Quick answer: Penn publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Undergraduate admissions: recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale. MBA: no minimum score.
TOEFL requirements at Penn, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admissions | 100 (recommended) | 5.0 (recommended) | None stated | 7 | Not accepted | Official page |
| MBA | No minimum | Not stated | None stated | Not stated | 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 admissions
“Competitive applicants tend to have a composite score of 5 or above with demonstrated consistency across the four sections of the exam (reading, listening, speaking, and writing). Penn looks at the results of an applicant’s most recent TOEFL exam, not MyBest scores. If you have taken the previous version of the TOEFL (scored on a scale from 0 to 120) within the last two years, you may choose to submit your existing TOEFL score. Competitive applicants tend to have a composite score of 100 or above”
Competitive targets, not hard minimums. Penn reads your most recent TOEFL, not MyBest. IELTS Academic: competitive applicants tend to have 7 or above.
MBA
“Results from the TOEFL iBT, PTE, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test are required if you did not attend an institution where English was the language of instruction. If you earned a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction, the test may be waived.”
Wharton publishes no minimum score. Its FAQ says the average TOEFL for Class of 2022 students required to take it was 115 (old scale). To waive the test, include a waiver request letter and documentation that your education was in English.
What else Penn says about English tests
- Penn undergraduate admissions accepts TOEFL, IELTS Academic and Duolingo English Test scores only from exams taken on or after April 1, 2025, sent directly by the testing agency. (source)
- Penn undergraduate admissions does not accept the IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Retake, or TOEFL MyBest scores. Duolingo: competitive applicants should have 130 or above. (source)
- Penn undergraduate exemption: English is your native language, or English was your primary language of instruction for at least three years (high school, college or both) by the time you enroll. (source)
- Wharton MBA TOEFL code: D810-99. Test dates must fall within each round's window, for example January 5, 2025 to January 5, 2027 for Round 2. (source)
- Penn has no university-wide graduate English test rule; the Provost's graduate admissions page says non-native English speakers may be required to report scores and to refer to the program of interest for detailed requirements. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to Penn
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 admissions, Penn asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). Penn itself publishes band 5.0, which matches.
| 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 Penn 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.
Penn 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 |
| UC Berkeley | Undergraduate admission (international) | band 4.5 or 90 on the old scale |
| UCLA | Undergraduate admission | recommended band 5.0 or Above 100 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.