Language Requirements
You are not required to submit an English-language test if you:
- Resided in an English-speaking country for at least 4 years immediately prior to September 2026 or
- Attended an English-speaking educational institution in a full-time academic (non-ESL) program for at least 4 years immediately prior to September 2026. Official documentation from the school is required for this exemption. or
- Attended an accredited Secondary School (High School) or Post-Secondary College in full-time academic (non-ESL) studies in an English-speaking country for at least four years immediately prior to September 2026 or
- Attended an accredited English medium University in full-time academic (non-ESL) studies, for at least one year immediately prior to September 2026
The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request more information about your test score results and you may be required to take another English-language test at the university's discretion. Acceptable tests are currently under review.
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL Score | 86 iBT (minimum of 20 in each of the 4 categories) |
| Minimum IELTS Score | 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the 4 components (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening); results valid for 2 years The IELTS Organizational ID for McMaster University's undergraduate is 114599. |
| Minimum CAEL Score | 70 overall with no component score below 60; valid for 2 years |
| PTE (Pearson Test of English) | 60 overall (minimum 60 in both Writing and Speaking); valid for 2 years |
| Other Test Scores | Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 180 overall with minimum score of 176 in each component; valid for 2 years. Duolingo English Test: 120 overall for all direct-entry undergraduate programs with a minimum score of 115 in Reading, 125 in Writing, 110 in Listening, and 115 in Speaking LanguageCert Academic: 70 overall with a minimum of 65 in each of the four components (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening); valid for 2 years |
Last Test Date
2026-Apr-01 - McMaster's Institution Code for ETS/TOEFL is 0936.