The dream of studying and living in foreign universities fills us with joy. However, to make this dream a reality, you need to deal with multiple things before starting the preparation for studying abroad. And the first thing is to decide which entrance exam you need to take for your study abroad.
Studying abroad has multiple entrance exams, including GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, SAT, MCAT, and GMAT. In this article, we discuss the top entrance exam in detail. Read on to know the same.
Types of Entrance Exams
There are multiple types of entrance exams. Studying abroad, students need to qualify for any of the language proficiency and standardized exams. Different entrance exams are accepted in some countries and not in others. According to your country selection, university, college, and course type, you can go for the more suited entrance exam.
Here, we have shared some top language proficiency and standardized entrance exams.
Language proficiency exams
- IELTS
IELTS, International English Language Testing System, is a highly accepted English proficiency test by significant universities for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in countries like Australia, Canada, and the USA. It examines the test taker’s English writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills. The test measures on a scale of 0 to 9, with an average band of 6 accepted worldwide. For study purposes, students need to appear for the IELTS academic test.
- TOEFL
Conducted by ETS, TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language is another top language proficiency test. 11,000 universities accept this test’s score in over 150 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Students can take TOEFL IBT exams from any corner of the world. Like IELTS, TOEFL tests the students’ communication skills like reading, writing, listening, and writing. The exam scores on a scale of 0 to 120. Now a days TOEFL also promote TOEFL voucher code to encourage student to appear for exam.
- PTE
Pearson Language Test, PTE, is a majorly accepted test in the universities of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This language proficiency test also evaluates the candidate’s reading, writing, speaking, and listening ability. There is no age limit for appearing in PTE, and its scores are valid for 2 years globally. The PTE exam is scored between the 10-90 range.
Importance of Language Proficiency Exams
- A language proficiency test is essential for admission to an English-speaking country. Universities consider this test as a standard for admission.
- The English language proficiency test is also crucial for employment and career opportunities. English is now a global language. The company prefers candidates with good English communication skills.
- Preparing for the language proficiency test journey improves the candidate’s personality and boosts their English language skills.
- Language proficiency tests allow candidates to pursue higher education at international colleges and universities.
The language proficiency test is also essential for immigration to English-speaking countries.
Standardized Entrance Exams
- SAT
Scholastic Aptitude Test, SAT is an undergraduate admission test conducted in the United States and Canada., which evaluates the students’ language and mathematical skills. It is a written test that has two formats – Essay-type and non-essay-type. The essay type lasts for 3 hours, and the non-essay type lasts for 3 hours and 50 minutes. Its score ranges between 200 to 800 points.
- ACT
American College Testing ACT is a standardized exam for admission in the USA. The test takes 2 hours 55 minutes and covers four sections: Math, reading, science, and English. However, it also includes an optional writing section. ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36 with an average of 21.
- GRE
The Graduate Record Examination, GRE, is a graduate school exam widely accepted by all English-speaking countries, like Canada, Australia, and the USA. However, European countries have optional exams over the GRE, so they usually don’t prefer GRE scores. The GRE evaluates the candidates’ verbal, quantitative reasoning, and writing skills.
- GMAT
The Graduate Management Admission Test, GMAT, examines the candidate’s analytical, writing, quantitative, and reasoning approach. Its score is usually used for MBA admissions, particularly in countries like Germany, Canada, and the USA. The test score for GMAT is between 200 and 800, with an average score of 550. The GMAT test lasts 2 hours 45 minutes.
- MCAT
The American Medical Colleges Association (AAMC) organizes the Medical College Admission Test, MCAT, an entrance test for medical college admission in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. The test assesses the candidates’ analysis, psychological, and biological knowledge. MCAT scores range between 472 – 528.
- LSAT
Law School Admission Council conducts two types of Law School Admission Test (LSAT) – LSAT India and abroad. LSAT abroad helps students gain admission to law schools in the USA, Canada, and Australia. The exam is conducted 6 times a year for the students, lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Importance of Standardized Entrance Exams
- Standardized tests evaluate the candidate’s knowledge of medicine, law, or business courses.
- It distinguishes students based on their fields and offers tests for each specialization.
- The test sets a standard for the students willing to study abroad and creates a competitive environment for candidates where students from all nations are treated equally.
- Standardized entrance exams let students understand whether they can study in an International environment. A. While preparing for the exams, they go through vocabulary difficulty levels, international standard questions, and more.
So, to gain admission into foreign institutes, students must take the test.
The Bottom Line
Multiple study abroad institutions conduct exams for admission to international universities and colleges. Selecting the right exam is crucial for the students. Doing proper research about different exams can be a vast process. The abroad study preparation center conducts personalized abroad admission counseling for the students and helps them select exams, courses, universities, colleges, etc.
If you’re also confused about choosing the best exam for your study abroad dreams. You can go for students abroad to study counseling. The study center will also help you with test preparation, university selection, admission assistance, pre-departure help, and more.