Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Carnegie Mellon University: English test requirements
Undergraduate scores are stated as requirements and are among the highest in this set. Graduate English rules are set by each department; only the Tepper full-time MBA page was found and recorded, where figures are recommendations.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 7.5
MBA 7.0
TOEFL iBT
UG 5 / 102
MBA 5
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
MBA Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 135
MBA 120
Undergraduate
One set of scores for all undergraduate colleges. The university gives the overall score it requires and says it gives consideration to those with the stated subscores. Scores should be no more than two years old. PTE is not named; Cambridge English is accepted.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (paper, computer or IELTS Online) | 7.5 | consideration for subscores of 7.5 and above | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition | 5 (new 1-6 scale, exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 102 (0-120, exams before 21 Jan 2026) | consideration for subscores of 5 and above (new) / 25 and above (old) | AcceptedTOEFL MyBest not used; the highest-overall set is used if taken more than once. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 135 | consideration for 135 and above in Literacy, Conversation, Comprehension and Production | Accepted |
| Cambridge English Assessment | 191 | consideration for subscores of 191 and above | Accepted |
| TOEFL Essentials | 11 | consideration for subscores of 11 and above | Accepted |
“Scores should be no more than two years old at the time of application”
Undergraduate admission: international applicants (English language proficiency)
Full-time MBA (Tepper School of Business)
All figures are recommended scores. Applicants with a bachelor's degree where English was the sole language of instruction do not need a test, and a graduate degree taught solely in English also removes the requirement.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0recommended | 7.0 in each band | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 5 (new 1-6 scale) / 25 in each section (old scale)recommended | 5 in each section (new scale); 25 in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing (old scale) | AcceptedThe page gives per-section figures for the old scale and an overall plus per-section figure for the new scale; no old-scale overall is stated. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 120recommended | Accepted |
“You are required to take a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam unless:”
Tepper full-time MBA application
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · Griffin School of Computer Science (first-year)
Required
SAT or ACT required. The page gives no cycle dates, so it is not split by 2026-27 and 2027-28.
“The Griffin School of Computer Science requires an SAT or an ACT score.”
SAT / ACT · Engineering, Dietrich College, Heinz College information systems, Mellon College of Science and Tepper (first-year, test flexible)
Required
Test flexible: some test score is required, but SAT itself is not mandatory because applicants may choose which to send: SAT, ACT, IB, AP, Cambridge A-level or French Baccalaureate (predicted or actual). SAT is superscored; ACT is not.
“Test flexible means that students are required to submit test scores in order to complete their application”
SAT / ACT · College of Fine Arts (first-year)
Optional
Test optional; portfolio or audition required.
“The College of Fine Arts is test optional and requires portfolios or auditions.”
GMAT / GRE · Full-time MBA (Tepper)
Required
GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE or Executive Assessment is required. A test waiver can be requested and is granted case by case.
“Waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis.”
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge English Assessment (undergraduate)
- TOEFL Essentials (undergraduate, 11)
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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