Test Requirements

Graduate applicants to SJSU may be required to submit standardized test scores as part of their application process. 

Test Score Submissions 

Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to SJSU.
Test scores must be received by SJSU by the document deadline for the applicant's program. 

  • TOEFL (iBT): Educational Testing Services (ETS) code is 4687. TOEFL scores must be less than two years old.

  • GRE: Educational Testing Services (ETS) code is 4687. GRE scores must be less than five years old.  
  • Academic IELTS scores must be sent electronically. IELTS scores must be less than two years old.
    San Jose State University Graduate Admissions
    One Washington Square
    San Jose, CA 95192-001

  • IELTS Indicator scores should be sent to San Jose State University Graduate Admissions by selecting us through the drop down menu. IELTS scores must be less than two years old.

  • Academic PTE: Login to your PTE portal to send your official PTE score report to SJSU. PTE scores must be less than two years old.

  • GMAT: Login to your GMAT account to send official GMAT scores to SJSU. GMAT scores must be less than five years old.  


IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • If your name or birthdate is different on your standardized test from what you listed on your university application, please notify our offices by emailing grad-admissions@sjsu.edu and include an explanation.
  • If you have retaken any test and/or are sending updated test results, please email grad-admissions@sjsu.edu with your full name and SJSU ID.

Department Required Exams- GRE/GMAT 


Many of our graduate programs require that applicants submit standardized test (GRE or GMAT) results in order to be considered for admission.  Check the Degree Program Requirements table as to whether the program you are applying to requires a standardized exam.

 

University Required English Language Proficiency (ELP) Exams

An English Language Proficiency Exam [TOEFL (iBT), Academic IELTS, IELTS Indicator, Academic PTE] is required for all graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants

  • Who come from a country where English is not the primary language
    AND
  • Who do not possess a baccalaureate degree from a post-secondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction.

SJSU interprets “where English is the principal language of instruction” to mean that the higher education institution is located in a country in which English is the official language (the daily medium of communication of the majority of residents) and that the students receive academic instruction in all subjects (except foreign language courses) at all levels of education in English.

Minimum proficiency score Internet Paper
  TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home & Paper Edition)*   80   N/A
  IELTS (Academic, Online Academic)   6.5   6.5
  PTE Academic   53   N/A

*TOEFL Essentials Scores are not accepted at this time. SJSU Graduate Admissions Office will accept MyBest TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, iBT Paper Edition) Scores.
Note: SJSU Graduate Admissions does not accept Duolingo as a test of English proficiency.


Some programs will require a higher ELP score than the university minimum.  For a complete list, see below.

English Language Proficiency Exam Waivers

Waivers will be considered for applicants who meet one of the following criteria:

  • Studied full-time at a U.S. college or university for at least three years (completed 72 semester/108 quarter academic units at a regionally accredited institution within the U.S.)
  • Completed three years of full-time study at a high school in the U.S.
  • Completed (or in progress of being completed) Bachelor's or Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution within the U.S. or from one of the following countries/territories outside of the U.S.
Australia
Bermuda
Botswana
Commonwealth Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago)
Canada – excluding Quebec
Cayman Islands
Fiji
Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Philippines
Sierra Leone
Swaziland
The Gambia
Uganda
United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)
U.S. Territories
Zambia

*Countries not listed will not meet the English Language Proficiency requirement.

Note: SJSU does not accept “English-medium of instruction” as a substitute for an English-language proficiency exam such as TOEFL, IELTS, or the Pearson’s Test of English. Letters from applicants or institutions will NOT be accepted.

Waiver Review Process: English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam waiver criteria is verified on the applicant's official academic records (e.g. an official U.S. transcripts or required International Evaluation). Applicants may anticipate this waiver review process to occur after their official academic records have been successfully submitted for their graduate application.

Programs Requiring a Higher ELP Test Score