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    List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students - Check Here
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    • List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students - Check Here

    List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students - Check Here

    Prabhjyot KaurUpdated on 21 Aug 2025, 10:31 AM IST

    Most top study-abroad universities ask for qualifications for English language proficiency and standardised tests to enrol international students in popular courses. Which exam to give for studying abroad? Commonly, most top universities in the world require TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and other English language tests for non-English speaking candidates. Whereas, to evaluate academic efficiency, tests like GMAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, etc, are considered standardised parameters. In this article, we have covered all the popular exams for abroad studies after 12th for international students. The requirements for these exams to study abroad and their minimum cutoff scores can vary depending on the university and course curriculum. Many universities and countries conduct their own entrance exams to select potential candidates. Therefore, students must check what exams are required to study abroad at an individual university beforehand applying to any course.

    This Story also Contains

    1. List of Exams to Study Abroad 2025
    2. Which Exam Should Be Given To Study Abroad?
    3. English Language Exams to Study Abroad
    4. Exams to Study Abroad After 12th
    List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students - Check Here
    List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students - Check Here

    Studying in foreign countries can be an exciting experience for international students. Due to advanced educational opportunities, global exposure, and lifestyle, the trend of studying abroad has been gaining immense popularity nowadays. However, pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree in a foreign university is associated with different admission requirements. Read the complete article to learn more about which exam to give for studying abroad.

    List of Exams to Study Abroad 2025

    Exam

    Courses

    Accepted Countries

    IELTS

    UG and MS courses

    UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada

    TOEFL

    UG and MS courses

    USA

    PTE

    UG and MS courses

    Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand

    SAT

    Undergraduate courses

    USA, Canada

    ACT

    Undergraduate courses

    USA, Canada

    GRE

    MS Programmes

    US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand

    GMAT

    MBA Programmes

    Globally

    LSAT

    Law Schools

    Globally

    MCAT

    Medical Schools

    Worldwide

    List of Entrance Exams to Study Abroad for Indian Students

    Which Exam Should Be Given To Study Abroad?

    IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, DET, GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, MCAT, etc are the main entrance exams students should give to go abroad. Some universities demand for multiple tests. However, as a mandatory requirement, most universities ask for one English language proficiency test and one standardised exam test certificate to start their admission process. A detailed account of the different entrance exams required to study abroad asre given below.

    English Language Exams to Study Abroad

    Studying in English-speaking countries is one of the major trends observed in recent years. Students from Asia-Pacific and other non-English speaking countries migrate to popular English nations like the USA, UK, or Canada to receive higher education. Therefore, taking the English language tests is a compulsory prerequisite for applying to top universities. Some of the popular entrance exams to study abroad are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, CAE, CAEL, and others.

    IELTS

    The IELTS exam is an international standardised English proficiency test for students who are planning to pursue higher studies abroad and for professionals looking to migrate to an English speaking country. The IELTS 2025 assesses a candidate's ability to understand and use the English language for communication. IELTS scores are used as the primary ELP test for undergraduate as well as master’s courses in most universities in the world.

    IELTS modules:

    • IELTS Academic: IELTS Academic module is generally designed for study-abroad aspirants looking to apply for top universities in the world.

    • IELTS General Training: IELTS General Training module is concerned with work or immigration purposes.

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    IELTS Cutoff for Top Universities in the World

    University Name

    Country

    IELTS Cut Off - Overall Score

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

    USA

    7.0 - 7.5+

    University of Cambridge

    UK

    7.5+

    University of Oxford

    UK

    7.0 - 7.5+

    Harvard University

    USA

    6.5 - 7.5+

    Stanford University

    USA

    7.0+

    TOEFL

    The TOEFL test is a standardised English language proficiency test that assesses the English language skills of candidates who wish to study abroad. The TOEFL full form is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The TOEFL exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is held using the computer-based TOEFL iBT format.

    Top Universities TOEFL Cut Off

    US Universities

    Minimum TOEFL Cut off Score 2025

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+

    Stanford University

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100-110+

    Harvard University

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 104+

    California Institute of Technology

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+

    University of Chicago

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90 – 104+

    University of Pennsylvania

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+

    Princeton University

    Minimum TOEFL iBT score: no minimum score.

    PTE

    The Pearson Test of English Academic 2025 is an internationally recognised English language proficiency test conducted by the Pearson VUE. The full form of the PTE exam is the Pearson Test of English. PTE Academic is accepted by Australia and New Zealand for studies, work, and migration-related applications.

    PTE Cutoff

    Degree/Course Type

    Recommended PTE Cut Scores

    Foundation courses

    Minimum score between 36–50

    Undergraduate degrees

    Minimum score between 51–60

    Postgraduate degrees

    Minimum score between 57–67

    Exams to Study Abroad After 12th

    There are many exams students can take after completing their 10th and 12th class. International students can take IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc, to apply for higher studies in foreign countries. However, many entrance exams provide restrictions on the number of attempts and age limits, therefore, students are highly encouraged to take the entrance tests to study abroad only after completion of their higher secondary education. Some popular exams for studying abroad after 12th are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, and ACT exams. GMAT and GRE are taken by students who have completed their undergraduate degree and are going for a master’s level program abroad.

