Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
AUK English routes
From AUK's first-year admissions page and Intensive English Program page.
| Your result | Where you start | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 or above / TOEFL iBT 60 or above | Undergraduate study | - |
| Below IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60, otherwise qualified | Intensive English Program (IEP) | Placed by ESL Accuplacer, or by recent IELTS / TOEFL bands |
| IEP Level 2 completed with 70% (C-) in both components | Undergraduate study | Exempt from the placement test and TOEFL |
How the Intensive English Program works
English is the medium of instruction at AUK. On entering the IEP, students take the ESL Accuplacer (Language Proficiency Test and WritePlacer); valid recent IELTS or TOEFL iBT scores may also be used for initial placement. The IEP runs 16-week courses from September to January and February to June, plus a nine-week summer course.
AUK's pages name TOEFL, IELTS and the AUK English Placement Test. PTE and Duolingo are not mentioned. AUK adds that its benchmarks are subject to periodic review.
Free test: are you at AUK's score yet?
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Other first-year requirements
First-year applicants also submit official high school transcripts meeting a minimum GPA for their curriculum, a typed personal essay and a KWD 20 non-refundable application fee.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your AUK programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the American University of Kuwait (AUK) publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does the American University of Kuwait need?+
AUK's IEP page sends otherwise qualified applicants with IELTS below 6.0 into the Intensive English Program, so 6.0 is the level to aim for to start degree study.
Can I join AUK without IELTS?+
Yes. AUK accepts its own English Placement Test, and the Intensive English Program route admits students to undergraduate courses without a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Does AUK accept Duolingo?+
AUK's admissions pages name TOEFL, IELTS and the AUK English Placement Test only.
What is the AUK application fee?+
KWD 20, non-refundable.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for Kuwait
- AUBH IELTS requirement
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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