What TOEFL score do you need for Caltech?

An English test is required of every international first-year applicant unless English is your native language or the main language of instruction at your secondary school. If you are a non-native speaker at an English-medium school, Caltech strongly recommends a score anyway. The test must be taken before the application deadline.

Graduate applicants whose native language is not English, or whose degree was not taught mainly in English, are told it is important to show strong English. You can self-report scores on the application or have them sent to Caltech; the institution code is 4034. Applicants who have studied in the US for two or more years are exempt.

For comparison, the same first-year page sets IELTS at 7 overall with 7 in each area.

The first-year page lists no conditional admission or pathway route. Caltech recommends an InitialView conversation and writing sample, but says InitialView is not a test and does not replace the English exam requirement.

Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Caltech programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.