There are a few things to think about while applying for a visa and deciding to study in the United States. You must take a number of examinations as evidence of your academic and linguistic abilities in order to get admitted to US universities. These include evaluations of students' academic standing for admission to the best universities in the USA at the UG and PG levels. These common assessments serve as a benchmark for contrasting students from various educational backgrounds around the globe.
These tests include IELTS/TOEFL (English language tests), SAT/ACT (undergraduate academic assessments), GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT (graduate academic assessments), and others. For an international applicant, selecting between two test kinds to study in the USA can be challenging. Let's find out what tests you'll need to do and how you'll decide when you have to.
The multiple-choice exam is a required test for college admission. To determine if a student is prepared to enrol in college, it assesses their analytical and critical thinking abilities. Depending on the universities and courses one is applying to, the official ACT scores change. In general, a score of 22 is the minimum acceptable. Here are further information on the ACT Exam.
| Exam duration | 3 hours, 35 minutes (writing included) |
| Exam fees | INR 12,358 (with writing)INR 11,167 (without writing) |
| Number of Sections | MathEnglishReading ScienceWriting (option) |
| Qualifying score | 22 |
| Who should apply for the ACT | High school graduates applying for UG courses, stronghold on science, trigonometry and English |
A multiple-choice exam called the SAT is used to assess students' proficiency in writing, reading, and mathematics. Additionally, this paper-based assessment aids in receiving government grants. The SAT scores are examined by the College Board while applicants for undergraduate admission are being considered. In the United States, prestigious universities like Harvard accept SAT scores. SAT scores are also accepted by many Indian universities for admission.
| Exam duration | 3 hours, 50 minutes (writing included) |
| Exam fees | INR 7,892 (with writing)INR 6,997 (without writing) |
| Number of Sections | ReadingWritingMathematics |
| Qualifying score | 400-1600 |
| Who should apply for the SAT | High school graduates applying for UG courses, strong problem-solving capability |
If you are applying to engineering programmes and master's programmes in the USA, the GRE is required. There are subject-specific tests one can take in addition to the GRE. Additionally, several business schools have begun accepting GRE results for MBA admission. More than 1400 universities throughout the world recognise the test, which has three portions. Both an online and offline version are accessible.
| Type of test | General test and Subject test |
| Sections | Analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning |
| Score | 160 |
| Test Duration | General- 3 hours, 45 minutesSubject- 2 hours, 50 minutes |
| Who can take the test | Students aiming to take admission in MBA, MS, and law etc. |
| Exam fees | General- INR 15,165Subject- INR 10,989 |
Students must take the LSAT in order to apply for admission to law school. The LSAT minimum acceptable score is 130. However, you will need a score higher than 160 if you wish to apply for admission to prestigious legal schools like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and more.
| Exam duration | 2 hours, 20 minutes |
| Exam fees | INR 3,800 |
| Number of Sections | Analytical reasoningLogical reasoning 1, and 2Reading comprehension |
| Qualifying score | 150-160 |
| Who should apply for LSAT | Students aiming to enroll in law schools |
If you want to be admitted to the best business schools in the USA, you must take the GMAT exam. The typical score that students must achieve is roughly 700. If you want to study for an MBA in the USA, you must have a GMAT score. Please be aware that while many universities do not demand GMAT scores for entrance, employers often do while conducting interviews.
| Exam duration | 3 hours, 07 minutes (excluding two 8-minute breaks) |
| Exam fees | INR 18,620 |
| Number of Sections | Integrated ReasoningVerbal reasoningQuantitative reasoningWriting |
| Qualifying score | 650-700 |
| Who should apply for GMAT | Students enrolling for MBA |
Students who want to attend medical school must take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). The computer-based test assesses verbal reasoning, writing abilities, and biological and physical science knowledge. Additionally, there are foundational parts on social behaviour, biology, and psychology. Officials use the MCAT as a general success predictor test to assess your likelihood of surviving the course's demanding curriculum.
| Exam duration | 7 hours, 30 minutes |
| Exam fees | INR 25,750 |
| Number of Sections | CARS, Biology, Physical Science, Psychology, Biological and social behavioral foundations |
| Qualifying score | 500-650 |
| Who should apply for MCAT | Students aiming to enroll in medical schools |
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide documentation of your English language ability in order to pursue higher education in the USA. Test results from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE are acceptable for the same.
IELTS scores are accepted almost universally by American universities to assess the English language proficiency of international students. However, if you have documentation to prove your language proficiency, many universities will accept your application without the IELTS score.
| Exam duration | 2 hours, 45 minutes |
| Exam fees | INR 14,700 |
| Number of Sections | SpeakingReadingWriting, &Listening |
| Qualifying score | 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Who should apply for IELTS | Students aiming to enroll in best universities of the USA |
One of the most popular examinations for measuring proficiency in the English language is the TOEFL. Students who want to enrol in a Ph.D. programme must also take the exam and receive a better score to qualify. To verify the exam scores needed for admission, you should check with the university where you plan to enrol.
| Exam duration | 2 hours, 30 minutes |
| Exam fees | INR 13,832 |
| Number of Sections | SpeakingReadingWriting, &Listening |
| Qualifying score | 600 to 900 |
| Who should apply for TOEFL | Students aiming to enroll in best universities of the USA |
PTE is a computer-based English language exam that is widely recognised by all universities worldwide. The PTE-academic test is especially useful for students who want to further their studies in a significant English-speaking nation. It is a computer-based test, and just lately the test-from-home option was introduced.
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Exam fees | INR 13,300 |
| Number of Sections | SpeakingReadingWriting, &Listening |
| Qualifying score | 600 to 900 |
| Who should apply for PTE | Students aiming to enroll in best universities of the USA |