English Proficiency Requirement

In order to ensure that our applicants will succeed in BYU’s intense academic environment, a test of English proficiency may be required. We require proof of proficiency regardless of time spent studying in the United States. Please note that meeting minimum requirements will not guarantee admission.

BYU accepts English proficiency exams from TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Cambridge English: Advanced and Proficient.

In many areas around the globe testing of English as a second language has fully resumed after COVID closures. Many services also offer an at-home option for their exam.

• TOEFL - BYU is currently accepting the TOEFL iBT (testing center, Home Edition, and Paper Edition). BYU only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores. BYU does not accept TOEFL Essentials to fulfill the English Proficiency requirement.
• IELTS - BYU is currently accepting IELTS Academic and IELTS Online. BYU does not accept IELTS Indicator.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) - BYU accepts PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online.
• Cambridge Assessment English - BYU Accepts C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency exams. These results do not expire.

English Proficiency Minimum Requirements

Exam	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Listening	Use of English	Overall
TOEFL iBT	20	20	20	20	–	80
IELTS (Academic)	6	6	6.5	6	–	6.5
PTE	49	49	49	49	–	53
Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficient	172	172	180	172	180	180

If English proficiency requirements are not met, you are encouraged to increase your skills and retest.

Submitting Scores

• TOEFL iBT – You can select BYU to receive your results by entering the institutional code 4019 as you register for the test. If you decide to submit the result after taking the test, access your ETS Account and use the "Send Additional Score Reports" option. The name on your exam and the name on your application must match to be updated automatically.
• IELTS – Please send us a message via ymessage.byu.edu with the TRF number
• PTE – Select any of the CES institutions and they will be sent automatically
• Cambridge English – Log into the Candidate Results Website and register using your Candidate ID and Secret number, and request that your scores be made available to BYU. The code for BYU is 639. Send in a message via ymessage.byu.edu so that our office can retrieve your score.
  

English Proficiency Exam Waivers

For BYU applicants only. If you are applying to other CES institutions (BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, Ensign College, BYU Pathway Worldwide), please contact each institution directly to learn about their English proficiency requirements and policy on waivers.

Who should submit a waiver request?
Applicants who have lived in the United States or another English-speaking country (where English is an official language) for 5+ years or were raised in a home where at least 1 parent is a native English-speaker may submit a request for an English proficiency exam waiver, although waivers are not guaranteed.

When should I request a waiver?
If you plan to request a waiver, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible so that you will still have time to take an English proficiency exam before the application deadline if you do not qualify for a waiver.

When will I receive a decision about my waiver request?
Once you have submitted the English Proficiency Waiver Form, you will receive a YMessage within 5-7 business days with your waiver decision.

To request a waiver:

• First, complete the following sections of your application:
  
  • Educational History
    
    • High School
    • College
    • Transcript (for US-accredited high school work only)
  • Essays
  • Activities
  • Status page: Transcripts (All documents must be received and processed by BYU)
    
    • Secondary Education Documents (if applicable) (all non-US accredited international work must be evaluated by IERF or SpanTran)
    • College transcripts (if applicable) (international college transcripts must be evaluated by IERF or SpanTran)
• After completing the above application sections, you may submit the English Proficiency Waiver Form.

*Note: Any waiver requests submitted before the required sections of the application have been completed will not be considered.

English Learning Resources

The English Language Center at Brigham Young University may also be able to help students improve their English language skills. Learn more about this program by visiting elc.byu.edu. Note: BYU will require one of the listed standardized English proficiency exams even if students complete this program.