The British Council, Australia, and Cambridge English jointly own the International English Language Testing System. IELTS is an exam that tests your fluency in the English language. IELTS is a standard examination for applying to countries like the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
IELTS tests your command of the English language in terms of your ability to listen, write, read and speak with it. The test is given at a set examination date after a few practice classes and then graded on a scale of 1-9.
Grade 1: The test taker cannot use the language.
Grade 9: The test taker has a complete grasp of the language with accuracy and fluency.
Test of English as a Foreign Language is another famous English proficiency test regarded by many universities and institutions worldwide. TOEFL examination results are considered by many universities in Canada and the US but less in the UK.
TOEFL analyses your command over the language by assessing your ability to speak, read, listen and write in English. While the examination is usually conducted as an online test, you can also find paper-based reviews. Students are graded on a scale of 1-100. Most universities will require you to score a minimum of 60.
Pearson Test of English is another well-known examination that assesses your English proficiency. The Pearson Test is a computer-based examination that measures your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in a short test.
Most colleges accept the examination results in the UK and other reputed colleges in the USA, New Zealand, and Australia. The test spans around 2 hours with fast results. It also has an online assessment examination that students can take.
Test Preparation Classes
Many young students have made a goal of pursuing their higher studies abroad. This may be the case for various reasons like a better education system, courses only a few universities offer, or better services. Either way, universities all around the globe have opened up their doors to international students from different academic backgrounds.
While Student Visa requirements and procedures vary from country to country, countries follow similar requirements for taking new students. Each country requires international students to take one language proficiency examination. The examination tests a student for their command over a specific language of the country. Depending on countries and programs, students also may have to take an academic standardized exam or test preparation classes like SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.
Academic Standardized Test
Many foreign universities and institutions require students to appear for academic tests assessing their basic conceptual understanding. These examinations test a student’s academic performance and proficiency in English too. The higher the score, the better a student’s chance of getting accepted.
SAT, or a Scholastic assessment test, is an examination that measures a student’s ability to analyze and solve problems focused on the essential grasp of the subjects studied in their school. SAT exams are a must for students applying to the US and Canada for higher studies. These examinations can only be taken twice by students in their entire life.
SAT is a written examination that assesses a student’s English language and mathematical skills. A student’s scholarship chances also depend on SAT scores.
SAT scores are graded between 400-1600, with 1600 being the full mark. A student has to appear for the examination that spans a total of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
American College Testing (ACT) is also similar to SAT, with no college preferring one examination over another.
The Graduate Management Admission Test is an examination focused on students with a management background. These tests are designed for students interested in management, mostly business administration programs.
GMAT examinations are generally required in the US but are also regarded by a few other English-speaking countries. Students are assessed on their basic understanding of English and mathematics.
Another advantage of GMAT examinations is that it is computer adaptive. Tests are done over a computer, and the system selects questions for the examinee based on their ability level. This brings greater accuracy to the result and helps asses a student better.
The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is an expensive academic test required for students who want admission into medical schools. These examinations are designed for students wishing to pursue medicine.
Medical examinations are not easy to crack, and MCAT is no exception. MCAT is a 7-and-a-half-hour-long examination that tests a student’s physical and biological sciences, verbal reasoning, and writing skills. These examinations are held in high regard, especially in Canada, with some universities requiring set scores to gain admission.
MCAT is a computer-based examination with a max score of 528.