University of Waterloo English test minimums
Undergraduate scores are from Waterloo's English language requirements page. TOEFL iBT needs 90 with Writing 25 and Speaking 25 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 with Writing 5 and Speaking 5 after. PTE needs 63 with Writing and Speaking 65. Duolingo needs 120, with Literacy and Production 125 for direct entry. Cambridge C1 or C2 needs 180 with 176 in all components.
Graduate: the graduate admissions page accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge C1/C2, CAEL, PTE Academic and Waterloo's EFAS, and sends you to each program page for scores. Examples: the ECE MEng lists IELTS 6.5 (Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.0) and TOEFL 4.5; the Physics MSc lists IELTS 7.0 (Writing 6.5, Speaking 6.5) and TOEFL 4.5 (Writing 5, Speaking 5). Duolingo is not on the graduate list.
| Level | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 6.5 (W/S 6.5, R/L 6.0) or 7.0 (6.0 each) | 90 (W/S 25) or 4.5 (W/S 5) | 63 (W/S 65) | 120 (Literacy/Production 125) |
| Graduate | Set per program, e.g. 6.5–7.0 | Set per program, e.g. 4.5 | Accepted; set per program | Not listed |
One Skill Retake and validity
Undergraduate: "IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted by Waterloo", per its undergraduate page, and tests taken before 1 May 2025 do not meet the requirement for current applicants. TOEFL Home and Paper editions count; MyBest and Essentials do not.
Graduate: Waterloo is not accepting One Skill Retake or TOEFL MyBest, since the required scores must be met in a single test. Graduate English scores are valid for two years from the test date, and Waterloo suggests testing at least two months before the deadline.
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Undergraduates who fall short can be considered for the Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) program, which lets you start toward a Waterloo degree while improving your English. Level 400 of Waterloo's English for Academic Success (EFAS), with 75% overall, also meets the undergraduate requirement.
Study permit and PGWP: separate rules
Waterloo's scores decide admission only. IRCC sets no minimum English score for a study permit; any language condition is written into your letter of acceptance (see IELTS for a Canada study permit). The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a separate test again: university graduates need CLB 7 in all four skills, proved with IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic (see IELTS for the PGWP).
Frequently asked questions
Does Waterloo accept PTE?+
Yes. Undergraduate needs PTE Academic 63 with Writing and Speaking 65. Graduate programs accept PTE and publish their own minimums.
Does Waterloo accept Duolingo?+
For undergraduates, yes: 120 overall with Literacy and Production 125 for direct entry. Duolingo is not on the graduate list of accepted tests.
What IELTS do I need for a master's at Waterloo?+
It depends on the program. For example, the ECE MEng lists 6.5 (6.0 Writing and Speaking) and the Physics MSc lists 7.0 (6.5 Writing and Speaking).
Is IELTS One Skill Retake accepted at Waterloo?+
Yes for undergraduate admission, no for graduate admission.
Is the Waterloo IELTS score the same as the study permit requirement?+
No. IRCC sets no minimum language score for a study permit; the university's score is an admission rule. The PGWP later needs CLB 7 for university graduates, on a General Training-type test.
Keep reading
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Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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