- F-1 visa minimum
- None set
- ASU first-year
- IELTS 6.0–7.0
- UIUC graduate
- 6.5–7.5
- Fee from 1 Oct 2026
- USD 325
F-1 student visa: your school sets the English bar
There is no federal English test score for an F-1 student visa. The State Department says a consular officer may ask for evidence of your academic preparation, including "standardized test scores required by your U.S. school". The school sets the English requirement and issues the Form I-20; each university, and often each programme, decides which tests it accepts and at what score.
Score requirements change and vary by program and institution. Always confirm the current requirement with your university's admissions office before you set a target.
What universities ask
| University and level (own admissions page) | IELTS | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University, first-year: most majors | 6.0 | 53 |
| ASU first-year: Fulton Schools of Engineering | 6.5 | 58 |
| ASU first-year: Cronkite School of Journalism | 7.0 | 73 |
| ASU first-year: Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 6.5 | Not accepted |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduate: full status | IELTS Academic 7.5 | Not listed |
| UIUC graduate: limited status | 6.5 | Not listed |
ASU lists PTE alongside IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo and Cambridge for first-year entry. The UIUC Graduate College accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic and Duolingo only, does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake, and says programmes may ask higher scores. Always read your target programme's page.
IELTS fees in the USA
IELTS on computer (Academic or General Training) was USD 285 for tests before 1 October 2026 and USD 325 for tests from 1 October 2026 on the ielts.org pages for centres in Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. ielts.org lists 27 IELTS test centres in the United States.
ielts.org says prices may vary and may be subject to local tax; confirm with the test centre at booking. IELTS is withdrawing paper tests worldwide from mid-2026, market by market; where a paper option is still listed, confirm it at booking.
BandLadder pricing in USD for United States
BandLadder in USD
One-time access, no automatic renewal. Free practice needs no card. Prices are shown in your currency at checkout as well.
| Plan | Access | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint Pass | 7 days | USD 6.99 |
| Quick Pass | 15 days | USD 10.99 |
| Boost | 30 days | USD 19.99 |
| Professional | 60 days | USD 31.99 |
| Professional | 90 days | USD 41.99 |
Start preparing for United States
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Practice IELTS Academic →Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score is required for a US student visa?+
None at the federal level. The State Department says the consular officer may ask for the test scores your school requires, so the university's minimum is the one that matters.
Do I need IELTS for a US work visa or green card?+
This guide found no IELTS score set for US visas, and work-visa English rules were not checked. Ask the employer or the programme you are applying to.
Does the USA accept PTE?+
Some universities do. ASU accepts PTE Academic 53 for most first-year majors; the UIUC Graduate College does not list PTE. Check each university.
IELTS or PTE for the USA?+
IELTS is more widely listed by the universities we checked: UIUC graduate admissions takes IELTS but not PTE. PTE is USD 275 (Pearson, 6 October 2026) against USD 325 for IELTS from 1 October 2026, so confirm your university accepts PTE before choosing it to save money.
How much is the IELTS fee in the USA?+
USD 325 for IELTS on computer from 1 October 2026 (USD 285 before), at the Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles centres listed on ielts.org.
Official sources
Reviewed 30 September 2026. This guide helps you plan test preparation; check the current rules for your own program.
- U.S. Department of State: student visa
- Arizona State University: international first-year admission
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Graduate College: international applicants
- IELTS: test centre in Boston (ELS) with fees
- IELTS: test centre in Chicago (BITTS) with fees
- Pearson: test centres and fees (price finder)
- PTE for the USA compared
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
- Duolingo to IELTS converter
- IELTS band score calculator
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