Doctor of Medicine direct entry: full sub-section minimums
Macquarie's Doctor of Medicine is offered in two pathways: a four-year graduate-entry MD for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree, and a combined Bachelor of Clinical Science + Doctor of Medicine direct-entry pathway for high-school leavers. Both pathways share the same English language minimum.
- Overall TOEFL iBT
- 98
- Reading
- 24
- Listening
- 24
- Writing
- 27
- Speaking
- 23
- IELTS equivalent
- 7.0 overall, 7.0 in each band
The Writing sub-section minimum (27) is the highest of the four and is typically the bottleneck for international candidates. Most candidates can clear 24 in Reading and Listening with timed practice; the 27 in Writing requires consistent band 5+ output across both the Build-a-Sentence and Academic Discussion tasks under the new 2026 format.
General undergraduate and graduate programs
Most other Macquarie programs (Business, Engineering, Science, Arts, Computing) accept a TOEFL iBT of 83 overall with sub-section minimums of Reading 13, Listening 12, Writing 21, and Speaking 18. This is equivalent to IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. Law and Education programs sit between the general minimum and the Medicine minimum — confirm the exact number for your specific program on the official Macquarie page linked above.
Translating these scores to the 2026 1-6 band scale
From January 2026, ETS reports the TOEFL iBT on a 1.0-6.0 band scale (in 0.5 increments) rather than the legacy 0-120 scale. Macquarie's general minimum of 83 corresponds to roughly band 4.0 (CEFR B2). The Doctor of Medicine minimum of 98 corresponds to band 5.0 (CEFR C1). For a precise read on what these bands mean for your speaking, writing, listening, and reading, take a free TOEFLMock practice test — you'll see your score reported on both scales side-by-side.
Other accepted English tests
Macquarie accepts Academic IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge English, and a handful of school-leaver English qualifications. For the Doctor of Medicine direct-entry pathway, the published equivalents are IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each band, or PTE Academic 65 with 65 in each communicative skill. Duolingo English Test acceptance varies by program and year, so check the official requirements page before relying on it.
How to prepare for the Macquarie Medicine TOEFL minimum
A target of 98 with 27 in Writing is a band 5.0 performance overall and high band 5 in Writing. Realistically, this means consistently producing band 5+ output across both 2026 Writing tasks (Build a Sentence and the Academic Discussion email/response). The fastest way to spot whether Writing is the bottleneck is to take a full-length practice test under timed conditions and compare your section bands. From there, focused section practice is more productive than another full-length attempt.
- Take a free full-length TOEFL practice test to see your starting band
- Writing practice — 16 free Build-a-Sentence + Email + Academic Discussion tests
- Speaking practice — 16 free Listen-and-Repeat + video Interview tests
- Reading practice — 16 free 2026-format reading tests
- Listening practice — 16 free 2026-format listening tests
Common questions
What TOEFL score is required for Macquarie Medicine direct entry? ▾
Macquarie's Doctor of Medicine (including the Bachelor of Clinical Science + MD direct-entry pathway) requires a TOEFL iBT overall score of 98, with sub-section minimums of Reading 24, Listening 24, Writing 27, and Speaking 23. This is equivalent to IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each band.
What is the general TOEFL minimum for Macquarie University undergraduate programs? ▾
Most undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Macquarie University require a TOEFL iBT overall score of 83, with sub-section minimums of Reading 13, Listening 12, Writing 21, and Speaking 18. Medicine, Law, and Education programs carry higher minimums.
What is the Macquarie Medicine TOEFL on the 2026 1-6 band scale? ▾
TOEFL iBT 98 maps to roughly band 5.0 on the new 2026 scale, aligned with CEFR C1. The general Macquarie minimum of 83 maps to band 4.0 (B2).
What if my TOEFL score is below the Macquarie Medicine minimum? ▾
If you score below the Doctor of Medicine minimum, options include retaking the TOEFL after focused practice, sitting Academic IELTS (7.0 overall with 7.0 in each band), or completing a Macquarie University English Language Centre pathway program. Direct entry to Medicine has no English-conditional offers, so the score must be at or above the minimum before the application closes.
Does Macquarie University accept the Duolingo English Test? ▾
Macquarie accepts a range of English tests including TOEFL iBT, Academic IELTS, PTE Academic, and Cambridge English. Duolingo English Test acceptance varies by program and year — verify on the official Macquarie English language requirements page before relying on it.
Verify before applying
University admission requirements change. Always confirm the current TOEFL minimum on the official Macquarie University English language requirements page and the course-specific special English requirements page before applying. The figures on this page were last verified 2026-05-11 and reflect publicly stated institutional minimums; specific programs may set higher thresholds.