University of Waterloo TOEFL Requirements 2026: Undergraduate Scores

For Waterloo undergraduate admission, tests taken before January 21, 2026 require 90 overall with 25 in Writing and Speaking. Tests taken from that date require 4.5 overall with 5 in Writing and Speaking.

This is an undergraduate rule

The cited policy is published by Waterloo Undergraduate Programs. It is the right source for applicants to an undergraduate degree, and it should not be relabeled as a graduate-school rule. Graduate applicants need to check the exact program and graduate admissions instructions for their intended course. English-language policies can differ by applicant level, professional accreditation, and department. A number found on one program page is useful only for that program unless Waterloo itself says it applies more widely.

Waterloo also explains who may need a test. An applicant normally needs to submit an English-language result when their first language is not English and their four most recent years of full-time education were not in an English-language school system. The page lists exceptions and asks applicants to complete the Declaration of Academic Experience after applying. That decision matters before a TOEFL target is set: an applicant who qualifies for an exemption should follow Waterloo's documentation route rather than assume a test score is required.

Waterloo publishes both score scales

No outside conversion is needed for Waterloo's undergraduate threshold because the university gives the old and current formats directly. ETS explains that the current TOEFL score report uses a 1-6 scale in half-point increments and that score reports during the transition also include a comparable 0-120 overall score. Waterloo's own rule is the controlling evidence here. The free TOEFL score converter can help a student read the two formats, but it cannot replace the university's stated Writing and Speaking minimums.

The section figures are particularly important. A student can meet a total-score goal in practice and still need more work in Writing or Speaking. For a test taken from January 21, 2026, a 5 in each of those two sections is part of the published undergraduate requirement. Planning only around the 4.5 overall score would leave out a binding part of the rule.

Minimum is an eligibility check, not an admission forecast

A verified minimum tells you whether a result satisfies the published English-language condition. It does not show how the rest of an application will be judged, and Waterloo does not present this TOEFL figure as a prediction of admission. Keep the score requirement separate from grades, prerequisites, portfolio expectations, references, and course capacity. If the course page sets a higher standard, the course page wins.

A practical target can still include a small margin above the required score, especially when a deadline is close, but that is a personal planning choice rather than a promise. Use a recent timed result to see whether the gap is overall, Writing, Speaking, or all three. Then schedule practice against the part that actually limits the application.

A focused preparation step

Use C-A-R-R for the next two weeks: Capture one timed Writing or Speaking response, Annotate one specific language or task problem, Repair it with a short replacement sentence or response plan, then Retest the same skill after one, three, seven, and fourteen days. Keep a separate line for the 5 Writing and 5 Speaking targets if you are taking the current test. This produces evidence about the section minimums rather than a vague impression of progress.

The TOEFL iBT 2026 Starter Kit gives a free starting structure for choosing the next task, recording evidence, and matching practice to the current test format. It is most useful after you have written Waterloo's verified overall and section targets at the top of your study plan.

Before you submit your Waterloo score

Check three details in the same sitting. First, confirm whether Waterloo considers you exempt under its education and language-history rules. Second, match your test date to the correct scale: 90 with 25 Writing and Speaking for the prior format, or 4.5 with 5 Writing and Speaking for the current format. Third, make sure the testing agency sends the official result as Waterloo instructs. Student copies and screenshots do not replace the submission method on the admissions page. Recheck the page close to the document deadline because a course can apply an additional requirement.

University of Waterloo TOEFL FAQ

Is 4.5 Waterloo's official undergraduate TOEFL requirement?
Yes, for tests completed on or after January 21, 2026, the cited undergraduate page states 4.5 overall with 5 in Writing and 5 in Speaking.

Can a 4.5 overall make up for a lower Writing score?
No. Waterloo lists 5 in Writing and 5 in Speaking as separate requirements for tests in the current format.

Does this page set a graduate-school TOEFL minimum?
No. This verification is for Waterloo Undergraduate Programs. Graduate applicants should check their own program's current instructions.

Related verified requirement pages

For other published policies, compare Waterloo with University of Toronto, UBC, and McGill.

Admission requirements change; always confirm current requirements on the university's official admissions page.