If you are an international student applying for a master’s degree in the United States, there are some standardized graduate tests that are required to gain admission into universities in the country. The tests are internationally recognized and created to ensure applicants are prepared for the rigors of advanced study.
This comprehensive guide by Booklab24 contains the standardized entrance exams that are relevant and necessary for applicants who want to pursue graduate courses across various disciplines at higher institutions in the United States of America.
GMAT
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) was created to assess a candidate’s suitability for business school by assessing verbal, mathematical, and analytical skills. The time duration for the exam is three hours and seven minutes.
The GMAT test is divided into four parts:
Analytical writing assessment: It is an essay analyzing an argument
Integrated reasoning: A multiple choice section that measures a candidate’s ability to evaluate information presented in different formats and from multiple sources
Quantitative: These are questions that test the candidate’s ability to solve problems and understand data.
Verbal: Multiple choice questions testing the applicant’s ability to understand written material, evaluate arguments, and correct written material to conform to standard English (36 questions in 65 minutes).
The globally acceptable cost of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is $250 and the exam scores are valid for five years.
GRE
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is used to assess the suitability of students to pursue graduate studies across different subject areas. There is usually a general test consisting of 3 parts which assesses an applicant’s knowledge in a particular field, such as verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. However, some departments may ask applicants to take one of the GRE tests. The duration of the exam is about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
GRE three-part test:
Verbal Reasoning: This comes mostly in a multiple choice section format and it tests candidates’ ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information.
Quantitative Reasoning: Also a multiple-choice test, with a few questions requiring candidates to display their understanding of basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, and to reason numerically.
Analytical Writing: You will be expected to answer two essay questions. The first asks candidates to put forward a perspective on an issue; the second requires an analysis of an argument. This section tests candidates’ ability to articulate ideas, present supporting evidence, and use the English language correctly.
The cost of undertaking the Graduate Record Examination is $205 and it is accepted globally everywhere except Australia, China, Nigeria, and Turkey ($255). The scores are valid for five years.
IELTS
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is used by higher institutions in the United States to test a candidate’s English language proficiency and the results are also accepted in countries where proving their ability to communicate in English is one of the criteria for obtaining a visa.
This entrance exam is divided into two formats; IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, which are in turn divided into four sections, each. They assess a candidate’s listening and speaking abilities as well as reading and writing sections.
Listening: 40 questions based on four recordings of conversations and monologues. The audio content features a range of different accents (30 minutes).
Reading: 40 questions based on three passages of text. For the IELTS Academic, these texts may include graphs or illustrations and may be taken from sources including books, journals, and newspapers (one hour).
Writing: Two tasks. For the IELTS Academic, these are a short formal essay and a task in which candidates must describe or explain a table, chart, or other diagram (one hour).
Speaking: A face-to-face interview, in which test-takers must answer general questions about themselves and familiar topics, speak about a particular topic (given on a card), and participate in a structured discussion. This section can be taken up to seven days before or after the other three sections (which are taken at the same time) and lasts for 11-14 minutes.
The time duration of IELTS is Two hours and 30 minutes, plus 15 minutes for the speaking test. The cost of the test depends on location and its scores are valid for two years.
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is used to assess an applicant’s proficiency in English. The results are also accepted in countries where proving one’s capability to communicate in English is required to obtain a visa.
The duration of the exam is about four hours, with a mandatory 10-minute break midway through.
TOEFL is divided into four parts: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
Reading: 36-56 questions based on three or four passages from academic texts (60-80 minutes).
Listening: 34-51 questions based on audio recordings of lectures, classroom discussions, and conversations (60-90 minutes).
Speaking: Six tasks, requiring candidates to talk about a familiar topic, as well as issues relating to the material in the reading and listening tasks (20 minutes).
Writing: Two essays, the first based on topics introduced during the reading and listening tasks, the second requiring candidates to express and support an opinion (50 minutes).
The cost of the test varies depending on the test center location, for example in Milan it is, US$245; in Seoul is US$190 while in Bogota is US$220. The result is valid for two years
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required by Law Schools in the United States and Canada. It was created to measure skills considered necessary for success at law school, including comprehending and analyzing complex texts, organizing information, and evaluating arguments.
The duration of the entrance exam is three hours and 30 minutes. It is delivered in five sections with three different types of multiple-choice questions: Reading, Analytical, and Logical Reasoning.
Reading Comprehension: This questions the candidate’s ability to understand lengthy and complex passages of text, and make reasoned judgments based on this information.
Analytical Reasoning: Your ability to draw logical conclusions based on statements that describe relationships between various people, objects, and events will be assessed.
Logical reasoning: This tests a candidate’s ability to evaluate and complete arguments, by answering questions based on a short passage of text.
The global cost of the Law School Admission Test is $190 and the results are valid for five years, so if an applicant wants to pursue another graduate course after that time frame, you will have to sit for the test again.
