ScoreFluent

Official sources checked 6 October 2026

Which English test should you take for a US university?

There is no national admissions test list. Build a matrix from every university and programme you may apply to, then choose one test all of them accept.

Short answer: US colleges set their own English-proficiency rules. EducationUSA says there is no single national college entrance examination and each institution decides its requirements. Start with EducationUSA's official overview, then use each programme's admissions page.

Admission comes before the student visa

1 · Programme

Meet the admission rule

Confirm the accepted tests, exact versions, minimum overall and section scores, validity, deadline and waiver conditions.

2 · School

Receive Form I-20

After admission and required financial documentation, an eligible school issues the form used in the F-1 visa process.

3 · Visa

Apply using school documents

The Department of State explains the visa application after school acceptance; it does not publish one English-test list for every university.

One official example shows why lists differ

The University of Michigan's undergraduate admissions page currently names TOEFL, IELTS, ECPE, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, PTE Academic and the four-skill MET. It also publishes its own score ranges and exemption conditions.

That is a useful comparison set, not a US-wide rule. Stanford's undergraduate policy, for example, says English-proficiency exams are not required even though English fluency is expected. Graduate departments can set another list again.

Check the University of Michigan example directly →

Build a test shortlist that survives every application

  1. List every programme, not only each university. Graduate departments and specialist schools can have their own policy.
  2. Record exact product names. Separate TOEFL iBT from other TOEFL products and PTE Academic from PTE Core.
  3. Capture section minimums and superscoring rules. An acceptable total may still miss a speaking or writing minimum.
  4. Mark delivery restrictions and validity. Home editions, one-skill retakes and score combinations are not universally accepted.
  5. Choose from the overlap. Only compare task format, dates and cost after finding a test accepted by every active application.

Compare result timing, validity and retakes →

Frequently asked questions

Is there one English test accepted by every US university?

No. EducationUSA says each college or university establishes its own admission requirements. Test lists, versions, score minimums and waivers vary by institution and programme.

Is an English-proficiency test the same as the SAT or ACT?

No. English-proficiency tests show language ability. SAT or ACT policies concern undergraduate admissions testing. A university may require one, both or neither depending on its policy and your background.

Does the US student visa set a TOEFL or IELTS score?

The general F and M student-visa process starts after acceptance by a school approved for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The school determines its admission evidence and issues Form I-20; the visa application does not create one national university English-test score.

Can a university waive the English test?

Sometimes. Waiver rules vary and may depend on prior education, language of instruction or other evidence. Follow the exact institution and programme policy.

Official sources

Requirements change. Check the immigration authority and the receiving institution or programme again before booking a test or submitting an application.

Related destination guides

Practise the test your full shortlist accepts.

ScoreFluent supports TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and MET practice. Your target institution's current admissions page determines whether each one counts.

Explore practice →