Princeton, New Jersey, US
Princeton University: English test requirements
Princeton requires an English test of some non-native applicants but sets no minimum score, at either level; the Graduate School points to department pages for any higher bar. SAT or ACT will be required again from the 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 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 Set by course
PG Set by course
TOEFL iBT
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
PTE Academic
UG Set by course
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
Undergraduate
A test is required if English is not your native language and your school does not teach in English. The page names the tests but prints no minimum or expected scores, so none are recorded. Not required if English is your native language or you spent at least three years at a secondary school where English is the main language of instruction.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo score printed on the page. | |
| TOEFL | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo score printed on the page. | |
| PTE Academic | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo score printed on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo score printed on the page. |
“You are not required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE Academic if English is your native language”
Undergraduate: international students (English proficiency)
Graduate School
Applicants whose primary language is not English must send TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores unless exempt. The Graduate School sets no minimum score; departments may set their own, shown on the Fields of Study pages. Exemptions: English is the primary language; undergraduate study entirely in English, certified by the institution, with the degree awarded before enrolment; or at least two full-time academic years of graduate study entirely in English, met by the time the application opens. TOEFL iBT is accepted at a test centre or at home, on either the 0-120 or the new 1-6 scale. Admitted students whose speaking score is below TOEFL Speaking 5.5 (1-6) or 27 (0-120), IELTS Speaking 8.0 or DET Conversation 125 must take an English assessment on enrolment. Scores must still be valid on 15 September, when the application opens.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo minimum score. Speaking below 8.0 triggers an English assessment on enrolment. | |
| TOEFL iBT (test centre or Home Edition) | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo minimum score; either scale accepted. Speaking below 5.5 (1-6 scale) or 27 (0-120) triggers an English assessment on enrolment. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listThe page names only TOEFL, IELTS and DET. | |
| Duolingo English Test | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo minimum score. Conversation below 125 triggers an English assessment on enrolment. |
“The Graduate School does not have a minimum score requirement.”
Graduate School: English proficiency requirement
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year and transfer applicants (enrolling fall 2028 and later)
Required from September 2028
Princeton remains test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry). SAT or ACT scores will be required from the 2027-28 admission cycle, for applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028. The date shown marks the fall 2028 entry term. There are no minimum scores, and active military personnel are exempt.
“Princeton will return to requiring standardized testing for undergraduate admission beginning with the 2027-28 admission cycle.”
“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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