Standardized tests play an important role in the application process.
Although applications are reviewed as a whole, the most competitive applicants often attain high test scores on required examinations. Each graduate program has their own policies and requirements regarding standardized tests, however. Please review the specific requirements for the program that interests you in our degree program directory.
General standardized exams
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Depending on the program that interests you, official GRE scores may or may not be required for admission. Each academic department determines its own policy regarding the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test. Please check the Programs directory for more information about the program’s specific requirements for the GRE exam.
If the program that interests you requires the GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test, waivers for that requirement are unlikely to be approved. In programs related to management, however, the GMAT may be accepted in place of the GRE.
The entrance fee for the GRE General Test costs $220 in most countries. Further information about GRE fees can be found online. To register for the GRE, please visit www.ets.org/gre. When submitting your test scores to MIT, please use Institution Code 3514; codes for the Sloan School of Management may vary.
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Graduate programs offered by the MIT-Sloan School of Management, as well as the Center for Real Estate, accept the GMAT exam in place of the GRE General Test. Please check the department program pages for information about specific test score requirements.
The GMAT registration fee can vary by country. Further information about GMAT fees can be found online. To register for the GMAT, please visit www.mba.com. When submitting your scores, please note that the Program Code varies by department.
English language proficiency exams
Applicants who are not native English speakers must submit official test scores for one of the following English language proficiency exams. We do not accept other English proficiency exams for admissions purposes; only the exams below will meet this application requirement. Read more about this requirement here.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The IELTS Academic exam measures the ability to communicate in English across all four language skills—listening, reading, writing, and speaking—for people who intend to study or work where English is the primary language of communication. Most of MIT’s departments prefer this test and recommend a minimum score of 7.0, though each department has its own set of requirements. Please check the Programs directory for the specific requirements of the graduate program that interests you.
The IELTS examination fee is charged in local currency and varies by country. To register for the IELTS, please visit www.ielts.org. Choose “MIT Graduate Admissions” as your score reporting option when submitting your scores; no institutional/departmental code is required to send MIT your electronic score report.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Applicants whose native language is not English may take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In most departments, a minimum TOEFL iBT test score of 100 is recommended (600 for TOEFL PBT). Many departments have specific score requirements, however. Please check the Programs directory for the specific requirements of the graduate program that interests you.
MIT Graduate Admissions does not accept TOEFL MyBest, TOEFL Essentials, or TOEFL ITP scores. Only the TOEFL iBT is accepted for admission.
The TOEFL iBT exam fee is charged in local currency and varies by country. To register for the TOEFL, please visit www.ets.org. Please use institutional code 3514 when submitting your scores to MIT; codes for the MIT Sloan School of Management may vary.
Cambridge English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
Cambridge English Qualifications, issued and overseen by the UK’s Cambridge University, are based on a century of research into effective teaching and learning. Cambridge offers a variety of exams to measure proficiency in English, based on the student’s purpose for studying the language (e.g. for immigrating, studying, or working in an English-speaking country). Each exam focuses on a level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), helping learners to improve their speaking, writing, reading and listening skills step by step.
MIT Graduate Admissions accepts official scores from only the C1 Advanced exam or C2 Proficiency exam. These tests measure a student’s mastery of English required for rigorous higher education and professional environments. A score of 185 or higher is recommended for either test, but departments may have specific requirements. Please check the Programs directory for the graduate program that interests you.
The entrance fee for Cambridge English Qualifications varies by country. To register for the C1 or C2 exam, please visit cambridgeenglish.org. Search for “MIT Graduate Admissions” as your institution when submitting your scores; no institutional or departmental code is required to send MIT your electronic score report.
Waivers for the English Language Proficiency Requirement
Some graduate departments offer waivers for the English language exam requirement on a limited basis. To request a waiver, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Applicant’s main language of instruction was English in their primary and secondary schools (i.e., from age 6 through age 18)
- Applicant has been residing in the U.S. (or country where English is an official language) for a minimum of three years and has earned a degree from an accredited institution where English is the main language of instruction
Applicants who have earned a degree at an English-speaking university, but who have not spent several years living in an English-speaking country, are not eligible for a waiver of the English language proficiency requirement.
Please review department-specific requirements and follow the individual program’s instructions for requesting a waiver. Applicants should not contact the main Graduate Admissions office to request a waiver of this requirement.
