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Exams Required to Study in USA

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By:CANAM Group
Updated On:Dec 31,2024 12:44 PM IST

There are two types of exams to study in the USA: English language proficiency exams and standard exams.
English exams assess your language skills, while standard exams evaluate subject knowledge at a specific level of study.
Popular English exams to study in the USA are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo while standard exams are SAT, GRE, and GMAT.

Exams Required to Study in USA.webp

If you want to study in the USA, you might have to take a few exams depending on your field, and study goals. These exams help US Universities & Colleges evaluate a student’s eligibility and readiness to study the program of their choice in the country. Generally, there are two types of exams: English language proficiency exams and standardised exams.

English language proficiency exams are Compulsory for international students because English is the main medium of instruction in the USA. On the other hand, Standardized exams are program-level tests that evaluate a student’s aptitude in their chosen field of study.

What Exams Are Required to Study in USA?

There are various exams required to study in the USA. Following are the three major categories of exams to study in the USA:

English Language Proficiency Exams
Undergraduate Standard Exams
Postgraduate Standard Exams

Let’s know about each exam in detail:

Professional Exams to Study in USA

There are some major standardised exams that are required to pursue professional courses in fields like medicine & law in the USA. One is the LSAT for law and the second is the MCAT for medical programs. Let’s know about them:

LSAT: The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is the exam required to study at top law schools in the USA. It tests four skills of candidates: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and writing ability. Its duration is 2 hours and 20 minutes, and its score ranges from 120 to 180. To get admission into law schools in the USA, you must score a minimum of 130. However, some top schools demand a score of more than 160.

MCAT: If you want to pursue medical programs in the USA you would be required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). It assesses your problem-solving, and critical thinking skills and knowledge of natural and social science concepts. The exam lasts for 7 hours and 30 minutes and its score ranges from 472-528. The average MCAT score required to get admission into medical colleges in the USA is 510.

English Proficiency Exams to Study in USA

Almost every American university demands you to take one or the other English language exam. The popular English language exams to study in the USA are:

TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL is a popular English language exam considered by many American universities. The exam is accepted by more than 13,000 universities in over 200 countries globally. TOEFL is accepted for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs in American universities. The time limit for the exam is 3 hours, and its score ranges from 0-120. For most of the universities, the average TOEFL score range is 61-89. However, some top universities even demand a TOEFL score of 100.

IELTS: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is another exam you can use to prove your English proficiency. It is accepted by more than 11,000 institutions in more than 140 countries worldwide. There are two types of IELTS exam : IELTS academic and IELTS General training. IELTS has four sections: writing, speaking, listening, and reading. The duration of the exam is 2 hours 45 minutes, and its score ranges from 0-9. Most American universities give you admission if you have an IELTS score between 6.5 and 9.

PTE: Another English exam that has started gaining popularity in recent times is the Pearson Test of English or PTE. It is accepted by 3500 institutions around the world. There are two types of PTE exam: PTE Academic and PTE General. It examines four skills which are speaking & writing, reading, listening, and integrated skills. The duration of PTE is 2 hours, and its score range between 10 and 90. The minimum PTE score required to get admission into an American university is 70.

Duolingo: Duolingo English Test or DET is another English exam to study in the USA. Its duration is 60 minutes, and its score ranges from 10-160. Duolingo test consists of 4 sections which are speaking, writing, reading, and listening. It tests you on 4 parameters: literacy, comprehension, conversation, and production. To get admission to a university in USA, you should score between 100 and 120.

Exams Required to Study Bachelor’s in USA

To study an undergraduate program in the USA, two types of exams are required; let’s learn about them in depth:

SAT: The Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT is an aptitude test conducted by The College Board. It has 2 sections which are reading & writing and Maths. The exam measures 3 skills of candidates, which are reading, maths, and writing. The exam lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes, and its score ranges between 400-1600. For most of the universities, you need to have a SAT score of 1200-1350.

ACT: The American College Test or ACT tests a candidate on four skills which are English, mathematics, reading, and science. ACT lasts for 3 hours, and its score ranges between 1 and 36. You can take admission into an American university with an ACT score of 20-23.

GRE: Graduate Record Examinations or GRE is a popular exam taken by students who want to pursue business management and engineering programs in the USA. It is divided into 3 sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. It tests your critical skills and communication skills. GRE lasts for 3 hours and 45 minutes and its score ranges between 260-340. The required GRE score for most of the American universities is 300-320.

GMAT: If you want to pursue a business management or MBA program, you need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). It consists of 4 sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. It examines four skills of candidates: analytical writing, integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and verbal reasoning. The duration of the GMAT is 3 hours, and its score ranges from 200-805. The minimum GMAT score for American universities is 556.

Fee of Exams Required to Study in USA

Here is a complete breakdown of the costs involved in the exams required to study in the USA:

Exam Name	Fee (USD)
IELTS	195-202
TOEFL	205
PTE	More than 200
Duolingo	65
ACT	66 (without writing) / 91 (with writing)
SAT	111
GRE	220
GMAT	275
LSAT	238
MCAT	335

Note: The exam fees may vary so students are advised to check it from the official websites while registering for the exam.

Conclusion

Now you know about the exams required to study in the USA. So don’t wait any further just start preparing for these exams. Check on which level of study you are in and select the required exam. For law, you have the LSAT, while for medical programs, your go-to exam is MCAT. Crack your exam and get into the top cream students in the USA. You are just one exam away from studying your dream subject at your dream American university. Conquer this step by preparing well for your exam. If you have any confusion regarding any of the exams, you can contact the study abroad consultants at Canam.

FAQ

Which exam is required to study in the USA?

For UG programs you would be required to take the ACT and SAT exams. On the other hand, for PG programs you need to take the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Do I need to take the SAT to study in the USA?

For UG programs most of the universities require you to take the SAT exam. However, while applying for your program you should check if it's required by your university.

Which test is required for a USA study visa?

To prove English proficiency, you can take either IELTS or TOEFL. On the other hand, depending on the course level you would be required to take standard exams. For UG programs you can take ACT or SAT while for PG programs you have to take GRE or GMAT.

Which test is best for USA?

The SAT is one of the most popular exams to study in the USA. It is accepted by almost every university in the USA.

Which exam is tough in USA?

Some of the hardest exams in the USA are GRE, GMAT, and MCAT. However, you can perform well in these exams with hard work and full-fledged preparation.

Can I go USA without IELTS or TOEFL?

Yes, you can study in the USA without taking IELTS or TOEFL. But then you have to prove your English proficiency through other exams such as Duolingo or PTE Academic.

Can I go to the USA only with a TOEFL score?

Yes, you can go to the USA only with a TOEFL score but you should check if your university accepts TOEFL scores.

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Exams Required to Study in USA

Table of Contents

What Exams Are Required to Study in USA?

Professional Exams to Study in USA

English Proficiency Exams to Study in USA

Exams Required to Study Bachelor’s in USA

Fee of Exams Required to Study in USA

Conclusion

FAQ

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Central Queensland University - Rockhampton, North Campus Queensland

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Engineering Institute of Technology - Perth campus Western Australia

Griffith University - Nathan Campus Queensland

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