English Test Score Requirements by Destination: US, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan Compared
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Admissions & Applications
Minimum English scores rise as you move from mainstream universities to elite ones, more than they rise from one country to another. A TOEFL iBT score around 79-90 or IELTS 6.0-6.5 clears most mainstream undergraduate programs across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan, while elite and Russell Group universities ask for TOEFL 90-100+ or IELTS 6.5-7.0.
🎓 US: IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79-100, higher at elite private universities.
🎓 UK: IELTS 6.0-7.0 or TOEFL iBT 72-100+, Russell Group universities sit at the top of that range.
🎓 Canada: top universities want IELTS 6.5 overall with no band under 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 86-100.
🎓 Australia: IELTS 6.0-7.0 or PTE Academic 50-58.
🎓 Japan: IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79-80 for English-medium programs.
⏱️ From 21 January 2026, TOEFL reports scores on a new 1.0-6.0 band alongside the old 0-120 number until January 2028.
Why requirements differ by destination and by university
Each country sets its own general English threshold for student visas, and universities within that country add their own program-level requirement on top. A score that clears a mid-tier US state university falls short at a Russell Group university in the UK, so check the published minimum for each program you apply to rather than assuming one score works everywhere. The ranges below cover typical undergraduate entry. Postgraduate and PhD programs usually sit at the higher end of these ranges or above them.
The TOEFL scoring change you need to know
From 21 January 2026, ETS replaced the familiar 0-120 TOEFL iBT scale with a new band scale from 1.0 to 6.0, scored in 0.5 increments and averaged across the four sections instead of summed. Score reports issued between January 2026 and January 2028 show both the new band and the equivalent old-scale number, so you can still compare your result against a university's published old-scale requirement during this transition (ETS ). This guide states scores on the old 0-120 scale, since most universities have not yet republished their requirements on the new scale.
Score comparison by destination
| Destination | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT (0-120 scale) | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 6.0-6.5 typical, up to 7.0+ at elite schools | 79-100, 90-100+ at elite private universities | Accepted at a growing number of schools, check each one |
| United Kingdom | 6.0-7.0, Russell Group sits at the top of the range | 72-80 general, 90-100 at Russell Group universities | Widely accepted, roughly 59-76 for most programs |
| Canada | 6.5 overall with no band under 6.0 at top universities, 6.0 at others | 86-100 at top universities, 80-90 elsewhere | Growing acceptance, confirm with each university |
| Australia | 6.0-7.0 overall | Comparable to IELTS-based bands, accepted at most universities | 50-58 minimum for most bachelor's programs |
| Japan | 6.0-6.5 for English-medium programs | 79-80 for English-medium programs | Less commonly used, check with your target university |
Sources: ETS TOEFL , Nagoya University (language requirements ), Pearson PTE (scoring guide ).
How PTE compares to IELTS
If you take PTE Academic instead of IELTS, Pearson's July 2025 concordance study lines up a PTE score of 47 with an IELTS overall band of 6.0, a PTE score of 55 with IELTS 6.5, and a PTE score of 63 with IELTS 7.0 (Pearson PTE ). Use this only as a starting estimate. Universities set their own PTE minimums, and a score that maps to IELTS 6.5 on paper does not guarantee it clears a program that lists IELTS 6.5 as its cutoff.
Australia's Genuine Student requirement
Since 2024, Australia assesses student visa applicants against a Genuine Student requirement alongside the standard English and financial checks, replacing the earlier Genuine Temporary Entrant test. Your English test score still needs to meet your university's entry threshold, but the visa decision also weighs your study and career plans and your ties to your home country. Confirm current visa English and financial requirements directly on the Department of Home Affairs website before you apply, since these settings have changed more than once since 2024 (Australian Department of Home Affairs ).
Which test to choose for each destination
IELTS and TOEFL are accepted almost everywhere on this list, so the choice often comes down to test format rather than acceptance. TOEFL is fully computer-based and machine-scored, which suits students who type faster than they write by hand and who prefer a single continuous testing session. IELTS pairs you with a live examiner for the Speaking section, which some students find easier for building rapport and getting through nerves compared to speaking into a microphone. PTE Academic runs entirely on computer, including the speaking section, and typically returns results faster than IELTS or TOEFL, often within a few days, which helps if you are applying close to a deadline.
For Japan specifically, confirm whether your target program is English-medium or Japanese-medium before you pick a test. English-medium programs use IELTS or TOEFL as shown above, while Japanese-medium programs instead require the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), which is a separate exam entirely.
Score validity
IELTS and TOEFL scores stay valid for two years from your test date, and PTE Academic scores follow the same two-year window. Plan your test date so your score does not expire before you enroll, especially if you are applying a year or more ahead of your intended start date, or if you plan to use the same score for a foundation year and the degree that follows it.
Picking your target score
Aim above the published minimum, not exactly at it. Many universities treat the listed score as a floor for the whole application, not a guarantee of admission.
Check whether your course sets a higher requirement than the university-wide minimum. Journalism, law, and medicine programs often ask for a higher score than the general entry bar.
Confirm which sub-scores matter. Some universities require a minimum in each section, not only an overall average.
Retake early if you fall short. Most test centers across ASEAN offer IELTS and TOEFL dates every few weeks, and PTE results arrive within a few days.