Stony Brook, New York, US
Stony Brook University: English test requirements
Stony Brook prints a full undergraduate table (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE and several school exams) plus a lower route into its Intensive English Center. Graduate scores are shorter: TOEFL differs for master's and doctoral applicants, and the page says Duolingo is no longer accepted. SAT and ACT are optional for most applicants.
Checked on 31 Oct 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 6.5
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 4 / 80
PG from 80
PTE Academic
UG 53
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 105
PG Not accepted
Undergraduate (first-year)
Applicants from native English-speaking countries and those who attended an English-medium school are exempt. Applicants who do not meet the scores may be considered for conditional admission to the University Preparation Program through the Intensive English Center; the lower English-courses-only route is shown as the second band. Other tests considered for regular admission are not considered for that lower route.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular admissionSource for this group | 6.5 | 4 (exams taken after 1/21/2026) / 80 (exams taken prior to 1/21/2026) | 53 | 105 |
| Conditional admission only: Intensive English Center, English courses only (not regular admission)Source for this group | 4.5+Only in some cases | 55+Printed as iBT 55+ with no new-scale figure. | Not on the listNot named for this route. | 80+Only in some cases |
Regular admission, other tests: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (new exam) 480; ACT English 19; IB English Higher Level 5; AP English Language/Composition or Literature/Composition 3; A-level (Advanced) English C; Gaokao 125 (out of 150); CSAT Rank 1
“Students who do not meet English Proficiency requirements may be considered for conditional admission.”
Undergraduate Admissions: international first-year applicants
Graduate
TOEFL differs by degree: doctoral applicants need a higher overall score than master's applicants. IELTS is the same for both. Scores older than two years must be retaken. The page also says English test results are considered as part of the review for any applicant who submits them.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's applicantsSource for this group | 6.5no subsection recommended to be below 6 | 80Printed with no new-scale (1-6) figure. | Not on the listNot named on the page. | Not acceptedThe page says it is no longer accepted after Spring 2025. |
| Doctoral applicantsSource for this group | 6.5no subsection recommended to be below 6 | 90Printed with no new-scale (1-6) figure. | Not on the listNot named on the page. | Not acceptedThe page says it is no longer accepted after Spring 2025. |
“Duolingo will no longer be accepted after Spring 2025.”
Graduate School: international students
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Optional
Applicants may send SAT or ACT scores or both. Scores are required for the Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine programmes.
“Stony Brook is test optional for applicants.”
Other tests the university lists
- Gaokao 125 out of 150 (undergraduate)
- CSAT rank 1 (undergraduate)
- A-level English grade C (undergraduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- Duolingo English Test (graduate, after Spring 2025)
“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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