Introduction
Why Studying abroad is on the rise for Indian Students?
- Research studies and experimental and applied level academics are more developed in Western Countries or certain Asian countries. Thus the flock of dreamy-eyed Indian students makes a queue for these countries each year, resulting in a major brain-drain in the process.
- The number of scholarships that students can make avail of is also on the rise – with heaps of grants aimed at attracting STEM students as well as the elite students from India. This has made possible a flurry in University Applications to the US or Canada or Australia by the bright students of our country.
Study Abroad
Examinations needed to study Abroad
Depending on the field one wants to pursue, different exams serve different purpose, One Standardised Exam and One Language Test is to be sailed through by the aspirants.
What are the different Standardised Exams for studying abroad?
Every country has its own preferred Standardised Exam that students must crack in order to be eligible for the Universities abroad.
| Course | Standardised Test | Score Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | SAT or ACT | 5 years |
| MBA | GMAT or GRE | GMAT - upto 5 years; |
| MS | GRE | GRE – 5 years after testing |
| Medical | MCAT | - |
| Law | LSAT | - |
- All English speaking countries would require the aspirants to pass any one of the popular English Language Exams.
- Proficiency in English is a must to be accepted in any University/College located in an English Country. This is to assess the English skills of the aspirants as they are required to assimilate as easily as the native speakers.
- Language exams are must for almost all courses – Undergraduate/ Post Graduate/ Certificate Or Diploma etc.
- Every country gives more preference to one language exam over the other.
Foreign Exams
Details on the Major Foreign Exams
The two most popular English Language Proficiency Exams are as follows:
Both these exams are aimed at testing the English Language Proficiency Skills of non-native English speakers.
Used For:
- To study or work in English speaking countries
- To process immigration applications in some countries – Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom
Used For:
- Eligibility Exam by Foreign Universities.
- Immigration Departments, infrequently, to issue residential and/or work visas.
| Section | Duration | Questions | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 60-80 minutes | 35- 55 questions | 0-30 points |
| Writing | 50 minutes | 2 tasks | 0-30 points |
| Listening | 60-90 minutes | 34- 51 questions | 0-30 points |
| Speaking | 20 minutes | 6 tasks | 0-30 points |
Used for:
- To assess the student’s knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics
- Undergraduate entry by over 2 million students from 175 countries each year
- A score of 2100/2400 gets one into the top colleges.
Used for:
- Business school aspirants take the exam
- It gets one into Master’s Degree in Business Administration or doctoral degrees.
Used for:
Qualifying Criteria:
- To assess analytical skills, problem solving abilities, and critical skills.
- Required for admission into a Graduate Management program – like the MBA
- Computerised Test
- Conducted 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year
- Can be taken once every 31 days, total 5 times in a year
| Sections | Question Type | Tasks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 topic | Analysis or Argument | 30 min. |
| Integrated Reasoning | 12 questions | Reasoning Graphics Interpretation | 30 min. |
| Quantitative | 37 questions | Data Sufficiency Problem Solving | 75 min. |
| Verbal | 41 questions | Reading Comprehension Critical Reasoning Sentence Correction | 75 min. |
| Total Duration | 3.5 hours | ||
- At least 500 marks, above 600 is good score and above 700 is very good score
- Qualification is through at least B grade in each of the 4 subjects