Iowa State University (ISU) and the Graduate College have three separate English language requirements for nonnative speakers of English:

  • For admission to ISU set by the Office of Admissions
  • For graduate degree completion set by the Graduate College
  • For international teaching assistants, also set by the Graduate College.

Each set of language requirements has its purpose and exemption criteria. Nonnative speakers of English are considered those whose first language is not English.

English Proficiency for Admission

All applicants are required to meet the English Proficiency requirement. For applying to ISU,  English may be considered your primary language if you have been raised in an environment where English is the only official language of your locality and nation, and English is the language used in your home. 

Purpose: Demonstrate minimum English language proficiency for admission 

Applicants who are nonnative speakers of English must demonstrate their proficiency in one of the following ways: 

  1. The minimum requirements of both the Graduate College and the graduate program to which you are applying must be met. The minimum scores accepted by the Graduate College submitted via official results from one of the following exams are:
    • Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) 79
    • Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) 550 
    • IELTS 6.5 
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE) 53 
    • DuoLingo English Test 105 (only approved through spring 2025 semester)

Note: The Graduate College sets the minimum standards above; however departments have the right to stricker standards.

 

Official TOEFL exam results must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to Iowa State electronically. Our school code is 6306. 
Official IELTS and PTE results should be sent directly by the testing agencies to the Office of Admissions, Iowa State University, 100 Enrollment Services Center, Ames, IA 50011-2011. 

      2. Earn a bachelor’s or higher degree from a country where English is the only official language. For a list of what countries this includes, please contact the Office of Admissions admissions@iastate.edu.

The policy can be found in Graduate College Handbook Chapter 1.3.3 English Proficiency.

Additionally, information about test scores and exemptions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page. 

 For questions about the English Proficiency for Admission, please contact the Office of Admissions, grad_admissions@iastate.edu. 

Graduate English Requirement for Program Completion - To Complete in the First Semester of Graduate Study

All admitted graduate students who are nonnative speakers of English are required to complete the Graduate College English Requirement.  

Purpose: Demonstrate minimum language skills needed to succeed academically in their graduate studies.

The English Placement Test (EPT) assesses the students’ language skills and assigns the necessary courses required to complete the Graduate English Requirement. Students are required to take the EPT at the beginning of their first semester and encouraged to complete the necessary Engl 99 or Engl 101 courses during the first year with the Graduate College. Students must complete all necessary courses before scheduling their oral exams. There is no cost for the test. 

The policy can be found in Graduate College Handbook Chapter 4.4.3. 

Additionally, information about test scores and exemptions can be found on the English Placement Test website. 

For questions about the EPT, please contact the English Department, ept@iastate.edu. 

For questions about the Graduate College English Requirement, please contact the Graduate College.

Oral English Certification Test for International Teaching Assistants

International graduate students who are offered a graduate teaching assistantship are considered international teaching assistants (ITAs). ITAs are required to meet the Iowa Board of Regents’ Oral Communication Competence mandate. Purpose: Demonstrate ability to use the English for Teaching Purposes 

The Oral English Certification Test (OECT) evaluates the ITAs’ ability to use English for instructional purposes.

ITAs are expected to take the OECT before they begin their teaching assistantships and complete the necessary GR ST 5400 courses before or during the same semester as their teaching assistantships. The types of teaching duties depend on the OECT levels. ITAs can retake the OECT to improve their scores. There is no cost for the test. 

The policy can be found in Graduate College Handbook Chapter 4.4.3. 

Additionally, information about test scores and exemptions can be found on the Oral English Certification Test website. 

For questions about the OECT for ITAs, please contact the Center for Communication Excellence, itas@iastate.edu.