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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 pre-requirements.
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-world universities demand 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 requirement for these tests 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 for individual university beforehand applying to any course. Read the complete article to learn more about which exam to give for studying abroad.
Exam | Courses | Accepted Countries |
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 |
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 |
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.
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.
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 2024 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 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.
University Name | Country | IELTS Cut Off - Overall Score |
USA | 7.0 - 7.5+ | |
UK | 7.5+ | |
UK | 7.0 - 7.5+ | |
Harvard University | USA | 6.5 - 7.5+ |
Stanford University | USA | 7.0+ |
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.
US Universities | Minimum TOEFL Cut off Score 2024 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90+ Minimum PBT score: 577+ |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100-110+ | |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 104+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score : 613+ | |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ | |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 90 – 104+ | |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: 100+ Minimum TOEFL PBT score: 600+ | |
Minimum TOEFL iBT score: no minimum score. |
The Pearson Test of English Academic 2024 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.
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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 |
163 | |
156 in the verbal and 158 in the quantitative sections. |
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.
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 |
UK | Not Required | |
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | Switzerland | Not Required |
Singapore | SAT EBRW-600 | SAT Math-650 | |
UK | SAT | |
USA | Reading and Writing 630-720 | Maths 630-760. |
The full form of MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test. MCAT 2024 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.
The Law School Admission Test Abroad 2024, or LSAT Abroad 2024, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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