Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 4 November 2026
Biola's two English tiers
From Biola's international students application page. The page lists the same tiers for first-time freshmen and transfer students. It gives overall scores and no IELTS section minimums.
| Tier | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Standard requirements | 6.5 | PTE Academic 58, Duolingo 125, SAT 500 in Reading and Writing, ACT 19, IB 5 in English A |
| Admission with Biola committee review (not guaranteed) | 6.0 | PTE Academic 50, Duolingo 110 to 124, SAT 480 to 499, ACT 16, IB 5 in English B |
What the review tier means
The lower tier is not a lower pass mark. The page says admission with committee review is not guaranteed, so IELTS 6.0 earns a review of your file and nothing more. If you are close to 6.5, retaking before you apply is the safer plan.
SAT, ACT and IB English results can stand in for a language test on the same page, which matters if you studied in an English-medium school.
Free test: are you at Biola University's score yet?
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Programmes and checking
The page says some programmes have different deadlines and may need a separate application. It names Cinema and Media Arts, the Torrey Honors College, the Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the Pre-Clinical Nursing Program. Graduate requirements are set by each degree page, so check yours rather than assuming the undergraduate figures apply.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Biola programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Biola University 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 score does Biola need?+
IELTS 6.5 meets the standard requirement. IELTS 6.0 is considered only through Biola committee review and admission is not guaranteed.
Does Biola accept PTE Academic?+
Yes. PTE Academic 58 meets the standard requirement and 50 goes to committee review.
What Duolingo score does Biola accept?+
125 for the standard requirement, and 110 to 124 for committee review.
Are the same scores used for graduate study at Biola?+
Not necessarily. The page is for undergraduate applicants, and graduate degree pages set their own requirements.
Keep reading
Related
- Azusa Pacific University IELTS requirement
- California Baptist University IELTS requirement
- Duolingo vs IELTS for universities
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university
- All 5669 guides
Guide updated on 4 November 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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