What IELTS score do you need for Washington University in St. Louis?

WashU must have evidence of English before it can issue an I-20 or DS-2019, and the international office cannot waive that. The minimums are IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 5.0 on the new scale (WashU writes the old-scale figure as 90), Duolingo 125 or GATEWAY 495. Official scores must come from the testing agency and be less than two years old at the application deadline or submission. Superscored results such as TOEFL MyBest are not accepted, and some schools set higher minimums. See the OISS policy.

Exemptions are reviewed case by case and approved by the Senior Vice Provost. They cover citizens of a list of countries that includes India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; anyone who earned a bachelor's or master's in one of those countries in the last five years; an English-medium bachelor's from the last five years in a second list that includes Pakistan and the Philippines; and two years of continuous full-time work in the US within the last five years.

International students for whom English is a second language submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Any score above the university minimum can apply, but the most competitive applicants show TOEFL 100 (5.0 on the new scale), IELTS Academic 7.0 or Duolingo 130. Tests taken in December 2026 are the last accepted for fall 2027 (October for Early Action or Early Decision I). The TOEFL code is 6929. See English testing requirements.

From fall 2027 entry, SAT or ACT scores no longer replace an English test. Three or more years in an English-medium program or a US high school, with strong grades, may earn an exemption; mainly online high schools usually do not qualify. Other cases are considered individually by emailing admissions.

Graduate programs follow the university minimum unless a school sets more. Olin's full-time MBA lists the same scores (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 5.0, Duolingo 125, GATEWAY) and asks applicants who believe they qualify for a waiver not to submit a score; the committee can still ask for one. See Olin MBA apply.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement WashU 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 WashU English language proficiency page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar. To see where you stand now, take a timed IELTS mock test.