Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Queen’s University: English test requirements
Undergraduate applicants meet one set of minimums, and those just below them may be placed on the QBridge language pathway at lower scores. The School of Graduate Studies lists higher minimums, but states that applicants must meet the department's own minimums, which sit on each programme website.
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 6.5
PG 7
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 88
PG 4.5
PTE Academic
UG 60
PG 65
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
The scores are the minimum for admission to undergraduate degree programmes. Results are valid for a maximum of two years before study starts, and must be sent by the testing body (TOEFL institution code 0949). TOEFL is given as 4.5 overall, and as 88 overall for tests before January 2026. Applicants a little below the minimum may be assessed automatically for QBridge (an 8-week Accelerated summer course, or English for Academic Purposes), with entry scores such as IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 for Accelerated. Waivers are possible for an IB diploma, or three years of English-medium schooling or residence in a country where English is the primary language.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | no band below 6.0 | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 / 88 (before January 2026) | 4.5: no skill lower than 4.0. 88 (before January 2026): minimum 20 on Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | 60 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | no subscore minimum stated | Accepted |
| Cambridge English | 175 | no component below 170 | Accepted |
| CAEL | 70 | no band below 60 | Accepted |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 | no individual score below 65 | Accepted |
“The scores listed below are the minimum English Proficiency requirements for admission to our undergraduate degree programs.”
Undergraduate English proficiency requirements
Graduate
These are the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs scores. The page also says applicants must meet the minimum score requirements of the department they apply to, listed on each programme's website, and that some programmes require the GRE. A final grade of 80% or more in ESLA 140 or ESLA 150 at Queen's may remove the need for a test. Duolingo is not named on the page.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (average overall score) | Writing 5, Speaking 4, Reading 4.5, Listening 4.5 | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | 65 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot named in the list of accepted tests. | |
| Cambridge English Assessment | 185 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| CAEL (Computer Edition) | 70 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
“Applicants must meet the minimum score requirements of the department to which they wish to apply.”
Graduate studies: how to apply (Step 6, English language test results)
Other tests the university lists
- QBridge language pathway programmes at Queen's (undergraduate, at lower entry scores)
- Queen's ESLA 140 or ESLA 150 final grade of 80% or more (graduate)
“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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