Required Tests

Degree programs may require Graduate School applicants, including master’s students and those not applying directly out of college, to submit valid test scores to be considered for admission. If your native language is not English, you must meet English language proficiency requirements and may be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DET test scores.

The Graduate School does not have a minimum score requirement; each department or program may set its own. The Graduate School does not have average GRE scores, however, departments or programs may. 

Send test scores no later than three weeks before the degree program application deadline to ensure receipt of the official score report. Test scores received after the deadline will still be matched to your application; however, faculty may have already begun their review of your application without your test scores. No offers of admission will be made if required scores are not in the application. You do not need to wait on test scores to submit your application. If your application is on file when scores are received, we will match them to your application within seven business days.

GRE

Applicants may be required to submit valid General Test scores from Educational Testing Service (ETS). Other than the GMAT exception noted below, no other test scores (including the LSAT) may be submitted in their place. For more information about the GRE, contact ETS.

GMAT

Applicants applying to the Department of Finance may submit valid GMAT scores in place of GRE scores. No other department or program accepts GMAT. GMAT is offered on a monthly basis. For more information, visit GMAT.

English Language Tests

Graduate students must demonstrate a level of oral proficiency in the English language sufficient to participate successfully in the various activities that comprise a graduate education, including classwork, research, research presentations, group meetings, project teamwork, and teaching undergraduates. Please view our English Language Proficiency Policy for more information.

The three internationally recognized tests of English language proficiency which we accept are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Duolingo English Test (DET).

The following applicants are not required to submit English language test scores:

  • Applicants whose primary language is English. Primary language is defined as the language that someone communicates in most frequently and in most situations when speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Applicants whose undergraduate instruction is entirely in English as certified by the institution and for whom the degree will be awarded prior to anticipated enrollment at Princeton.
  • Applicants whose graduate study was on a full-time basis for at least one year where instruction is entirely in English as certified by the institution.

All other applicants must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores.

TOEFL

Educational Testing Service administers the internet-based TOEFL. The Graduate School prefers scores from the iBT TOEFL. Applicants who take the test in a country which does not offer the iBT TOEFL should take the TOEFL Paper-delivered Test. For more information contact contact ETS.

IELTS

IELTS Academic is administered jointly by the British Council, IDP Education Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) .

DET

Duolingo administers DET which is entirely computer-based and can be taken from any location with an internet connection.

Tracking Your Scores