Quick answer: UCLA publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Undergraduate admission: recommended band 5.0 or Above 100 on the old scale. Full-time MBA: 87 on the old scale. Where a page states only an old 0 to 120 score, we show "Not stated" for the new band rather than converting it ourselves.
TOEFL requirements at UCLA, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admission | Above 100 | 5.0 (recommended) | New 1-6 scale: sub-scores of 5 or higher; old 0-120 scale: sub-scores above 24 | 7.5 | Not stated | Official page |
| Full-time MBA | 87 | Not stated | None stated | 7.0 | Not stated | Official page |
Checked on each official page on October 27, 2026. Old scale: TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 21, 2026. New scale: tests taken from that date.
Undergraduate admission
“We look for competitive English proficiency scores, including a TOEFL iBT score of 5 or higher (with sub-scores of 5 or higher) on the revised scale (effective January 21, 2026), or above 100 (with sub-scores above 24) on the previous 120-point scale, as well as 7.5 or above on the IELTS or 135 or higher on the Duolingo English Test (DET).”
Competitive targets, not hard cutoffs; on the old scale the page says above 100. Students with all secondary schooling in English, or at least 3 years of instruction in English, do not need a test.
Full-time MBA
“The minimum TOEFL score required for admission to UCLA is 87, and the minimum IELTS is 7.0.”
Anderson states 87 (0-120 scale) and gives no figure for the 1-6 scale; it refers applicants to the UCLA graduate English requirements. The test is waived for a degree from an institution where English was the sole language of instruction according to the World Higher Education Database; work experience in English does not qualify.
What else UCLA says about English tests
- UCLA undergraduate applicants self-report test information on the UC application (no later than January); official scores are not required for review. TOEFL scores sent to one UC campus reach every UC campus you apply to, but IELTS and DET results must be sent to each campus. (source)
- Other English tests for UCLA undergraduates (competitive): IELTS 7.5 or above, Duolingo English Test 135 or higher. (source)
- UCLA Anderson MBA TOEFL school code: 4837-02. Official scores are required for admission but not for applying; TOEFL or IELTS must be dated no earlier than two years before the application submission date and no later than the round deadline. (source)
- UCLA Anderson accepts most at-home test scores and evaluates them like test-center scores, except the TOEFL TIP Plus Solution for China and IELTS Indicator, which its FAQ says are under review. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to UCLA
Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT scores are reported in bands from 1 to 6. Each band covers a range of old scores, so the same old minimum can sit anywhere inside a band.
- For Undergraduate admission, UCLA asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). UCLA itself publishes band 5.0, which matches.
- For Full-time MBA, UCLA asks for 87 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 87 falls in band 4.5 (which starts at 86; CEFR B2). The page we checked does not state its own band, so confirm with the admissions office before relying on a new-scale score.
| Band | Old score (from) | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 114 and above | C2 |
| 5.5 | 107 and above | C1 |
| 5.0 | 95 and above | C1 |
| 4.5 | 86 and above | B2 |
| 4.0 | 72 and above | B2 |
| 3.5 | 58 and above | B1 |
Source: ETS score scale update. This is the ETS comparison, not a university requirement. Convert your own scores with our TOEFL score converter.
What score should you aim for?
Our advice (not an official UCLA rule): treat the published number as a floor. Aim half a band above the minimum for your program, so for a band 5.0 requirement plan for 5.5 on your practice tests, so one weaker section on test day does not take your overall score under the line. Check section minimums too: an overall band can hide a low Speaking or Writing score.
UCLA compared with similar universities
| University | Program | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Undergraduate (first-year) admissions | band 5.0 or 90 on the old scale |
| Yale | Yale College (undergraduate) | recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
| Cornell | Undergraduate admissions | band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
| Penn | Undergraduate admissions | recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
| UC Berkeley | Undergraduate admission (international) | band 4.5 or 90 on the old scale |
All universities: TOEFL requirements by university.
Prefer a teacher? Epic Exam Prep, the team behind PrepDrills, has taught TOEFL courses since 2010, one to one or in small groups.
By Jaclyn Caruana, MBA, co-founder of Epic Exam Prep. Requirements change: always confirm on the official pages linked above before you apply.