University admissions guide
Harvard English Language Requirements — IELTS, TOEFL & PTE
Harvard University English language requirements for undergraduate and graduate admission. IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic score targets with a free checker.
Harvard University (Massachusetts) accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic for international applicants. Published planning baselines for Harvard include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 7 overall; minimum 7 per band; Optional; no published undergraduate minimum.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 100 total; min. 25 per section; Optional; no published undergraduate minimum. Tests on or after January 21, 2026 use the 1–6 iBT scale if submitted.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 68 overall; min. 65 per section; Not listed as accepted for Harvard College undergraduate admission.. Harvard is a research university in Massachusetts—professional faculties such as nursing, law, and engineering often publish higher minima than general admissions pages. Use the score table and checker below to compare your practice or official results against published undergraduate and graduate baselines before you book another test date.
Why score planning matters
Applicants often treat one overall score as enough for Harvard, but published requirements frequently include per-skill minimums in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Graduate departments, co-op programs, and accredited faculties may require higher scores than the headline undergraduate minimum. Mapping your gap early helps you choose the right test variant and avoid an expensive retake during application season.
Admission score requirements
Undergraduate
IELTS Academic
7 overall
Min. 7 each band
Optional; no published undergraduate minimum.
TOEFL iBT
100 total
Min. 25 per section
Optional; no published undergraduate minimum. Tests on or after January 21, 2026 use the 1–6 iBT scale if submitted.
PTE Academic
68 overall
Min. 65 per skill
Not listed as accepted for Harvard College undergraduate admission.
Duolingo
Optional; no published undergraduate minimum.
Harvard College does not require TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo for first-year or transfer applicants; scores may be submitted voluntarily.
Graduate
IELTS Academic
6.5 overall
Min. 6.5 each band
Harvard Griffin GSAS minimum; many schools and programs require higher scores.
TOEFL iBT
80 total
Min. 25 per section
Harvard Griffin GSAS minimum on pre–Jan 2026 iBT; programs may require higher scores. Verify Jan 2026 scale mapping on program pages.
PTE Academic
68 overall
Min. 65 per skill
Not listed among GSAS-accepted English proficiency exams.
Duolingo
Not listed among GSAS-accepted English proficiency exams.
Individual schools set graduate English requirements.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming Harvard uses one overall minimum for every faculty and program level.
- Submitting a test variant your program does not accept (for example IELTS General Training instead of Academic).
- Ignoring writing or speaking minimums when your overall score already looks sufficient.
- Not checking Harvard's official admissions page for faculty-specific thresholds before applying.
Your prep path
- Open the official admissions page and note which English tests and variants are accepted for your faculty.
- Compare undergraduate vs graduate minimums—graduate programs often publish higher thresholds.
- Check whether each band or section has a minimum, not only the overall score.
- Use the checker on this page with your latest practice or official results.
- If one section is below the published minimum, prioritize that skill before paying for another test date.
- Re-verify requirements before you submit—faculties can update thresholds between intakes.
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Check your scores
Enter your practice or official test scores to see whether you appear to meet common requirements.
Harvard undergraduate — IELTS Academic
Scores appear below the requirement
Estimated overall: 0 (target 7). Improve: listening, reading, writing, speaking (min 7 each).
Practice IELTS AcademicFrequently asked questions
Which English tests does Harvard accept?
Harvard University lists IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic for international applicants. Faculties may restrict variants—confirm on the official admissions page.
What scores do I need for Harvard?
Published planning baselines for Harvard include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 7 overall; minimum 7 per band; Optional; no published undergraduate minimum.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 100 total; min. 25 per section; Optional; no published undergraduate minimum. Tests on or after January 21, 2026 use the 1–6 iBT scale if submitted.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 68 overall; min. 65 per section; Not listed as accepted for Harvard College undergraduate admission.. Graduate departments and professional programs often publish higher thresholds than central admissions pages.
Do section or band minimums matter?
Yes. Harvard often requires minimum listening, reading, writing, and speaking scores separately. One weak section can block admission even when your overall score looks sufficient.
Can I apply to Harvard with conditional English?
Some programs offer conditional admission or pathway English, but this is not guaranteed. Verify your faculty's current policy rather than assuming a lower score will be accepted with extra coursework.
How should I prepare before retaking a test?
Use the checker on this page, identify the section furthest below the published minimum, and prioritize timed practice for that skill before booking another test date.
Planning reference only
Requirements change by program, faculty, and intake. Always confirm current rules with official immigration or admissions sources before applying.
Data version: university-admissions-2026-06-30-v3
Last verified: 2026-06-30