Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Mt. SAC accepted tests
From Mt. SAC's application process and requirements page. The college also runs an IELTS testing centre.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 4.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT / iBT Home Edition | 3.5 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 5.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 75 |
| PTE Academic / PTE Express | 41 / 50 |
| iTEP | 3.5 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 50 |
| Oxford ELLT (Digital or Global) | 4 |
| GTEC | 903 |
Waivers and school routes
The requirement is waived for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the UK.
Three years of US high school, or of a foreign high school taught in English with a letter from the principal, also counts. So does a grade C or higher in Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500 or 0990), IGCSE English as a Second Language (0511, 0991, 0510 or 0993), O Level English Language (1123) or AS and A Level English Language (9093). Partner language school levels include ELS Level 109 and Level 4 at the American Language Institute at Cal State Long Beach.
Free test: are you at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)'s score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
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Funds and documents
The application processing fee is $50. You must show at least $26,926 in a bank letter or statement dated within six months of the term start, plus $10,000 for each dependent. High school transcripts are only needed if you will be under 18 on your first day.
Requirements and placement levels change between terms. The score that binds you is the one on Mt. SAC's international admissions page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) 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 Mt. SAC need?+
An IELTS overall band of 4.5.
Does Mt. SAC accept Duolingo?+
Yes, an overall score of 75.
Can Cambridge O Level English replace IELTS at Mt. SAC?+
Yes. A grade C or higher in O Level English Language (1123) or the listed IGCSE English papers meets the requirement.
How much money must I show for Mt. SAC?+
At least $26,926, plus $10,000 for each dependent.
Keep reading
Related
- Los Angeles City College IELTS requirement
- Cal Poly Pomona IELTS requirement
- UCLA 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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