- F-1 visa minimum
- None set
- ASU first-year
- PTE 53–73
- UIUC graduate
- PTE not listed
- Fee
- USD 275
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.
Check PTE is accepted before you book
| University and level (own admissions page) | PTE Academic | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University, first-year: most majors | 53 | 6.0 |
| ASU first-year: Fulton Schools of Engineering | 58 | 6.5 |
| ASU first-year: Cronkite School of Journalism | 73 | 7.0 |
| ASU first-year: Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Not accepted | 6.5 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduate: full status | Not listed | IELTS Academic 7.5 |
| UIUC graduate: limited status | Not listed | 6.5 |
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.
PTE fees in the USA
| Test | Fee (Pearson price finder, 30 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| PTE Academic | USD 275 |
| PTE Academic UKVI | USD 275 |
| PTE Core | USD 275 |
Pearson lists 88 test centres in the United States, including Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco. 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.
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 |
| Ascent | 60 days | USD 31.99 |
| Elite | 90 days | USD 41.99 |
Start preparing for United States
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Practice PTE Academic →Frequently asked questions
What PTE score is required for a US student visa?+
None at the federal level. The visa officer may ask for the scores your school requires, so use the university's minimum.
Do I need PTE for a US work visa or green card?+
This guide found no PTE score set for US visas; work-visa English rules were not checked. Ask the employer or programme.
Does the USA accept PTE?+
It depends on the university. ASU accepts PTE Academic (53 for most first-year majors). The UIUC Graduate College does not list PTE among its accepted tests.
IELTS or PTE for the USA?+
PTE is cheaper (USD 275 against USD 325 for IELTS from 1 October 2026) but less widely listed. Confirm every university on your list accepts PTE before booking it.
How much does PTE cost in the USA?+
USD 275 for PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Core, per Pearson's price finder on 6 October 2026.
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)
- IELTS for the USA compared
- PTE to IELTS score converter
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
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