What IELTS score do you need for UC Berkeley?

Berkeley lists TOEFL (90/4.5), IELTS (6.5) and Duolingo (115), plus non-test routes: AP English Language or Literature 3+, IB English A at SL 6+ or HL 5+, ACT English Language Arts 24+, SAT Writing and Language 31+, or three or more years of school taught in English (mixed language of instruction does not count). Proficiency must be met by 31 January, and scores must be valid for two years from the enrollment date. International transfer applicants who complete the 7-Course Pattern are assumed proficient. Home editions are not stated by Berkeley for undergraduates. See Berkeley Admissions.

The Graduate Division accepts only TOEFL and IELTS. It does not accept Duolingo, TOEFL ITP, MyBest scores, IELTS Indicator or IELTS One Skill Retake. TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online are accepted. For fall 2027, tests taken before 1 June 2025 are not accepted, and departments may require higher scores.

Whether you need a test depends on the country of your bachelor's institution; India and China, for example, are marked "Yes". You are exempt with a basic degree from a country where English is the primary language of daily life and instruction, a degree from an accredited US institution (or a US institution abroad), or at least one year of full-time US coursework with grades of B or better. See the Graduate Division page.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement UC Berkeley 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 Berkeley Graduate Division page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.