PTE for Education in the United States from São Tomé and Príncipe: the score you need

The PTE score you need for the United States

PTE Academic is accepted by more than 1,000 US universities for admission (commonly around 50–60 for undergraduate and 55–70+ for graduate programs). Important: the US government does not use PTE as a visa English test — the F1 student visa is not gated on a PTE score; what matters is being admitted by a university. The US also has no points-based skilled-migration English test.

More than 1,200 US institutions accept PTE Academic, including nearly all universities. Worldwide, PTE Academic is accepted by over 3,000 institutions across nearly 70 countries. Confirm the exact score your programme needs on its official admissions page.

Study, work and PR each set their own bar (study is usually the lowest, PR the highest). These figures change and are component-specific — confirm the live number on US universities before you rely on it. Source: US universities.

PTE for the United States — common questions

What PTE score do I need for the United States?

There is no single number — study, skilled work and PR each set their own bar (study is usually the lowest, PR the highest), and the figures are component-specific. Confirm the live requirement on the official source rather than a third-party number that may be stale.

Is PTE accepted for the United States immigration?

For study, yes — PTE Academic is accepted by United States's universities and student-visa route. For some professional registration or work routes it may not be, so check the specific body.

Can I study Education in the United States without IELTS?

In most cases yes — PTE Academic is accepted by United States's universities (73 verified Education institutions in our directory) and its student-visa authority. Some applicants also qualify through English-medium-of-instruction; confirm with your chosen institution.

Which PTE is accepted — Academic, Core or General?

PTE Academic for study and most migration routes. Confirm against your specific visa or institution.

How long is my PTE score valid for the United States?

PTE Academic results are typically valid for two years; some immigration routes specify their own window. Confirm the current rule on the official US source before you book.

PTE vs IELTS for the United States — which should I take?

Both are accepted. PTE Academic is fully computer-scored with faster results, which some people prefer; choose by the format you're most comfortable with. Neither is "better" — they're different tests with honest trade-offs.