Texas Tech University

Acceptable Proof of English Proficiency for Texas Tech University

All international applicants are required to show proof of English Proficiency in one of the following ways:

Exams:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language; TOEFL)  The minimum TOEFL iBT score, including the Home Edition and Paper Edition Tests, is 79. The minimum score for TOEFL Essentials is an 8.5. TOEFL scores must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS); Texas Tech University's institutional code for International Undergraduate Admissions is B100. TOEFL scores are valid for only two years.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service; IELTS)  The minimum IELTS required score is an overall band score of 6.5 on the Academic version; IELTS General Training results are not acceptable. There is no IELTS institution code for Texas Tech University. IELTS scores are valid for only two years.

• SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test; SAT)  The minimum Evidence-based Reading and Writing score required to show proof of English Proficiency is 500. SAT scores must be received directly from the College Board. Texas Tech University's Institutional code for International Undergraduate students is 6827.

• ACT (American College Testing Program; ACT)  The minimum English score required to show proof of English Proficiency is 21. ACT scores must be received directly from the ACT organization. Texas Tech University's Institutional code is 4220.

• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic; PTE Academic)  The minimum required PTE Academic score is 60. PTE General and PTE Young Learners results are not acceptable. There is no PTE Academic institution code for Texas Tech University. PTE Academic scores are valid for only two years.

• Cambridge CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English; CPE)  The minimum required Cambridge CPE grade is C. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CPE. The Cambridge CPE is valid for life.

• Cambridge CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English; CAE)  The minimum required Cambridge CAE grade is B. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CAE. The Cambridge CAE is valid for life.

• Duolingo English Test (Online examination)  The minimum required Duolingo score is 100. There is no institutional code for Duolingo. Duolingo scores are reported within 48 hours and are valid for two years.

International Undergraduate Admissions (IUA) will also accept the following:

High school/secondary school or College Course Work:

• Attend two consecutive years of high school/secondary school in the United States.

• Attend two consecutive years in a high school/secondary school with U.S. accreditation or attend high school/secondary school within an English proficiency exempt country. (See a list of exempt countries below.)

• Achieve a score of 4 (grade of C) or higher in English on the IB diploma.

• Achieve a grade C or better in English on the A-Level GCE. This cannot be English as a second language (ESL courses), English literature, etc.

• Completion of the equivalent of TTU's ENG 1301 + 1302 English courses with a grade of B or better at an institution with U.S. accreditation or an institution within English proficiency exempt country. This can include a literature, composition, speech, or English class. These cannot be remedial or ESL courses. See a list of exempt countries below.

• Complete 30 transferrable credit hours at an institution with U.S. accreditation or an institution within an English proficiency exempt country. Remedial or ESL courses do not count towards the total credit hours. See a list of exempt countries below.

Certificates and Other:

• An ELS Educational Services (www.els.edu) official transcript and certificate showing successful completion of ELS' English for Academic Purposes program level 112 as proof of English proficiency.

• Completion of any CEA accredited English program, or the equivalent thereof, as proof of English proficiency. International Undergraduate Admissions (IUA) requires the official transcript and certificate showing successful completion of the CEA accredited English program or equivalent. A list of CEA accredited programs can be found at https://cea-accredit.org/accredited-sites.

English Proficiency Waivers. The English proficiency requirement is waived only for the following reasons:

• Applicants who are citizens of an English proficiency-exempt country,

• Applicants who have attended two consecutive years in a high school/secondary school with U.S. accreditation or attended high school/secondary school within an English proficiency exempt country. See a list of exempt countries below,

• Applicants who have completed 30 transferrable credit hours at an institution with U.S. accreditation or an institution within an exempt country.

International applicants who can provide a passport from the following list of countries are exempt from the English Proficiency requirement:

  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Canada (except the Province of Quebec)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Ireland, Republic of
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Micronesia Islands, Federated States of
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Philippines
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Helena
  • South Africa
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales)
  • United States
  • Virgin Islands
  • Zimbabwe