Do all US universities require IELTS or are there waivers or alternatives?

You do not have to assume every US university demands an IELTS score, since American admissions are decentralized and each school sets its own English proficiency rules. Depending on your background, you may qualify for a full waiver or be able to submit TOEFL, Duolingo or PTE Academic instead.

IELTS Alternatives Accepted by US Universities

When You Can Skip the Test Entirely

• You studied a prior degree taught entirely in English and can submit a Medium of Instruction certificate.
• You are a citizen of, or completed years of schooling in, an English-speaking country such as the UK, Canada or Australia.
• You scored well on the verbal section of the SAT, ACT, GRE or GMAT, which some schools accept in place of an English test.
• You accept conditional admission and complete an Intensive English or ESL bridge program before or alongside your degree classes.

My Advice

Before you register for any English test, pull up the international admissions page for every university on your shortlist and check whether a Medium of Instruction letter or your SAT or GRE verbal score already satisfies their requirement. If none of those waivers apply to you, compare TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE Academic pricing and turnaround time, and pick whichever one your specific target schools accept and you can complete fastest.