    SAT

    A standardised test widely used for admission to undergraduate courses in abroad countries specifically for US and Canada. The College Board is a non-profit organisation that conducts the SAT to assess a student's readiness for college. The SAT exam evaluates the written, verbal, and mathematical skills of the candidates. Now, a new version of SAT which is the SAT Digital Exam is being conducted by the College Board. Also, many Indian universities have started accepting SAT for admission to UG courses.

    Minimum SAT Qualifying Scores for Top Universities

    University Name

    Country

    SAT Cutoffs

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    USA

    1500

    University of Cambridge

    UK

    1460-1500

    University of Oxford

    UK

    1480 or above

    Harvard University

    USA

    1480-1580

    Stanford University

    USA

    1440-1505

    Imperial College London

    UK

    Not Required

    ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

    Switzerland

    Not Required

    National University of Singapore (NUS)

    Singapore

    SAT EBRW-600 | SAT Math-650

    University College London

    UK

    SAT

    University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

    USA

    Reading and Writing 630-720 | Maths 630-760.

    GMAT

    GMAT is a computer-based adaptive test conducted by GMAC. GMAT is taken by students seeking admission to master’s programmes in the field of management, business, or MBA. Through the GMAT exam, the test takers can enroll in business or management-related courses in B-schools across the world. Various business schools in India also accept the GMAT exam for admission to finance, management, and MBA programmes. GMAT evaluates Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing, and Integrated Reasoning skills which are important for a good understanding of business education.

    GMAT cut off in different countries

    Country

    Average GMAT cutoff score

    USA

    680-740

    Australia

    550-705

    Europe

    600-709

    Asia

    620-770

    Canada

    550-694

    GRE

    GRE is a standardised entrance test used for admission to different business and law school programs across the world. Indian students planning to pursue higher education in countries like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia need to attempt the GRE as part of their admission process. It is taken by students who wish to be admitted to graduate schools abroad. The GRE exam is taken mostly by students willing to be admitted to engineering programmes abroad. The GRE test is accepted by almost 94 countries and thousands of universities across the world for graduate admission purposes.

    GRE score requirement in top universities

    University

    GRE Scores

    Harvard University

    Verbal and Quantitative section score are 160 or above

    University of Oxford

    Verbal- 160 Quantitative- 160 or above; Writing- 4.0

    Stanford University

    163-167

    Yale University

    163

    Imperial College London

    156 in the verbal and 158 in the quantitative sections.

    MCAT

    The full form of MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test. MCAT 2025 is an exam administered to aspiring medical students in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. The MCAT exam aims to assess students' knowledge of medical school by examining their understanding of scientific standards, critical thinking skills, and the ability to apply these concepts to real-world circumstances.

    MCAT total score will range between 472 and 528, with 500 as the average score. Each of the four MCAT sections is scored between 118-132, with 125 being the average score (i.e., 50th percentile) for each section. 528 is the highest possible MCAT score, which corresponds to the 99.9th percentile.

    LSAT

    The Law School Admission Test Abroad 2025, or LSAT Abroad 2025, is an exam administered globally by the Law School Admission Council, or LSAC. The LSAT abroad evaluates law students' talents and chances of achievement throughout their first year of law school. Overseas, the LSAT assesses reading comprehension, writing, and reasoning skills. The LSAT abroad exam is intended for students planning to attend law school in the United States, Canada, or other countries.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Which exam is best for abroad jobs?
    A:

    The best exam for getting abroad jobs depends on your field of study. TOEFL or IELTS are essential for general employment. GRE or GMAT are crucial for jobs after graduation. In healthcare profession, MCAT and LSAT are important.

    Q: Which exam should I give to study abroad?
    A:

    IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, DET, GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, MCAT, etc are the main entrance exams students should give to study abroad. IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, DET, etc are generally for English language proficiency test. Meanwhile, SAT or ACT are required for undergraduate courses. Whereas, GRE or GMAT are standardised test for master programmes. Again, LSAT and MCAT are specified for medical schools.

    Q: How do I choose a course to study abroad?
    A:

    To choose a course to study abroad you should consider the factors like your interests, career goals, and strengths. Appear for the entrance tests required like PTE, TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc as per the requirement of the study programme.  

    Q: Which course is high demand in abroad?
    A:

    Courses like computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering are in high demand in abroad. Now a days, STEM courses are also among the trending and high demanded courses to study abroad. 

    Q: Am I eligible to study abroad?
    A:

    Your eligibility to study abroad is determined by your academic qualifications, language proficiency, financial resources, and other specific factors. Candidates who have a good academic record, relevant entrance test scores are eligible to apply for top study abroad universities. 

    Upcoming Studyabroad Exams
    Upcoming Dates
    SAT Exam Date

    14 Mar'26 - 14 Mar'26 (Online)

    Upcoming Dates
    MCAT Application Date

    15 Mar'26 - 15 Mar'26 (Online)