Applicants should verify two materials before submission: their academic transcript and whether standardized test scores are required. EducationUSA states that institutions generally require an original transcript or a certified copy sent by the secondary or high school for each institution. It also says standardized test scores may be required to assess academic ability and English proficiency.
These are general statements, not universal rules for every applicant or institution.
| Material | What the cited guidance says | What applicants should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Academic transcript | Institutions generally require an original transcript or a certified copy sent by the secondary or high school for each institution. | The exact format required by each institution and whether the transcript must be an original document or a certified, school-sent copy. |
| Standardized test scores | Scores may be required to assess academic ability and English proficiency. | Whether scores are required for the specific application and, if they are, what the institution requests. Applicants should not assume that every applicant must submit them. |
How to check the requirements
- Review the current instructions for every institution. General guidance does not establish an individual institution’s requirements.
- Compare the transcript instructions with the cited wording. An original transcript and a certified copy sent by the school are presented as general alternatives; the cited statement does not say that an unofficial or applicant-sent copy is sufficient.
- Check whether test scores are requested. The word “may” is important: the guidance does not say that scores are mandatory for every application.
- Resolve any difference before submitting. If an institution’s instructions differ from the general guidance, applicants should follow the institution-specific requirements rather than assume that the general rule applies.
What still needs confirmation
The cited statement does not identify any individual institution’s transcript policy, accepted test names, minimum results, score-validity period, or application deadline. It also does not establish whether a particular applicant qualifies for a testing exemption.
Until those details are confirmed, the supported conclusion is limited: verify the transcript format and school-sent delivery method where applicable, and verify separately whether standardized test scores are required.