What IELTS score do you need for Purdue University Northwest?

For TOEFL taken before 21 January 2026 the graduate minimums are Writing 18, Speaking 18, Listening 14, Reading 19 and 80 overall. From 21 January 2026 they are Writing 4.0, Speaking 3.5, Listening 3.5, Reading 4.0 and 4.0 overall. TOEFL Essentials at 8 is accepted by the graduate office but not by every program, and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. IELTS Academic needs 6.5 with the section floors above; the One Skill Retake is not accepted, but the IELTS Indicator is. Duolingo needs 115 overall and in each of Production, Literacy, Comprehension and Conversation. Some programs set higher minimums. See international graduate students.

Scores must be no more than two years old when your recommendation for admission reaches the graduate office.

The test is routinely waived if, within the last 36 months, you earned a bachelor's or graduate degree from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country where English is the native language. PNW's list includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa, the UK and Canada, but not India or Pakistan. Some programs may still ask for a test.

Undergraduates submit TOEFL 79 (4 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100, PTE Academic 58, an SAT score, a GCE/GCSE/IGCSE O-level English grade of A or B, or at least 12 transferable credits from a US institution including English composition equivalent to ENGL 10400. See undergraduate admission.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement PNW sets for admission, which leads to your Form I-20. For the wider picture of studying in the US with each test, see IELTS for the USA and PTE for the USA.

Requirements change between admission cycles. Check the PNW international graduate students page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.