Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
University of Minnesota Twin Cities: English test requirements
Undergraduate and graduate admissions each publish one set of minimums with a writing subscore (graduate also a reading subscore); undergraduates just below the bar may be admitted with a required English course. SAT or ACT is optional for freshman applicants through fall 2029, and the Carlson full-time MBA requires GMAT or GRE unless a waiver is granted.
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
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5
PG 4.5 / 79
PTE Academic
UG 59
PG 59
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG 120
Undergraduate
Scores apply from the spring 2027 application period. Required of international applicants (except those from exempt countries) and of other applicants whose first language is not English or who will have studied in US schools for fewer than four years. Some programmes may admit applicants scoring in the lower 'AZ hold' range, who may then have to take one supporting English course in their first semester; the Carlson School will not admit applicants below both the overall and writing minimums. The test may be waived through ACT or SAT results, US transfer coursework, certain school curricula or country of origin. Conditional admission with a year of intensive English is offered to a limited number of fall freshman applicants.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Writing 6.5 | AcceptedConditional route, not an admission minimum: the table's AZ Hold column shows 6.0. Some programmes may admit at that level with an AZ hold and a required supportive English course in the first semester; Carlson does not. |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale) | Writing 4.5 | AcceptedMyBest scores not accepted. No 0-120 figure is printed. Conditional route, not an admission minimum: the table's AZ Hold column shows 4.0. Some programmes may admit at that level with an AZ hold and a required supportive English course in the first semester; Carlson does not. |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Writing 59 | AcceptedConditional route, not an admission minimum: the table's AZ Hold column shows 50-58. Some programmes may admit at that level with an AZ hold and a required supportive English course in the first semester; Carlson does not. |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Writing 120 | AcceptedConditional route, not an admission minimum: the table's AZ Hold column shows 105-115. Some programmes may admit at that level with an AZ hold and a required supportive English course in the first semester; Carlson does not. |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 180 | Writing 180 | AcceptedConditional route, not an admission minimum: the table's AZ Hold column shows 170-179. Some programmes may admit at that level with an AZ hold and a required supportive English course in the first semester; Carlson does not. |
“All undergraduate programs at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities require a specific minimum score for admission.”
Office of Admissions: English proficiency information
Graduate School
University-wide minimums; programmes may set higher or extra requirements. Tests must be within two years of the programme start date. Secondary school in the US or a listed country, or at least 16 semester credits of recent post-secondary study there (not ESL), meets the requirement. TOEFL and IELTS may be taken at a centre or at home.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Writing 6.5, Reading 6.5 | AcceptedOne Skill Retake not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, on or after 21 January 2026) / 79 (0-120, before 21 January 2026) | Writing 4.5, Reading 4.5 (new scale) / Writing 21, Reading 19 (0-120) | AcceptedMyBest scores not accepted. |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Writing 59, Reading 59 | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 (fall 2027 entry onwards); 115 for spring and summer 2027 entry | Writing 120, Reading 120 (115 each for spring and summer 2027) | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 180 | Writing 180, Reading 180 | Accepted |
“Individual programs may have additional or more stringent ELP requirements.”
Graduate School: English language proficiency
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · Freshman applicants (through fall 2029 entry)
Optional
Applicants choose on the application whether a score is considered, and the choice is final once submitted. Applications without scores get full consideration for admission, scholarships and the Honors Program.
“Freshman applicants through the fall 2029 term are not required to submit an ACT or SAT test score.”
GMAT / GRE · Carlson Full-Time and Management Science MBA
Required
GMAT or GRE is required, with academic test waivers available to qualified applicants. There is no minimum GMAT or GRE score; applications are reviewed holistically.
“Yes, the GMAT or GRE is required.”
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest scores
- IELTS One Skill Retake (graduate)
“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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