Is IELTS accepted for studying in the USA? Alternatives and university requirements
If you’re planning to study in the United States as an international student, you’ll need to prove your English language proficiency. In practice, this is most often done through language tests — and that raises the question: do American universities accept the IELTS test?
The answer is yes — many of them do. Over 3,400 institutions in the U.S. recognize this exam as proof of English proficiency.
However — and this is very important — individual universities set their own language requirements, score thresholds, as well as conditions for test waivers and conditional admissions. That’s why the best approach is to check directly on the website of the university you’re applying to, which language tests are accepted.
Below, you’ll find a summary of typical language requirements and alternatives to the IELTS test that are commonly accepted by universities in the U.S.