San Francisco, California, US
Academy of Art University: English test requirements
Academy of Art University sets no minimum English score for admission. International students instead take an English placement test (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo, or Accuplacer on campus) that decides whether they join English for Art Purposes (EAP) classes; the one stated exception is the Masters in Art Education, which has an unpublished minimum score.
Checked on 2 Nov 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
TOEFL iBT
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
Undergraduate
No minimum English score is needed to enrol. All international students (on site, hybrid and online) must take an English placement exam: a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score from the last two years, sent before the first semester, or the Accuplacer on campus at the start of the first semester. Students who do not place out must complete EAP up to level 4. The international admissions page also names LanguageCert and asks for scores two weeks before the semester starts. Completing a listed partner ESL school level (for example ELS Level 112 or Kaplan Advanced C1) replaces the test.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score. | |
| TOEFL | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score. The university sends an invitation to take the test after you get a student ID. | |
| LanguageCert | Not published by the university | AcceptedNamed on the international admissions page only; placement use, no minimum score. | |
| Accuplacer (on campus) | Not published by the university | AcceptedTaken at the start of the first semester instead of an external test. |
“There is no minimum language proficiency required for students.”
International student English placement testing
Graduate
The same placement rules apply to graduate international students, and no minimum score is needed to enrol, except for the Masters in Art Education, whose minimum is not published (applicants are told to ask an admissions specialist). Students with a completed degree from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA may be waived from EAP classes.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score except for the Masters in Art Education (not published). | |
| TOEFL | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score except for the Masters in Art Education (not published). | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | Not published by the university | AcceptedPlacement only; no minimum score except for the Masters in Art Education (not published). | |
| LanguageCert | Not published by the university | AcceptedNamed on the international admissions page only. | |
| Accuplacer (on campus) | Not published by the university | Accepted |
“The Masters in Art Education does have a minimum score requirement.”
International admissions
Other tests the university lists
- LanguageCert (placement)
- Accuplacer on campus (placement)
- Completion of a listed partner ESL school level: Kaplan, ELS, EC, ELI, EF, AEC
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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