course in one of five levels of English (Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient, Advanced) and publishes one score table for them, for tests from 1 March 2026. Competent covers most courses. Proficient has three score sets, shown as separate bands. Tests must be less than two years old at the start of the course and the single best result in that period is considered.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent EnglishSource for this group | 6.5Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Listening 6.0, Speaking 6.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 86 (old 0-120 scale) / 4.5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 18, Writing 20, Listening 17, Speaking 20. New scale: Reading 4, Writing 4, Listening 4, Speaking 4Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 60Reading 51, Writing 55, Listening 50, Speaking 54 | 125Reading 110, Writing 120, Listening 110, Speaking 110The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.0 in each skill)e.g. Master of Business Administration; Graduate Diploma of Business Administration; Graduate Certificate of Business Administration; Master of Health Leadership; Graduate Certificate of Health LeadershipSource for this group | 7.0Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Listening 6.0, Speaking 6.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 95 (old 0-120 scale) / 5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 18, Writing 20, Listening 17, Speaking 20. New scale: Reading 4, Writing 4, Listening 4, Speaking 4Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 68Reading 51, Writing 55, Listening 50, Speaking 54 | 135Reading 110, Writing 120, Listening 110, Speaking 110The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.5 in each skill)e.g. Juris Doctor; Master of Creative WritingSource for this group | 7.0Reading 6.5, Writing 6.5, Listening 6.5, Speaking 6.5IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 95 (old 0-120 scale) / 5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 22, Writing 23, Listening 20, Speaking 23. New scale: Reading 4.5, Writing 4.5, Listening 4.5, Speaking 4.5Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 68Reading 56, Writing 64, Listening 55, Speaking 66 | 135Reading 120, Writing 135, Listening 120, Speaking 120The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, Reading, Listening and Speaking 7.0)e.g. Doctor of Medicine; Doctor of Physiotherapy; Master of Clinical Psychology; Master of Professional Psychology; Master of Speech and Language PathologySource for this group | 7.0Reading 7.0, Writing 6.5, Listening 7.0, Speaking 7.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 95 (old 0-120 scale) / 5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 24, Writing 24, Listening 24, Speaking 25. New scale: Reading 5, Writing 4.5, Listening 5, Speaking 5Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 68Reading 66, Writing 73, Listening 66, Speaking 76 | Not acceptedListed as not accepted for this band. |
| Advanced Englishe.g. Master of Teaching (Birth to Five Years); Master of Teaching (Primary); Master of Teaching (Secondary)Source for this group | 7.5Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Listening 8.0, Speaking 8.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 107 (old 0-120 scale) / 5.5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 24, Writing 26, Listening 28, Speaking 28. New scale: Reading 5, Writing 5, Listening 6, Speaking 6Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 76Reading 66, Writing 73, Listening 72, Speaking 88 | Not acceptedListed as not accepted for this band. |
Competent English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 67
Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.0 in each skill), other tests: LanguageCert Academic 73
Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, 6.5 in each skill), other tests: LanguageCert Academic 73
Proficient English (IELTS 7.0, Reading, Listening and Speaking 7.0), other tests: LanguageCert Academic 73
Advanced English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 81
Macquarie University College (foundation, diploma, qualifying)
Entry to Macquarie University College programs uses the two lower levels on the same table.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Englishe.g. Standard Foundation ProgramSource for this group | 5.5Reading 5.0, Writing 5.0, Listening 5.0, Speaking 5.0IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 66 (old 0-120 scale) / 3.5 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 10, Writing 13, Listening 9, Speaking 16. New scale: Reading 3, Writing 3, Listening 3, Speaking 3Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 46Reading 41, Writing 40, Listening 39, Speaking 38 | 100Reading 90, Writing 90, Listening 85, Speaking 85The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
| Vocational Englishe.g. Intensive Program; Diplomas; Masters Qualifying ProgramSource for this group | 6.0Reading 5.5, Writing 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted. | 73 (old 0-120 scale) / 4 (new 1-6 scale)Old scale: Reading 12, Writing 16, Listening 13, Speaking 18. New scale: Reading 3.5, Writing 3.5, Listening 3.5, Speaking 3.5Sub-scores are in the order Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. | 52Reading 47, Writing 50, Listening 46, Speaking 46 | 115Reading 100, Writing 100, Listening 100, Speaking 100The page accepts the Duolingo English Test only for Standard Foundation, Study Abroad and Exchange applicants, and for remote students where attending a test centre would cause hardship. |
Functional English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 54
Vocational English, other tests: LanguageCert Academic 61
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- IELTS One Skill Retake
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS Indicator / IELTS Online (no longer recognised from 1 May 2023)
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition (no longer recognised from 1 May 2023)
- PTE Academic Online (no longer recognised from 1 May 2023)
- Online LanguageCert (the online version is not accepted)
- TOEFL iBT taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 (not accepted)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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