What IELTS score do you need for Purdue University?

International applicants whose first language is not English are evaluated for English proficiency during review, and an exam is the preferred evidence. Purdue accepts Duolingo, IELTS (including IELTS Online Academic and the IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT. ACT English 26+ or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 600+ also count, and at least three years in an English-taught curriculum may be considered.

Scores must be from the past two years. You may self-report; if admitted and you accept, official scores must come from the testing organization. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission, and students admitted without a DET, IELTS or TOEFL may sit an English placement exam. PTE is not among the tests Purdue lists. See Undergraduate Admissions.

OGSPS accepts TOEFL iBT (test center, Home Edition or Paper Edition), TOEFL Essentials, IELTS Academic and Duolingo with integrated subscores. For TOEFL you must meet the overall minimum and every section minimum: 80 overall with Reading 19, Listening 14, Speaking 18 and Writing 18 before 21 January 2026, or 4.0 overall afterwards. IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted.

Scores must be no more than two years old when your admission recommendation reaches OGSPS. Some programs require higher minimums, so check your department. A waiver may apply if you hold a bachelor's or graduate degree from an English-speaking country earned within 36 months, though programs may still ask for a test. See the Graduate School page.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement Purdue 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 Purdue Graduate School page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.