Tests Needed for Admission to Undergraduate
and Graduate University Programs

When applying to university-level schools you will most likely have to take a certain standardized test to give the admissions officers a starting point on how to evaluate you as a candidate. The majority of these standardized tests are in English and have been developed by English speaking countries. This may be frustrating if your native language is not English, but at the present moment in world history English has become the international language of communication. Once it was Latin, another time it was French. Sometime far off in the future it may be Chinese for all we know.

The point is, there’s no need to cry about the dominance of the English language in the international education system. It’s merely a way to stay organized and unified in an attempt to give students from many different cultures the opportunity to communicate efficiently and effectively with one another. So, don’t be offended if you have to take an entrance exam in English to get into a business school in Bordeaux or Milan.

To help you understand what test you have to take and how to go about taking it, WorldStudent has organized all the information and links that you need in order to understand, prepare, and do well on the tests relevant to your educational goals. We have divided the nine principal standardized tests into three sections:

1. Standardized Undergraduate Admission Tests

-SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
-AP (Advanced Placement Program)

2. Standardized Graduate Admission Tests

-GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
-GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
-LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
-MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

3. Standardized English Language Tests

-TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
-TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
-IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

THE TESTS IN BRIEF

The Standardized Undergraduate and Graduate admissions tests are all designed to address problem-solving skills, critical thinking capability, and writing skills. The questions are taken from a broad background of subjects. They are designed to test knowledge and skills that the students are expected to have developed over the years through schooling and personal reading and study. The AP, SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOEFL tests are designed by the world’s largest non-profit private educational testing and measurement organization in the world, ETS (Educational Testing Service).

The AP and SAT exams are designed for high school students who want to apply to undergraduate American colleges or universities. The SAT is a requirement for most American universities, whereas the AP exams are only for those who want the advantage of having university credit before entering a university.

The GRE is designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree or the equivalent and wish to pursue an American graduate degree, such as a master’s in psychology or international relations. Most American graduate schools require this, but it depends on the university.

The GMAT is for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree or the equivalent and wish to pursue an advanced business management degree such as an MBA (Master’s in Business Administration). The MBA degree is both a graduate and professional degree. Most business schools require the GMAT, but it depends on the university.

The LSAT is for students who have completed an undergraduate degree or the equivalent and wish to pursue an advanced American degree in Law. The test is a requirement for most American law schools where one prepares for a professional career in some aspect of law.

The MCAT is for students who have completed an undergraduate degree or the equivalent and wish to pursue professional medical studies. It is a requirement for most American medical schools where one prepares for a professional career in some aspect of medicine.

The TOEFL is a North American English proficiency test designed for international students planning to study in the United States, Canada, or other countries where English is used in an academic environment.

The TOEIC is a North American English proficiency test used by corporations and government agencies worldwide to measure perspective employees’ English level and capability. It is also used by many language schools and universities for proper placement in English classes.

The IELTS is a British English proficiency test designed for students who want to study in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or other countries where English is used in an academic environment.

For more information contact the test-specific websites at:

ETS- www.ets.org - links to AP, SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOEFL

SAT- www.collegeboard.com

AP- www.collegeboard.com

GRE- www.gre.org

GMAT- www.gmac.org

LSAT- www.lsat.org

MCAT- www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

TOEFL- www.toefl.org

TOIEC- www.toeic-usa.com

IELTS- www.ielts.org