MIMS Admissions: Test Scores

TOEFL/IELTS

UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires that applicants who received their degrees in countries other than the U.S., U.K., Australia, or English-speaking Canada are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). This includes applicants with degrees from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and most European countries. Only applicants who have completed a full year of U.S. university-level coursework with a grade of B or better are exempt from this requirement.

• For students taking the TOEFL, UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires that your most recent score be at least 90 on the Internet-based version of the TOEFL.

• For students taking the IELTS, UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires that your most recent score be at least 7.0 out of 9.0 on the IELTS Academic test.

UC Berkeley Graduate Division does not accept TOEFL ITP Plus for Mainland China, IELTS Indicator, or Duolingo scores. For more information, see Graduate Division’s Evidence of English Language Proficiency.

GRE/GMAT

As of Fall 2021, we no longer require the GRE/GMAT. Research indicates that standardized graduate entrance examinations are weak predictors of academic success and that overemphasizing GRE and GMAT scores replicates and amplifies structural disadvantages to some demographic groups. Read more about our decision to drop the GRE/GMAT here. Note that if you do submit scores as part of your application, our admissions committee will review them.

Test Codes

*Test Report Form must be sent directly from IELTS

Common Questions and Answers

If I am reapplying, can I reuse test scores from my previous application?

Yes. You do not need to resend your TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and/or GMAT scores unless they are now expired.

TOEFL or IELTS

Am I required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?

Applicants who received their undergraduate degrees in countries other than the U.S., U.K., Australia, or English-speaking Canada are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This includes applicants with undergraduate degrees from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and most European countries. UC Berkeley Graduate Division does not accept TOEFL ITP Plus for Mainland China, IELTS Indicator, or Duolingo scores. Your most recent score must be at least 90 on the Internet-based TOEFL or at least 7.0 on the IELTS Academic test.

For Fall 2025, tests taken before June 1, 2023 will not be accepted, even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley.

The only way to be exempted from this requirement is if you received a graduate degree from a U.S. university or completed a full year of U.S. university-level coursework as a full-time student with a GPA of B or better.

For more information, see Graduate Division’s Evidence of English Language Proficiency.

Do I need to officially report my TOEFL or IELTS score?

Yes. Although you may submit your application with self-reported TOEFL or IELTS scores, the UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires that you also report official scores, which must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For the TOEFL exam, the school code for UC Berkeley is 4833 and the department code for the I School is 99. It takes 10–15 days for official scores to transfer into our application system, so we recommend that you report your scores well before the application deadline. We also recommend that you make sure the spelling of your name and email address on your exam matches with your MIMS application.

For the IELTS exam, please submit an electronic report from the testing center; no institution code is required. Here is the Graduate Division’s office address for identification purposes: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Should I upload copies of my TOEFL or IELTS scores to the Supporting Materials section?

No. Test scores must be sent directly from the testing authorities.

Is there a required minimum score for the TOEFL or IELTS exam?

The UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires a score of at least 90 on the TOEFL IBT and 7.0 overall band on the IELTS exam.

How long are TOEFL or IELTS scores valid for admissions purposes?

No more than 18 months may have passed between the TOEFL or IELTS test date and the application deadline. Fall 2025 applicants may not submit test scores taken before June 2023.

GRE or GMAT

Though it is optional, should I still take the GRE/GMAT?

If you have not yet taken the GRE/GMAT, we recommend that you put your time and effort towards other parts of your application that better reflect your aptitude, strengths, and fit.

If I do not submit a GRE/GMAT score, will it negatively impact my application?

No, we mean it when we say that the GRE/GMAT is no longer required! This will not negatively impact your application and admissions decision, and applicants who choose to submit a score will not be advantaged compared to those who do not.

Read more about UC Berkeley’s decision to eliminate GRE test scores for the vast majority of graduate programs.

Will you review my GRE/GMAT score if I submit it?

Yes, the admissions committee will review all materials submitted with your application. See our MIMS FAQ on instructions on how to submit your score and score report.

If I self-reported a GRE or GMAT score in my application, do I need to send an official report via ETS or GMAC?

Yes, if you would like your self-reported scores to be evaluated, you must officially report your scores to UC Berkeley via the institution code 4833. The official report may take up to 10–15 days to transfer into our system.

My GRE or GMAT score report shows “awaiting” on my application checklist, but I already sent it to 4833. Have you received it?

GRE and GMAT score reports take 10-15 days to transfer into our application system. If it has been over 15 days and your status still shows “awaiting,” please contact us at admissions@ischool.berkeley.edu, and we will conduct a manual search for your score report.