Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
ISU English requirements
From the international admissions section of ISU's undergraduate catalog. Graduate programmes are covered in the separate graduate catalog.
| Programme | IELTS Academic | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 5.5 overall, or 5.0 on each sub-test | TOEFL 3.5, Duolingo 85, SAT Reading 25, WAEC English C5 |
| Graduate | Not in this catalog section | Check the ISU graduate catalog and your programme |
Exemptions
You may be exempt if you come from a listed country, which includes Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uganda, the UK and Zambia. You may also be exempt if English was the medium of instruction at your schools, if you transfer 14 or more credits from a US college, if you completed ISU's Intensive English Institute with staff recommendation, or if you completed Level 112 at an ELS programme.
If you took the SAT before April 2016, the SAT requirement is 460 in Critical Reading. The catalog does not list PTE.
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Conditional admission and sending scores
Both assured admission (2.50 GPA) and conditional admission (2.25 GPA) for international high school graduates still require you to meet the English proficiency requirement. Test results must be sent directly to the International Programs Office from the testing organisation; contact ipomail@isu.edu to check whether you qualify for an exemption.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admission cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Idaho State programme page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Idaho State 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 Idaho State University require?+
An overall band score of 5.5, or 5.0 on each of the sub-tests.
Does Idaho State accept Duolingo?+
Yes, at an overall score of 85 or above.
Are Nigerian students exempt at Idaho State?+
Nigeria is on the catalog's list of exempt countries.
Can English-medium schooling replace IELTS at ISU?+
The catalog says you may be exempt if English was the medium of instruction at your schools. Confirm with the International Programs Office.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 5.5
- University of Idaho IELTS requirement
- Boise State University IELTS requirement
- University of Montana IELTS requirement
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university
- 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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