International undergraduate applicants
English proficiency
Pass the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo English test or Cambridge English exam
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
ASU accepts the TOEFL iBT® taken in a testing center. ASU accepts the TOEFL iBT® Home Edition for exams taken January 21, 2026 or after. TOEFL iBT® Paper Edition is not accepted.
ASU’s institutional code is 4007. ASU accepts only electronic copies of the TOEFL score report.
TOEFL iBT (internet-based test)
For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
- For the general requirement programs, the minimum score is 61 (iBT).
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: minimum score of 76.
- Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 79.
- Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 100.
For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
- For the general requirement programs, the minimum overall score is 3.5 with minimum section scores of: Reading: 3.5, Writing: 3.5, Listening: 3.5, Speaking: 3.5.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: minimum overall score of 4 with minimum section scores of: Reading: 3.5, Writing: 3.5, Listening: 3.5, Speaking: 3.5.
- Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum overall score of 4 with minimum section scores of: Reading: 3.5, Writing: 3.5, Listening: 3.5, Speaking: 3.5.
- Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum overall score of 5 with minimum section scores of: Reading: 3.5, Writing: 3.5, Listening: 3.5, Speaking: 3.5.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
ASU accepts IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS UKVI and IELTS Indicator exams.
The overall band score requirement for the academic test is at least 6.0. The general training exam is not accepted. No institutional code is needed.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: minimum score of 6.5.
Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 6.5.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 7.0.
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
ASU requires a score of at least 53.
This test is not accepted for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 58.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 73.
ASU does not accept the PTE Academic Online exam.
Duolingo English test
General requirement programs: minimum score of 95.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: minimum score of 100.
Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 105.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 120.
Learn more about the Duolingo English test.
The exam may be taken from any computer that has a camera, audio and reliable internet connection. The exam portion of the Duolingo English test contains a series of speaking, reading, writing and listening exercises. Following the exam, there will be an interview portion that will ask you to respond to various prompts in 30 to 90 seconds. The exam will take about 45 minutes to complete and you will need either a passport, driver license, or national or state ID to show the camera. The score results are generally received within a few days of exam completion.
Should you choose to take the Duolingo English test, the access information is below.
Information on preparing for the exam | Take the exam or practice exam
A verification email will be sent to you a few days after completing the exam containing a link to send your score to ASU.
For additional information, please review the frequently asked questions.
Cambridge English Exams
ASU accepts the B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency Cambridge English exams.
General requirement programs overall minimum score requirement: 170.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: minimum score of 176.
Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 176.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (higher admission requirement programs only): minimum score of 185.
Information on sending your Cambridge English Scores to ASU
Validity of test scores and programs
- An IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo exam, or Cambridge English exam must have been taken no longer than two years prior to the student’s start date at ASU. Applicants who have scores that are more than two years old (or will be more than two years old by the time of their ASU start date) may be requested to submit updated test scores or demonstrate English proficiency through one of the other listed options.
- The completion date of Global Launch English Programs must have been no longer than two years old at the intended start date in an ASU degree program.
Complete Global Launch courses at ASU*
Learn more about Global Launch
Note: The completion date of Global Launch English Programs must have been no longer than two years old at the intended start date in an ASU degree program.
*Individual academic units may have higher requirements for English proficiency. Review your degree program of interest for details. Visit ASU's degree search to find your program.
English proficiency Exemptions
Important: Admission Services cannot review your request for an English proficiency exemption until after you have applied to ASU.
- If you qualify for an automatic exemption, no action is required.
- if your exemption requires a form, follow the instructions below.
- Please allow up to 72 hours after submitting your application before submitting a request.
Automatic exemptions (no action required)
You do not need to submit a request if you are:
- A U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
- A citizen of a country or territory on the ASU English Speaking Country and Territory List
If you qualify for an automatic exemption, no further action is needed.
Exemptions that require a form
If you meet one of the following criteria, you must submit the English Proficiency Exemption Form
| Scenario | Details |
|---|---|
| U.S. College or University | U.S. College or University Attended a U.S. College or University and have completed 48 transferrable credits from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university with a GPA of 2.50 or higher, of which six credits are in first-year English (comparable to ASU ENG 107 and 108 or ASU ENG 101 and 102).
Please refer to the Transfer Credit Guide for course equivalency by institution. |
| 2 years of U.S. High School and Test Scores | 2 years of U.S. High School and Test Scores Attended U.S. high school for at least junior and senior year AND successfully completed at least two years of English at that school, AND earned either an ACT English score of 23 or higher OR an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 580 or higher. |
| 4 years of U.S. High School | 4 years of U.S. High School Attended a U.S. high school for 4 years AND successfully completed at least four years of English at that school.
Note: English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are not accepted as proof of English proficiency. |
| Medium of Instruction | Medium of Instruction Earned a secondary or high school degree/diploma or higher from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country, and whose sole medium of instruction for the degree program was in English. |