IELTS Academic only. Many US universities also accept TOEFL — check which is accepted before booking. Requirements vary significantly by department.
| University | UG | PG | Min. Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
Harvard University #1 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
MIT #2 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Stanford University #3 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Columbia University #4 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Yale University #5 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
University of Chicago #6 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Princeton University #7 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
University of Pennsylvania #8 USA | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Johns Hopkins University #9 USA | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
New York University (NYU) #10 USA | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
University of Michigan Top 25 | 6.5 | 6.5–7.0 | 6.0 |
UCLA Top 25 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
UC Berkeley Top 25 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
University of Texas at Austin Top 50 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Purdue University Top 50 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Requirements vary by programme and department. Always verify on the official university admissions page.
Key Tips
- → Most Ivy League and top-25 US universities require 7.0 overall.
- → Business schools (MBA) often require 7.0–7.5 — higher than other departments.
- → Many US universities also accept TOEFL — check which test is preferred.
- → Scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.