Blacksburg, Virginia, US
Virginia Tech: English test requirements
Virginia Tech prints one set of undergraduate English scores for first-year applicants and a second, separate list for transfer applicants. The Graduate School sets one TOEFL or IELTS minimum for all master's and doctoral applicants, and departments may ask for more.
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 from 6.5
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 80
PG 90
PTE Academic
UG from 59
PG Not accepted
Duolingo English Test
UG from 115
PG Not accepted
Undergraduate
Applicants whose native language is not English submit at least one of the listed tests. Scores must come from a test taken within the past two years. TOEFL MyBest scores, TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP Plus are not accepted. The page also accepts SAT, ACT, IGCSE/GCSE/GCE and IB English results, and four years of study in a native English-speaking country can remove the need for a test.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year applicantsSource for this group | 6.5 or higherno sub score below 6.5 | 80 or higher / 4.5 or higher80 line: no subsection less than 16; 4.5 line: no subsection less than 4.0The page prints both lines under the same heading, 'For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026'. | 59 or higher | 115 or higher |
| Transfer applicantsSource for this group | 6.5 or higherno sub score below 6.5 | 80 or higherno subsection score less than 16The transfer list prints only the 80 figure. | 59 or higher | 115 or higher |
First-year applicants, other tests: Cambridge Assessment English English score of 176 or higher; SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 550 or higher; ACT English 24 or higher; IGCSE/GCSE/GCE English First Language or English Language A, B or C, or 6-9; International Baccalaureate English Language and Literature (English A) 5 or higher
Transfer applicants, other tests: Cambridge Assessment English English score of 176 or higher; SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 550 or higher; ACT English 24 or higher; College coursework 6 credit hours of transferable English Composition at grade C or better, equivalent to ENGL 1105 and 1106
“Virginia Tech will only accept score results from a test taken within the past two years.”
International undergraduate admissions: requirements
Graduate
One Graduate School minimum for non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents; some departments require higher scores. TOEFL and IELTS are the tests named. A conferred bachelor's degree from an accredited university taught in English can lead to a waiver. A Graduate Teaching Assistant is expected to score 5 or more on TOEFL speaking.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (IBT); for tests taken prior to January 21, 2026, a minimum overall score of 90 | 4.5 or greater in Listening, Writing, Speaking and Reading; for tests taken prior to January 21, 2026, 20 on each subsection | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | – | Not acceptedGraduate School FAQ: "The Graduate School requires TOEFL or IELTS only." | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not acceptedGraduate School FAQ: "The Graduate School requires TOEFL or IELTS only." |
“A minimum TOEFL score of 4.5 (IBT) or IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission.”
Graduate School: testing requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · International first-year applicants
Optional
International applicants may send SAT or ACT scores if they wish.
“Virginia Tech does not require the SAT or ACT for international applicants.”
Other tests the university lists
- SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 550 or ACT English 24 (undergraduate)
- IGCSE, GCSE or GCE English (undergraduate)
- International Baccalaureate English A 5 or higher (undergraduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL iBT MyBest combined scores (undergraduate)
- TOEFL Essentials (undergraduate)
- TOEFL ITP Plus (undergraduate)
- PTE Academic (graduate)
- Duolingo English Test (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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Fable Tests is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Virginia Tech or any test owner. University names are used only to identify them. Test names are trademarks of their owners.