Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Belmont English test minimums
From Belmont's international application checklist, which covers first-year and transfer applicants. Non-US citizen applicants must meet one requirement before an admission decision is made.
| Applicant | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| First-year | 6.5 | TOEFL 80 or 4 (1-6 scale), Duolingo 115, SAT EBRW 550 or Reading 29, ACT English or Reading 23, Oxford ELLT 7, iTEP 3.9, Gateway English 475, Pearson Academic Plus 58, CLT 47 |
| Transfer | 6.5 | TOEFL 80, Duolingo 105, SAT EBRW 550, ACT 23, Oxford ELLT 7, iTEP 3.9, Gateway English 475, Pearson Academic Plus 58 |
Other qualifications and waivers
Belmont also accepts GCSE English Language at C or 4, IB English A or B at 5, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, and, for first-year applicants, the Oxford Test of English (111-140) or Oxford Test of English Advanced (140-170).
The requirement may be waived if you completed three years of US high school without ESL coursework, six hours of English composition with a C or higher at a US college, or a US degree. Citizens of a short list of countries are also exempt, including the UK, Ireland, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, New Zealand, Malta and several Caribbean nations. India, Nigeria and Pakistan are not on it.
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Graduate programmes and how to check
The international checklist covers undergraduate admission only. Graduate and professional programmes are handled separately, so read your programme's admission page for its English requirement.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admission cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Belmont programme page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Belmont University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does Belmont University require?+
IELTS 6.5 for international first-year and transfer applicants. No band minimums are listed.
Does Belmont accept Duolingo?+
Yes. Duolingo 115 for first-year applicants and 105 for transfer applicants.
Can SAT or ACT replace IELTS at Belmont?+
Yes. SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550 (or Reading 29) or ACT English or Reading 23 meets the requirement.
Are Nigerian applicants exempt at Belmont?+
No. Nigeria is not on Belmont's exempt country list.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 6.5
- Austin Peay State University IELTS requirement
- Vanderbilt University IELTS requirement
- Middle Tennessee State University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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