IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GRE and GMAT score validity: when yours runs out
A test score is a closing window. Each month you wait to apply, it gets older, and some places count to their own deadline, not the day you apply.
Your numbers
Common answers are filled in. Change the ones you know.
It only changes the order on your statement.
What waiting costs you
14 months left
Your IELTS score has about 1 year and 2 months left
Most universities and visa offices accept IELTS scores for 2 years. Some count to their own deadline, not the day you apply, so your real window can be shorter.
Your small stepPut your score's expiry date in your calendar, and list the deadlines that fall before it.
How we worked this out
- IELTS scores usually last 2 years: 24 months.
- Left: 24 minus 10 months = 14 months.
- Each university or visa office sets its own rule. Check their page.
- How much it matters to you: 7 out of 10. It only changes the order on your statement.
Sources
- Stanford GSB admissions (2026): TOEFL, IELTS and PTE scores are valid for two years, and must still be valid on the deadline you apply by.
How it works
Most universities and visa offices accept IELTS, TOEFL and PTE scores for 2 years.
GRE and GMAT scores usually last 5 years.
We subtract the months since your test. Some places count to their deadline or your start date, so check each one.
Sources
- Stanford GSB admissions (2026): Most universities and visa offices use two years, but some count to their own deadline. Check each one.
Rules last checked: October 2026. They can change at any time, so check the official page before you plan anything.
Questions people ask
Can I use an older score?
Usually not. A few places make exceptions, so ask each university or visa office before you rebook.
Is this telling me which test to take?
No. It only shows how long the score you already have will last.
Putting off more than one thing?
Pick up to five and get your Delay Statement: what to do first, what can wait, and one small step for today.
Want a nudge to act on it?
The app turns what you're putting off into a short list for each day: your Top 3 and one small step at a time. It's free.
We show what waiting costs on your own plans. We never tell you what to buy or invest in. Rules and averages change, so check the official pages before you plan anything.