Berkeley, California, US
University of California, Berkeley: English test requirements
Berkeley sets one English minimum for undergraduates and a higher, two-test-only minimum for graduate applicants, with speaking and writing section minimums. Duolingo is accepted for undergraduate entry but not at graduate level or in the Haas MBA. The campus is test-free for SAT and ACT.
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 7.0
MBA 7.0
TOEFL iBT
UG 90/4.5
PG 5 / 90
MBA 5 / 90
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
MBA Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG Not accepted
MBA Not on the list
Undergraduate
English can also be shown through AP or IB English results, SAT or ACT English scores, or three or more years of English-medium schooling (mixed language of instruction does not count). Proficiency must be satisfied by 31 January and scores must be valid for two years from enrolment. International transfer applicants completing the seven-course pattern are not asked for TOEFL or IELTS.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 90/4.5 | AcceptedPrinted on the page as 90/4.5 with no scale names. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | Accepted |
“Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 90/4.5 or better”
Berkeley undergraduate admissions: requirements for international students
Graduate
Minimums for Fall 2027 admission. TOEFL and IELTS only; departments may require higher scores. Tests taken before 1 June 2025 are not accepted for Fall 2027. Applicants with a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country can be exempt.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online) | 7.0 | Speaking and Writing 6.5 each (tests on or after 21 January 2026) | AcceptedIELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 5 (tests on or after 21 January 2026) / 90 (tests from 1 June 2025 to 20 January 2026) | Speaking and Writing 4.5 each (tests on or after 21 January 2026) | AcceptedTOEFL ITP and MyBest are not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named; the page says only TOEFL and IELTS are accepted. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not acceptedThe page states the Duolingo exam is not accepted. |
“UC Berkeley accepts scores from two standardized exams: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).”
Berkeley Graduate Division: admission requirements
Haas full-time MBA
Applicants whose degree came from a country where English is not the primary official language must submit TOEFL or IELTS. The page says TOEFL is preferred.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | Speaking and Writing 6.5 each | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 5 (on a scale of 6.0) / 90 (former scoring scale) | Speaking and Writing 4.5 each (scale of 6.0) | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot named; the page says TOEFL or IELTS must be submitted. |
“all applicants who received their degrees from countries in which the primary official language is not English submit a TOEFL or IELTS test score”
Haas full-time MBA: language proficiency requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants (no cycle dates given)
Not considered
Berkeley is test-free: SAT and ACT scores are not used in any part of the application process. Scores that are submitted may be used for placement or subject credit after admission.
“UC Berkeley is test-free, which means we will not use SAT/ACT test scores in any part of our application process.”
GMAT / GRE · Haas full-time MBA
Required
GMAT or GRE is required before the application deadline. The page says there is no minimum acceptable score.
“All candidates are required to take the GMAT or GRE exam prior to the deadline for which they are applying.”
Other tests the university lists
- AP English Language or Literature (3, 4 or 5)
- IB English A (Standard Level 6 or 7, Higher Level 5, 6 or 7)
- ACT English Language Arts 24 or higher, SAT Writing and Language 31 or higher (undergraduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- Duolingo English Test (graduate and Haas MBA)
- TOEFL ITP
- TOEFL MyBest
- IELTS Indicator
- IELTS One Skill Retake
“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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