Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
SAIC English requirements by level
From SAIC's undergraduate international students page and the graduate application process page. The undergraduate page gives an overall IELTS score only. The graduate page lists the accepted tests but no minimum scores.
| Programme | IELTS Academic | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 82 (4.5 from January 2026), TOEFL Essentials 9, PTE Academic 55, Duolingo 110 |
| BA in Art History | Not stated | TOEFL iBT 5 or equivalent |
| Graduate | Accepted; no minimum on the page | TOEFL or Duolingo |
Who does not need a test
Undergraduates whose first language is English, who attend US-accredited high schools abroad, who studied in an English-language school for four or more years, or who earned 12 or more semester hours at an English-language university do not need to submit language scores.
Graduate applicants are waived if their native language is English, or if they hold an undergraduate degree from a US-accredited university or from a university whose primary language of instruction is English. Others upload an unofficial score to the International Requirements section of the application. SAIC's TOEFL code is 1713.
Free test: are you at SAIC's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
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How to check
SAIC strongly encourages graduate applicants to book a test early so official scores arrive before the deadline. Graduate programmes also require a portfolio, statement, résumé and references, and Architecture and Teaching have extra licensure requirements, so read your programme page.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admission cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your SAIC programme page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) 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 SAIC require?+
IELTS 6.5 for undergraduate applicants. The graduate page accepts IELTS but does not publish a minimum.
Does SAIC accept PTE?+
Yes for undergraduates, with a minimum of 55.
Does SAIC accept Duolingo?+
Yes. Undergraduates need 110, and graduate applicants can submit Duolingo too.
Can an Indian degree taught in English waive SAIC's graduate test?+
SAIC waives graduate applicants with a degree from a university whose primary language of instruction is English. Confirm with Graduate Admissions that yours qualifies.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 6.5
- RISD IELTS requirement
- Pratt Institute IELTS requirement
- Loyola University Chicago 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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