English Language Proficiency Requirements
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Accepted Scores
WVU accepts the following exams and minimum scores. WVU does not section or sub-score requirements for regular undergraduate admission when the overall or total score is met.
WVU does not accept expired scores, scores we can’t verify, General IELTS, or institutional TOEFLs (TOEFL ITP).
| Exam | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT - through January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted) | 79 |
| TOEFL iBT - after January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted) | 4.0 |
| Academic IELTS | 6.5 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 9.0 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 |
| PTE Academic and PTE Express | 53 |
| SAT EBRW | 570 |
| ACT English | 24 |
Qualifying Exempt Countries
If you are a citizen of the following countries, you do not need to submit scores to meet the English language proficiency requirement:
- Anguilla
- Antigua
- Australia
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Montserrat
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Republic of Ireland
- South Africa
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent
- The Bahamas
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos
- United Kingdom
- United States and its territories
Credential and Medium of Instruction Exemptions
If you have any of the following credentials, you do not have to submit scores for English proficiency.
- IB Diploma
- GCSE or GCE English exam from an approved UK exam board – Letter grades A, B or C, or numerical grades 4-9.
- 24+ transferable* undergraduate credit hours at a recognized university in a qualifying country.
- 24+ transferable* undergraduate credit hours at a recognized university with English as the sole medium of instruction demonstrated by a medium of instruction certificate.
- Average grade of B (3.0) or higher in 2 introductory English composition courses including coursework on research and the writing process approved by WVU.
- Meets academic admission requirements while pursuing or having earned a diploma from an accredited U.S. high school.
- Bachelor’s degree in a qualifying country.
*Developmental, vocational, or intensive English language coursework will not count toward 24 credit hours for English proficiency.
Tips for Submitting Scores and Documents
In the WVU application, you can provide information that will let us know how you plan to meet the English proficiency requirement. In all cases, there is a manual review process to update the English proficiency item on your checklist, which may take 1-2 weeks.
- Citizens of qualifying countries – Report your citizenship in the application.
- Students educated in qualifying countries – Upload your unofficial transcripts in the application when you report your educational history.
- Students providing a medium of instruction certificate – Send your certificate along with your official university transcripts, which are required for review.
- GCSE/IGCSE/GCE English or IB Diploma holders – Upload your unofficial transcripts in the application when you report your educational history.
- TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo test takers – WVU will email you a form to submit your score verification information. You should receive the email within 2 weeks of submitting your application. If WVU can verify your scores, then you will not have to send official results. If there are problems verifying your scores, you will need to send scores directly from the testing agency.
- SAT or ACT test takers – Send scores directly from the testing agency. WVU’s institution codes are:
- SAT: 5904
- ACT: 4540
WVU offers Intensive English Program (IEP) conditional admission consideration for many undergraduate applicants. Not all applicants are eligible.
- Applicants to WVU Online, WVU Potomac State College in Keyser, and WVU Institute of Technology in Beckley may not apply for IEP conditional admission.
- Applicants to WVU Morgantown may apply for IEP conditional admission.
Admission to the WVU IEP does not guarantee admission to an academic program.
IEP courses may not be available during summer terms.
How to apply for IEP conditional admission
In the WVU application, begin an application for your academic program. When you get to a question that asks if you intend to enroll in WVU’s Intensive English Program, answer yes.
How to move from IEP conditional admission to regular admission
You must either 1) successfully complete all English language programming or 2) submit one of the approved scores.
If you schedule a test to submit new scores to WVU, please schedule early. WVU cannot guarantee regular admission to the next term if we don’t receive the scores well ahead of the start of classes.
WVU offers admission to the English Language Pathways Program (ELP Program) for undergraduate students on the Morgantown campus who still need some English language support but are ready for some academic university coursework. Students will take limited general education courses that will count toward their degree completion and English language courses. The ELP Program is 1 or 2 semesters long depending on placement by the coordinator. Admission is based on both academic criteria and meeting one of following score requirements.
- TOEFL iBT through January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted): 61-78
- TOEFL iBT after January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted): 3.0-3.5
- Academic IELTS: 5.5-6.0 (no section scores below 5.5)
- TOEFL Essentials: 8.0-8.5
- Duolingo English Test: 90-104
- PTE Academic: 44-52
- ACT English: 19-23
- SAT EBRW: 490-560
WVU Online, WVU Potomac State College, and WVU Tech students are not eligible for the ELP Program.
Occasionally an applicant may demonstrate English proficiency by means not listed on this page. Applicants may submit a request for review of alternative English proficiency documentation.
Examples of who should submit this form:
- Applicants with a medical license approved by a U.S. medical board.
- Applicants with residency (but not citizenship) in an approved country.
- Applicants with expired scores who have continued to live in a qualifying country since the score expiration.
Related Resources
More Information
International Student Application
