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BYU Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement

If English is your second language, you may be required to submit a test of English proficiency as a part of the application.

In order to ensure that our applicants will succeed in BYU’s rigorous academic environment, a test of English proficiency may be required. Meeting minimum requirements will not guarantee admission.

Accepted English Proficiency Tests

BYU accepts English proficiency exams from the following testing services. Many of these services also offer an online or at-home option for their exam.

  • TOEFL - BYU currently accepts the TOEFL iBT (testing center, Home Edition, and Paper Edition). BYU now accepts TOEFL iBT MyBest scores. BYU does not accept TOEFL Essentials.
    • For TOEFL exams taken before January 21, 2026, BYU will evaluate scores using the 0–120 TOEFL iBT scoring scale and the corresponding minimum score requirements.
    • TOEFL exams taken on or after January 21, 2026, will be evaluated using the updated TOEFL scoring scale. You can find the updated TOEFL scoring scale here.
  • IELTS - BYU currently accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS Online. BYU now accepts IELTS One Skill Retake scores. BYU does not accept IELTS Indicator.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) - BYU currently accepts PTE Academic.
  • Cambridge Assessment English - BYU currently accepts B2 First, C1 Advanced (CAE), and C2 Proficiency (CPE) exams. BYU does not accept Cambridge certificates.

English Proficiency Minimum Score Requirements

BYU requires individual section scores as well as the overall score to meet the following minimums. If English proficiency requirements are not met, you are encouraged to increase your skills and retest.

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Listening

Use of English

Overall

TOEFL iBT (Taken before January 21, 2026)

20

20

20

20

–

80

TOEFL iBT (Taken on or after January 21, 2026)

4

4

4

4

-

4

IELTS (Academic)

6

6

6

6

–

6.5

PTE

60

60

60

60

–

60

Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficient

172

172

172

172

180

180

NOTE: These minimum score requirements have been updated and will apply starting with the winter 2027 application cycle.

All English proficiency scores expire after 2 years (including Cambridge).

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 – Submit a case to us 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. Submit a case to us so that our office can retrieve your score.

English Waivers (For BYU Undergraduate Applicants Only)

If you are applying to other CES institutions (BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, Ensign College, BYU Pathway Worldwide) or BYU's Graduate School, contact each institution directly to learn about their English proficiency requirements and policy on waivers.

English Waiver FAQs & Resources

  • English Proficiency Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis using a holistic review that may include the following factors:

    • A minimum of a 3.5 GPA in high school and, if applicable, college coursework.
    • 5-7 years of residence in one or more of the following countries:
      • Australia
      • Barbados
      • Bermuda
      • Belize
      • Botswana
      • Canada
      • Cook Islands
      • England
      • Grenada
      • Guyana
      • Ireland, Northern
      • Ireland, Republic of
      • Jamaica
      • Lesotho
      • Malta
      • New Zealand
      • South Africa, Republic of
      • Sierra Leone
      • St. Kitts & Nevis
      • St. Lucia
      • Swaziland
      • United States of America
      • Wales
      • Zambia
    • Attendance at an international school with an English-only curriculum for at least four years, with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
    • Quality of essays and other communications with BYU Admissions.
    • Having tested out of English as a Second Language (ESL) class before high school, if applicable.
    • Personal history with the English language.
    • If an English proficiency test score is on file, it should meet BYU's minimum score requirements.

    These are the minimum requirements to be considered for a waiver. Waivers are not guaranteed. Final decisions are based on a holistic review of your waiver request and BYU application.

  • 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.

    Semester/Term

    Application Opens

    English Waiver Deadline

    Application Deadline

    Fall 2026 (Transfer Applicants)

    Aug. 27, 2025

    May 18, 2026

    Jun. 1, 2026

    Winter 2027

    Apr. 1, 2026

    Aug. 17, 2026

    Aug. 31, 2026

    Spring/Summer/Fall 2027

    Aug. 26, 2026

    Dec. 1, 2026

    Dec. 15, 2026

    Fall 2027 (Transfer Applicants)

    Aug. 26, 2026

    May 18, 2027

    Jun. 1, 2027

    NOTE: Waiver requests will not be accepted starting 2 weeks before the final application deadline. No exceptions.

  • To request a waiver:

    • First, complete the following sections of your application:
      • High School
      • College
        • All transcripts must be received by BYU (if applicable). International college transcripts must be evaluated by IERF or TEC (formerly SpanTran) and received by BYU.
      • Transcript (if applicable) for US-accredited high school work only
      • Secondary Education Evaluation (if applicable). All non-US accredited international work must be evaluated by IERF or TEC (formerly SpanTran) and received by BYU.
      • Essays
      • Activities
    • 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.

  • Once you have submitted the English Proficiency Waiver Form, you will receive an email within 2 weeks with your waiver decision.

  • 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.

RELATED CONTENT

TOEFL iBT
IELTS
PTE
Cambridge English
English Language Center

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