Prove your mastery of English language

Do I need to take an English Proficiency test?

• You might be able to skip the English Proficiency test if:
• You live in a country where primary language is English (e.g Canada, Australia)
• You studied at a school where English is the primary language of instruction for 4 years

The only way to get a definitive answer on whether you need to take the test or not is to check the admission requirements of each university individually. The policies may vary from one institution to another. If you're still unsure after checking, make sure to email the respective admission office.

Overview of TOEFL

TOEFL Quick Facts

🕐 Test length: Approximately 3 hours

• 📑 Reading: 54-72 minutes with 30-40 questions
• 👂 Listening: 41-57 minutes with 28-39 questions
• 🗣️ Speaking: 17 minutes with 4 tasks
• 📝 Writing: 50 minutes with 2 tasks

🌠 Max TOEFL Score: 120

💸 Test fee: Varies by location, typically around $190

Register for TOEFL

1. 1

   Create an ETS account

   https://www.ets.org/mytoefl
2. 2

   Find a TOEFL Testing Center + pick a date

   https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/schedule
3. 3

   Register and pay the test fee

   Test fee will vary by region, usually between $190 to $240https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/fees

Overview of IELTS

IELTS Quick Facts

🕐 Test length: 2 hours 45 minutes

• 📑 Reading: 60 minutes with 40 questions
• 👂 Listening: 30 minutes with 40 questions
• 📝 Writing: 60 minutes with 2 tasks
• 🗣️ Speaking: 11-14 minutes with 3 parts

🌠 Max IELTS Score: 9.0

💸 Test fee: Varies by location, typically around $250

Register for IELTS

1. 1

   Create a British Council account

   https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org
2. 2

   Find an IELTS Testing Center + pick a date

   https://ielts.org/test-centres
3. 3

   Register and pay the test fee

   Test fee will vary by region, usually around $250

Overview of Duolingo English Test (DET)

Duolingo English Test Quick Facts:

🕐 Test length: Approximately 1 hour

• 📝 Adaptive Test: 45 minutes, featuring a variety of question types including reading, writing, speaking, and listening tasks
• 🎥 Video Interview: 10 minutes, where you respond to open-ended questions

🌠 Max Duolingo English Test Score: 160

💸 Test fee: $65

Duolingo English Test Fee waiver

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is the only English proficiency test that provides fee waivers for low-income international students. However, you cannot request the waiver yourself; it must be requested by your counselor via the website: englishtest.duolingo.com/institutions/access. Additionally, you can email universities directly and ask them for a DET fee waiver.

Register for Duolingo English Test

1. 1

   Sign Up on the Duolingo website

   https://englishtest.duolingo.com/register
2. 2

   Pay the test fee & take the test anytime

   DET test fee is $65

What is the minimum score I need?

Universities have different approaches when it comes to English proficiency scores. Some have a minimum score requirement - if your score falls below that threshold, your application will be rejected. Others provide a recommended score guideline, while some institutions claim that they do not consider English proficiency scores as a factor.

To give you a better understanding of the score expectations, here are the minimum required English proficiency scores for admission at top US universities.

🗣️ veronica says...

Veronica Lee

Admissions Expert

“As a general guideline, you should aim for a score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL, 7.5 or higher on the IELTS, and 130 or higher on the Duolingo English Test.”

Free study resources

These three official resources include a variety of materials, including full-length practice tests, useful articles, and even video courses.