What TOEFL score do you need for Harvard?

GSAS accepts only the TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic, and it accepts the home or online version of either. It does not accept TOEFL MyBest score reports: you list each test date separately and have each official report sent. Use ETS code 3451, and department code 99 if one is required; each Harvard admissions office has its own code.

Scores are valid for no longer than two years. For fall 2027 entry, the page accepts tests taken no earlier than 5 January 2025. A master's or other graduate degree is not accepted as proof of English proficiency.

For comparison, the same GSAS page sets IELTS Academic at 7 with Speaking 6.5.

The GSAS page does not describe conditional admission or a pathway for a low score. You are exempt if your undergraduate degree comes from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. If you studied at a US institution where English was not the primary language but much of your programme was taught in English, you may petition for a waiver; this applies only to US institutions.

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