West Lafayette, Indiana, US
Purdue University: English test requirements
Purdue publishes one set of undergraduate scores, one set for graduate admission through its graduate school, and a separate, higher set for the Daniels School one-year MBA. Many graduate programmes ask for more than the graduate school minimum.
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 6.5
PG 6.5
MBA 7.0
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 88
PG 4.0 / 80
MBA 4.5
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
MBA Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG 115
MBA 130
Undergraduate
Scores must be from the past two years. The IELTS and Duolingo figures are worded as what applicants generally have, not as a hard minimum; the TOEFL figure is worded as a requirement. Meeting the score does not guarantee admission.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Online Academic and IELTS Indicator | 6.5recommended | 6.0 in each section | AcceptedPage says 'generally, applicants have' these scores. IELTS General Training not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, tests on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 88 (0-120, tests before 21 Jan 2026) | at least 4.0 in each section (new) / 20 in each section (old) | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 115recommended | 110 or higher in each subscore | AcceptedPage says 'generally, applicants have' these scores. |
“Meeting the minimum English proficiency score does not guarantee admission.”
Undergraduate English proficiency
Graduate (Graduate School minimum)
These are the Graduate School minimums; many programmes require higher scores. Scores must be no more than two years old. Duolingo must be the integrated subscores (Production, Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation).
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Reading 6.5, Listening 6.0, Speaking 6.0, Writing 5.5 | AcceptedOne Skill Retake not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT (centre, Home Edition, Paper Edition) | 4.0 (new 1-6 scale, tests on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 80 (0-120, tests before 21 Jan 2026) | New scale: Writing 4.0, Speaking 3.5, Listening 3.5, Reading 4.0. Old scale: Writing 18, Speaking 18, Listening 14, Reading 19 | AcceptedAll five scores (four sections and overall) must be met. TOEFL MyBest not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | 115 in each of the four integrated subscores | Accepted |
“Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores than those listed above.”
Graduate School admission requirements (English proficiency)
One-Year MBA (Daniels School of Business)
The business school sets higher minimums than the Graduate School. All section minimums must be met; scores no more than 24 months old. A waiver is available for a recent degree taught in English in a country where English is the native language.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | 7.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking | AcceptedOne Skill Retake not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale) | 4.5 in each of Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading | AcceptedThe page gives only the new-scale figure. TOEFL MyBest not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 | 130 in each of Comprehension, Conversation, Literacy and Production | Accepted |
“All five section minimums must be met. Partial scores will not satisfy the requirement.”
Daniels School One-Year MBA application
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants (the page gives no cycle dates, so it is not split by 2026-27 and 2027-28)
Required
Purdue expects SAT, ACT or CLT scores; the page does not use the word required, so this is the closest value. It says that in exceptional cases where an applicant could not take a test it allows the application to be submitted. The page reports that 90 per cent of applicants and 98.3 per cent of admitted students supplied a score in 2026.
“Purdue expects applicants to have SAT, ACT or CLT scores.”
GMAT / GRE · One-Year MBA (Daniels School of Business)
Optional
A GMAT or GRE score is not required; any score submitted is considered in the decision.
“A GMAT or GRE score is not required for the One-Year MBA.”
Other tests the university lists
- TOEFL Essentials (graduate, minimum 8; not accepted by all programmes)
- ACT English 26 or SAT EBRW 600 (undergraduate)
- Completed English-taught curriculum or US transfer credit (undergraduate, see page)
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS General Training (undergraduate)
- TOEFL MyBest
- IELTS One Skill Retake (graduate, 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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