What IELTS score do you need for Caltech?

English proficiency scores are required of all international applicants unless your native language is English or English is the primary language of instruction at your secondary school; Caltech still strongly recommends a score for non-native speakers at English-medium schools. It accepts the Duolingo English Test, IELTS or TOEFL, and the exam must be taken before the application deadline. The minimums apply to each area, not just the total: IELTS 7 overall and 7 in each, TOEFL 100 with 25 in each before 21 January 2026 (5 with 5 in each after), and Duolingo 130 with 130 in each. See international applicants.

Caltech encourages international applicants to provide an InitialView conversation and writing sample, with fee waivers available, but it is not graded and does not replace the English test.

For graduate study, an English test is not required for admission and there is no minimum score. Caltech recognises TOEFL, PTE, IELTS and other certified tests such as Duolingo, and applicants may self-report or send scores (institution code 4034). Applicants who have studied in the US for two or more years, or hold a degree from an English-medium college, are exempt. Admitted students without an English-medium degree have a one-to-one English evaluation at orientation and may be asked to take an ESL course. See the graduate FAQ.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement Caltech sets for admission, which leads to your Form I-20. For the wider picture of studying in the US with each test, see IELTS for the USA and PTE for the USA.

Requirements change between admission cycles. Check the Caltech international applicants page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar. To see where you stand now, take a timed IELTS mock test.