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University of California, Berkeley IELTS requirement: minimum band scores for 2026

University of California, Berkeley based in Berkeley, California publishes IELTS Academic minimums for both undergraduate and graduate study. The two cards below show those institutional baselines; the editorial body translates the bands into a study target and lists the programmes that publish their own, higher thresholds.

Undergraduate

6.5overall band

With no published per-section minimum.

CEFR B2

Per-section —

The University of California system uses an undergraduate IELTS Academic overall minimum of 6.5 for international freshman and transfer applicants. UC Berkeley follows the system-wide minimum but admitted students are typically well above it.

Graduate

7.0overall band

With no published per-section minimum.

CEFR C1

Per-section —

UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires a most-recent IELTS Academic overall band of at least 7.0 on the 9-point scale. There are no per-section minimums — only the overall band is gated. The IELTS Indicator is NOT accepted; the standard IELTS Academic and IELTS Online are.

Last verified 2026-05-26. The figures on this page are taken from University of California, Berkeley's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.

Official admissions page

About UC Berkeley and its IELTS requirement

UC Berkeley sits at IELTS 7.0 overall for graduate admission with no per-section gate — a cleaner rule than the per-band requirements common at UK universities. The undergraduate threshold of 6.5 is the UC system-wide minimum rather than a Berkeley-specific number.

Translating the published minimum into a study target

Undergraduate applicants to UC Berkeley need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. The University of California system uses an undergraduate IELTS Academic overall minimum of 6.5 for international freshman and transfer applicants. UC Berkeley follows the system-wide minimum but admitted students are typically well above it.

For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 7.0 with no published per-section minimum (CEFR C1). UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires a most-recent IELTS Academic overall band of at least 7.0 on the 9-point scale. There are no per-section minimums — only the overall band is gated. The IELTS Indicator is NOT accepted; the standard IELTS Academic and IELTS Online are.

How to prepare for the UC Berkeley IELTS minimum

A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.

Other English tests UC Berkeley accepts

TOEFL iBT 90 is the standard equivalent across UC Berkeley graduate programmes. The Haas Full-time MBA programme publishes its own language-proficiency rules separately. IELTS Indicator is not accepted for graduate admission.

Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.

FAQ

Common questions

What is the minimum IELTS score for University of California, Berkeley?

For undergraduate study at University of California, Berkeley, the published minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. For graduate study, the minimum is overall 7.0 with no published per-section minimum. Specific programmes can require higher; the figures here reflect the institutional baseline.

Does UC Berkeley accept other English tests besides IELTS?

Yes. TOEFL iBT 90 is the standard equivalent across UC Berkeley graduate programmes. The Haas Full-time MBA programme publishes its own language-proficiency rules separately. IELTS Indicator is not accepted for graduate admission. Acceptance and thresholds for alternative tests can change from one admission cycle to the next; the University of California, Berkeley admissions page linked above is the authoritative source.

What if my IELTS score is below the UC Berkeley minimum?

A short-fall against the UC Berkeley minimum is fixable rather than fatal in most admission cycles. Candidates who retake IELTS after four to six weeks of targeted practice on their lowest section commonly close a half-band gap. Targeted practice means full-length papers under timed conditions, not topical revision; the section that pulled you down on the last sitting is almost always the one that will pull you down again unless you specifically drill it.

See where you stand against the UC Berkeley minimum

Take a free, full-length IELTS practice test. Get your overall and per-section bands plus a personalised feedback report — no card required.

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