The United States of America is known to be a hub of entertainment and education. However, to secure admission to the universities of this vibrant country, one needs to take some essential tests that check one’s language proficiency, reasoning skills, and basic knowledge to determine if you will be able to survive well in the United States. So let us know and understand some of the exams needed to study in USA. 

Exams needed to study in USA! 

1. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)

• The SAT is a standardised test conducted by the College Board to assess literacy, numeracy and writing skills required for academic success in college, and is one of the most recognized tests considered by major universities globally. 

• This exam is mostly taken by students in the 11th and 12th standard and is divided into 2 main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or the English section and the Math section. These are further broken down into Reading, Writing and Language, Math (without a calculator), and Math (with a calculator).

• The total duration to take the exam is around 2 hours and 14 minutes and a qualification score between 1300 to 1500 is essential. 

• While the test was paper-based, starting from Spring 2024 it has been digitised.  

2. ACT (American College Test)

• The ACT is another standardised test that is often considered for college admissions in the United States. It is administered by ACT, a non-profit organisation of the same name. 

• The exam covers 4 subject areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning, where each section is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. There is an optional writing test to assess your writing skills which is scored separately on a scale of 2 to 12.

• The entire test takes about 3 hours and 55 minutes to complete. The average score for this exam ranges from 17 to 24 and the above-average scores can be from 25 to 36.

3. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 

• TOEFL is an internet-based English language proficiency test that measures one’s ability to use and understand English at a university level. Many universities require TOEFL scores for international students applying to English-language programs.

• It is divided into 4 sections, reading, listening, speaking, and writing are all tested to understand your knowledge of the language and how you will use it in university settings. 

• It takes about 3 hours to complete the test, with each section focusing on a different skill.

• Each section is scored from 0-30, with a total score of 0-120. Institutions have set their own score requirements which need to be matched to get admission into that particular university. 

4. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

• IELTS is another globally accepted English Language proficiency test that is used to assess an individual’s English Language skills. 

• While not all universities require this test, it might be essential to show it in case English is not your primary language. It can be either taken on paper or through a computer. 

• It is divided into 4 sections- Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking and the total duration to complete this test is around 2 hours 44 minutes with an additional 10 minutes of transfer time. 

• The test is graded on a nine-band scale, and every university has set its own required band square for admission purposes. 

5. PTE (Pearson English Test)

• The PTE is a computer-based English proficiency test designed to measure your English skills for academic and professional purposes and evaluates the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities.

• It is a computer-based exam accepted globally by universities and other professional bodies. 

• The exam takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete and scores range from 10 to 90, with detailed reports on each communicative skill.

6. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

• The GMAT is a standardised test required for admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in the USA. 

• It is divided into 2 sections, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning skills. The test is conducted through multiple-choice questions and essay writing. Your performance in both sections determines a single GMAT score.

• The test lasts for 2 hours and 15 minutes. While a minimum score of 650 is to meet the GMAT cutoff for leading colleges, some colleges might accept a scoreless, depending upon their requirements. 

7. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

• The MCAT is a standardised test required for admission to some of the most prestigious medical schools in the USA. 

• It focuses on foundational science knowledge in subjects like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, focusing on critical thinking & reasoning. 

• The test can be quite tiring lasting about 7.5 hours, with multiple-choice sections and a writing section. Each of the exam’s four sections is graded out of a total score of 132. The minimum score for each section is 118, i.e. a total of 472. 

8. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

• The LSAT is a standardised test required for admission to some of the most recognised law schools in the USA. 

• The test is divided into 4 sections- Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning I, Logical Reasoning II, and Reading Comprehension, and lasts for 2 hours and 20 minutes. 

• While a score of 130 might be accepted, one needs to score higher and really on point to get into prestigious institutions.

Conclusion

These exams are very essential to get into your favourite universities in the USA. Proper research is required to determine which university accepts what exam and with what score. So, one needs to understand the criteria and requirements of their preferred university so that they can work and prepare for the tests that can get them admission. 

Are you planning to move to the USA to further your studies? This guide will help you navigate the exams that are needed to get into your dream institutes. For further guidance reach out to ON TRACK EDUCATION.