Ithaca, New York, US
Cornell University: English test requirements
Cornell asks undergraduates who are not exempt for TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or Cambridge scores, framed as the scores needed to be most competitive. The Graduate School's English rule could not be read (site blocked), and the Johnson MBA sets its own scores. SAT or ACT is required for first-year entry.
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 5.0 / 100
MBA 100
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
MBA Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 130
MBA 120
Undergraduate
A test is needed unless the applicant is a US citizen or permanent resident, English is their native language, or English was the main language of instruction for the past four years. The page lists the scores 'to be most competitive in our admissions review process', so these are competitive targets, recorded as recommended, not a stated cut-off. The page also words each figure as a "minimum score". Self-reported scores are accepted; enrolling students must send official scores. The TOEFL new-scale figure also has a stated recommended score of 5.5.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.5recommended | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 5.0 (exams taken January 2026 or later; recommended 5.5) / 100 (exams taken prior to January 2026)recommended | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 130recommended | Accepted | |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 191recommended | Accepted |
“Applicants who do not meet one of these criteria are required to submit an English proficiency exam score.”
Undergraduate admissions: standardized testing and English proficiency policy
Johnson full-time two-year MBA
Required if English is not the applicant's native language and no degree was earned in an English-speaking country. Scores are valid for two years. Applicants at or above the TOEFL total who score 25 or less in a section may be asked to complete a summer English programme. MyBest scores and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | at least 7.0 in speaking and writing | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 overall | at least 25 in each section | AcceptedThe page also writes 'or 5 for the Common European Framework of Reference level (CEFR)' next to the section minimum. MyBest and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named; the page names TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Accepted |
“the admissions committee seeks applicants who report one of the following minimum scores”
Johnson full-time MBA: application requirements and FAQs
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Required
SAT or ACT scores are required for first-year applicants and neither required nor expected for transfer applicants. Scores can be self-reported and enrolling students must send official scores. The page gives no start date for the requirement.
“First-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores when applying to Cornell.”
GMAT / GRE · Johnson full-time two-year MBA
Required
GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment is required, with no minimum score. Applicants may request a standardised test waiver, which is not guaranteed; the application then stays incomplete if the waiver is refused and no score is sent.
“There is no minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement for Johnson's residential MBA program.”
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest (MBA)
- TOEFL Essentials (MBA)
“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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