University admissions guide
CUNY English Language Requirements — IELTS, TOEFL & PTE
CUNY English language requirements for undergraduate and graduate admission. IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic score targets with a free checker.
CUNY (New York) accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test for international applicants. Published planning baselines for CUNY include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 6 overall; minimum 5.5 per band; Example: City College minimum 6.0; Baruch 6.5; CSI 5.0. Verify your target campus.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 61 total; min. 18 per section; Example: City College 61; Baruch 80; CSI 45–79 by program. Jan 2026 iBT uses 1–6 scale.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 39 overall; min. 42 per section; Example: College of Staten Island minimum 39; other campuses vary.. CUNY is a research university in New York—professional faculties such as nursing, law, and engineering often publish higher minima than general admissions pages. Use the score table and checker below to compare your practice or official results against published undergraduate and graduate baselines before you book another test date.
Why score planning matters
Applicants often treat one overall score as enough for CUNY, but published requirements frequently include per-skill minimums in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Graduate departments, co-op programs, and accredited faculties may require higher scores than the headline undergraduate minimum. Mapping your gap early helps you choose the right test variant and avoid an expensive retake during application season.
Admission score requirements
Undergraduate
IELTS Academic
6 overall
Min. 5.5 each band
Example: City College minimum 6.0; Baruch 6.5; CSI 5.0. Verify your target campus.
TOEFL iBT
61 total
Min. 18 per section
Example: City College 61; Baruch 80; CSI 45–79 by program. Jan 2026 iBT uses 1–6 scale.
PTE Academic
39 overall
Min. 42 per skill
Example: College of Staten Island minimum 39; other campuses vary.
Duolingo
105 overall
Accepted at several CUNY colleges; campus-specific minimums apply.
CUNY has no single system-wide minimum; each senior college sets its own requirements. Representative published minimums below.
Graduate
IELTS Academic
6.5 overall
Min. 6 each band
Typical CUNY graduate minimum; verify program.
TOEFL iBT
80 total
Min. 20 per section
Typical CUNY graduate minimum; Jan 2026 scale applies.
PTE Academic
53 overall
Min. 50 per skill
Program-specific.
Duolingo
110 overall
Program-specific.
Graduate minimums vary by CUNY college and program.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming CUNY uses one overall minimum for every faculty and program level.
- Submitting a test variant your program does not accept (for example IELTS General Training instead of Academic).
- Ignoring writing or speaking minimums when your overall score already looks sufficient.
- Booking Duolingo when your target faculty only lists IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE on the official page.
Your prep path
- Open the official admissions page and note which English tests and variants are accepted for your faculty.
- Compare undergraduate vs graduate minimums—graduate programs often publish higher thresholds.
- Check whether each band or section has a minimum, not only the overall score.
- Use the checker on this page with your latest practice or official results.
- If one section is below the published minimum, prioritize that skill before paying for another test date.
- Re-verify requirements before you submit—faculties can update thresholds between intakes.
Trusted by 50,000+ learners
Prepare better—and skip the expensive retake
EnglishTestNow mirrors real exam timing and format, gives you instant AI feedback on what's holding your score back, and helps you focus practice where it counts—so you're ready the first time you sit the test.
- Exam-realistic mock tests & timed sections
- AI coaching that pinpoints weak spots
- Avoid $250+ retest fees
Optional coaching tools
Stack on deeper AI help when you need it
Writing coach, speaking coach, exam strategy expert, and spelling practice—premium add-ons layered on top of your membership.
Browse all add-ons →One plan. All exams. Full toolkit.
IELTS, TOEFL, CELPIP, and PTE—unlimited section practice, full mock tests, progress tracking, and access to every premium tool in one membership.
Check your scores
Enter your practice or official test scores to see whether you appear to meet common requirements.
CUNY undergraduate — IELTS Academic
Scores appear below the requirement
Estimated overall: 0 (target 6). Improve: listening, reading, writing, speaking (min 5.5 each).
Practice IELTS AcademicFrequently asked questions
Which English tests does CUNY accept?
CUNY lists IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test for international applicants. Faculties may restrict variants—confirm on the official admissions page.
What scores do I need for CUNY?
Published planning baselines for CUNY include Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 6 overall; minimum 5.5 per band; Example: City College minimum 6.0; Baruch 6.5; CSI 5.0. Verify your target campus.. Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 61 total; min. 18 per section; Example: City College 61; Baruch 80; CSI 45–79 by program. Jan 2026 iBT uses 1–6 scale.. Undergraduate: PTE Academic 39 overall; min. 42 per section; Example: College of Staten Island minimum 39; other campuses vary.. Graduate departments and professional programs often publish higher thresholds than central admissions pages.
Do section or band minimums matter?
Yes. CUNY often requires minimum listening, reading, writing, and speaking scores separately. One weak section can block admission even when your overall score looks sufficient.
Can I apply to CUNY with conditional English?
Some programs offer conditional admission or pathway English, but this is not guaranteed. Verify your faculty's current policy rather than assuming a lower score will be accepted with extra coursework.
How should I prepare before retaking a test?
Use the checker on this page, identify the section furthest below the published minimum, and prioritize timed practice for that skill before booking another test date.
Planning reference only
Requirements change by program, faculty, and intake. Always confirm current rules with official immigration or admissions sources before applying.
Data version: university-admissions-2026-06-30-v3
Last verified: 2026-06-30