University admissions guide
Northeastern English Language Requirements — IELTS, TOEFL & PTE
Northeastern University English language requirements for undergraduate and graduate admission. IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic score targets with a free checker.
Northeastern University (Massachusetts) accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test for international applicants. Published planning baselines for Northeastern include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall; minimum 6.5 per band; Middle 50% range 7.5–8.0; not a minimum.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 106 total; min. 25 per section; Middle 50% range 106–113 (pre–Jan 2026 iBT); not a minimum. Jan 2026 scale applies.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 73 overall; min. 62 per section; Middle 50% range 73–78; not a minimum.. Northeastern 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 Northeastern, 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
7.5 overall
Min. 6.5 each band
Middle 50% range 7.5–8.0; not a minimum.
TOEFL iBT
106 total
Min. 25 per section
Middle 50% range 106–113 (pre–Jan 2026 iBT); not a minimum. Jan 2026 scale applies.
PTE Academic
73 overall
Min. 62 per skill
Middle 50% range 73–78; not a minimum.
Duolingo
135 overall
Middle 50% range 135–145; not a minimum.
Northeastern publishes no minimum scores; middle 50% of admitted students shown below.
Graduate
IELTS Academic
7 overall
Min. 6.5 each band
Typical graduate program minimum; verify department.
TOEFL iBT
100 total
Min. 23 per section
Typical graduate program minimum; Jan 2026 iBT uses 1–6 scale.
PTE Academic
68 overall
Min. 62 per skill
Program-specific.
Duolingo
120 overall
Program-specific.
Program-specific minimums; college of engineering and others often require TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7+.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming Northeastern 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.
- Booking Duolingo when your target faculty only lists IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE on the official page.
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.
Northeastern undergraduate — IELTS Academic
Scores appear below the requirement
Estimated overall: 0 (target 7.5). Improve: listening, reading, writing, speaking (min 6.5 each).
Practice IELTS AcademicFrequently asked questions
Which English tests does Northeastern accept?
Northeastern University lists IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test for international applicants. Faculties may restrict variants—confirm on the official admissions page.
What scores do I need for Northeastern?
Published planning baselines for Northeastern include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall; minimum 6.5 per band; Middle 50% range 7.5–8.0; not a minimum.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 106 total; min. 25 per section; Middle 50% range 106–113 (pre–Jan 2026 iBT); not a minimum. Jan 2026 scale applies.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 73 overall; min. 62 per section; Middle 50% range 73–78; not a minimum.. Graduate departments and professional programs often publish higher thresholds than central admissions pages.
Do section or band minimums matter?
Yes. Northeastern 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 Northeastern 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