New Haven, Connecticut, US
Yale University: English test requirements
Yale College requires an English test from some non-native speakers but publishes no minimum, only what its most competitive applicants typically earn. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires TOEFL or IELTS with no school-wide minimum. SAT or ACT is required for first-year applicants.
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 7
PG Set by course
TOEFL iBT
UG 100
PG Set by course
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate (Yale College)
Required for non-native English speakers without two or more years of enrolment in an English-medium school, in addition to SAT or ACT. Yale publishes no minimum; the figures are what its most competitive applicants typically earn. Cambridge B2 First is also named. The page lists InitialView interviews, which have no score. The English test is required in addition to SAT or ACT.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7 or higher (most competitive applicants)recommended | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (centre or at home) | 5 or higher (tests after 21 January 2026) / at least 100 (tests before 21 January 2026), for the most competitive applicantsrecommended | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | at least 120 (most competitive applicants)recommended | Accepted | |
| Cambridge English C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency or B2 First | 185 or higher (most competitive applicants)recommended | Accepted |
“Yale's most competitive applicants have IELTS scores of 7 or higher.”
Undergraduate: standardized testing, including English proficiency
Graduate (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences)
TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English. The international guidance page (pgintl) says the Graduate School has no test minimums for admission but individual departments may have one, so check the programme. IELTS General Training, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. Exempt if you hold an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the main language of instruction and studied there in residence for at least three years. Incoming doctoral students whose Speaking score is below a set level join a summer English programme.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo school-wide minimum. Speaking of 8.0 or higher is the level needed to teach without the summer programme. | |
| TOEFL iBT | Not published by the university | AcceptedNo school-wide minimum. Speaking of 26 or higher (taken before 21 January 2026) or 5.5 or higher (on or after 21 January 2026) is the level needed to teach without the summer programme. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the list |
“TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.”
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: standardized testing requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Required
First-year and transfer applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. The office has no preference between them, and self-reported scores are accepted for review with official scores needed on enrolment.
“First-year and transfer applicants are required to include scores from the ACT or SAT.”
GMAT / GRE · Yale SOM full-time MBA
Required
The application guide lists the standardized test as step 1 of the application, so it is shown as required although the page does not use the word; the LSAT is also accepted from candidates who have considered law school. The page adds that SOM does not require an English test such as TOEFL, IELTS or PTE, using video questions instead.
“We accept both the GMAT and the GRE (past and current versions).”
Other tests the university lists
- LSAT for the Yale SOM MBA
- InitialView interview (undergraduate, no score)
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS General Training, Online and One Skill Retake (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences)
“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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