MIT International Admissions Guidelines: No Country Quotas, SAT/ACT Required, Minimum TOEFL Score of 90

The MIT Admissions website has compiled specific application instructions for international first-year applicants. This policy applies to all applicants who do not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (a green card); students currently applying for a green card are also considered international students. International student status does not affect application timelines, application methods, or the financial aid received.

Specific Impacts on Chinese Students and Parents

• Grades and Quotas: MIT does not convert Chinese students' grades to the U.S. system, nor does it set admission quotas or limits by country.
• Transcript Requirements: A Secondary School Report (SSR) and a transcript containing three years of grades and external exam results must be submitted by the high school counselor or an equivalent school official. If final grades are not yet available, predicted grades can be submitted; only admitted students are required to submit final grades later. MIT has no specific required high school courses for domestic or international applicants, but students should demonstrate a basic proficiency in the areas they plan to continue studying. The application timeline is the same as for U.S. students, typically applying at the start of their senior year of high school.
• Standardized and English Tests: SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing) scores must be submitted; both paper-and-pencil and digital versions of the SAT are accepted. The ACT Writing and Science sections, as well as the SAT Essay, are not required. There are no minimum or recommended scores for the SAT/ACT. Non-native English speakers who have used English for less than five years, or who do not speak English at home or school, are strongly encouraged to submit English proficiency test scores.
• English Test Score Requirements: The MIT testing page lists minimum and recommended scores: TOEFL minimum 90, recommended 100 (for the new version starting January 21, 2026, minimum 5, recommended 5.5); IELTS minimum 7, recommended 7.5; Duolingo minimum 120, recommended 125; PTE minimum 65, recommended 70; Cambridge C1/C2 minimum 185, recommended 190.

Recommendations for Next Steps

Students are advised to prepare for the SAT or ACT in advance and to contact their high school college counselor early to prepare the SSR and transcript materials.

Source: https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/international/. For English test score requirements, see https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/tests-scores/. Policies are subject to the latest official updates.