Madison, Wisconsin, US
University of Wisconsin-Madison: English test requirements
Wisconsin-Madison accepts only TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo (and IELTS Indicator at graduate level), and its graduate minimums are far higher than its undergraduate ones. SAT and ACT are optional for first-year applicants through the spring 2028 term.
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 7.0
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 80
PG 5.0 / 92
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG 125
Undergraduate
First-year applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit one of three tests unless English was the main language of instruction in all four secondary years. Scores must be official, sent electronically, no more than two years old, and are not superscored. MyBest scores are not accepted.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (in person or online) | 6.5 | AcceptedThe page says 6.5 or higher is the minimum accepted score. | |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (tests on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 80 (tests on or before 20 Jan 2026) | AcceptedFull score report required. The iBT Special Home Edition is accepted. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listThe page says PTE scores cannot be used to waive the requirement but does not state whether PTE is accepted as a test. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | AcceptedSend with sub-scores. |
“First-year applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score”
Undergraduate admissions: international applicants (English proficiency exams)
Graduate
The minimums apply to degree-seeking international applicants without a qualifying degree. Scores must be within two years of the start term and cannot be combined from several tests. For in-person programmes, lower scores (TOEFL 80-91 before 21 January 2026 or 4.5 after, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115-124) may be admitted with programme approval, but an English assessment test is then required on arrival and recommended ESL courses must be completed in the first semester.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (also IELTS Indicator) | 7.0 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 5.0 (tests on and after 21 Jan 2026) / 92 (tests before 21 Jan 2026) | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listThe page names only TOEFL, IELTS, IELTS Indicator and Duolingo. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 | Accepted |
“The Graduate School accepts test results from TOEFL, IELTS, IELTS Indicator, and Duolingo English Test”
Graduate School: requirements for admission (English proficiency)
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Optional
Including ACT or SAT scores is optional for students applying through the spring 2028 term, which has an application deadline of 1 October 2027. Applicants make a final choice on the application.
“Including scores from either the ACT or the SAT with your application is optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term”
GMAT / GRE · Full-time MBA (Wisconsin School of Business)
Required
The GMAT or GRE is required, and GMAT superscores are accepted. A test waiver can be requested selectively: applicants need a bachelor's degree, at least three years of full-time work experience and a 3.0 GPA, plus at least two indicators of quantitative readiness (for example a quantitative degree, quantitative work, a CPA or CFA, an Executive Assessment, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT or expired GMAT or GRE score, or an MBA prep course). A waiver does not guarantee admission.
“The Wisconsin Full-Time MBA requires the GMAT or GRE to assess academic readiness.”
Other tests the university lists
- IELTS Indicator (graduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest scores
“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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