One of the main requirements held by any university is standardized test scores. While you may have a great school transcript, this isn’t the only thing your acceptance will be based on. Among other things such as your interview, extracurriculars and transcript are your test scores.
Prospective students are required to appear for, and do well on, tone of these 5 common standardized tests for graduate school:
- GRE,
- GMAT,
- LSAT,
- MCAT,
- TOEFL
Experts at MBA Center have specified below the ways in which you can make your preparation stellar. We have provided guides answer questions of who takes the test and what is tested in order to give you a more comprehensive understanding. These are with regards three out of the five tests: GRE, GMAT and, TOEFL.
Preparing for the GRE
Graduate Record Examinations are a great way to show your prospective school your best. The general test allows you to choose which scores you can send to the school. That’s right, similar to the SAT, you can give this exam multiple times until you are satisfied by the result.
Who takes the GRE?
Those students who are interested in pursuing a masters will be required to take the GRE. While most universities require standardized tests scores regardless of what subjects they choose to study. Thus, the GRE, unlike the GMAT, is a more widely accepted test.
What is tested?
Verbal Reasoning— This section is designed to measure the student’s comprehension, drawing conclusions from discourse. There’s an emphasis on the complex verbal skills since this section tests the literal, figurative and author’s intent in the extracts.
Analytical Writing— This area measures critical thinking and writing skills as you are made to write complex extracts that will test your ability articulate rich ideas.
Quantitative Reasoning— This will test how good you are with quantitative information. You will be expected to solve basic questions of arithmetic, algebra, data analysis and, geometry.
Preparing for GMAT
The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is used by graduate business programs to gauge specific skills that prospective student will need to do well at the masters-level. More than 6,000 business programs worldwide ask prospective students to sit for the examination.
Who takes the GMAT?
Students planning to obtain an MBA or a related master’s in business management are required to sit for the exam as the application process. About two-thirds of the 2,000 graduate business schools through out the world expect students to have their GMAT results attached to their application.
What is tested?
Similar to the GRE, the GMAT tests proficiency in English and Mathematics.
Analytical Writing Assessment— This is otherwise known as the essay section which helps business schools analyze your writing skills. For this section you will be presented with an extract that you are meant to critique, analyzing the soundness of the authors point of view.
Integrated Reasoning— These questions will contain reasoning questions, graphics interpretation questions and table analysis questions.
Quantitative—This section consists of data sufficiency questions, and problem-solving questions.
Verbal— This section is designed to test your fluency in standard written English; how well you analyze arguments and your ability to read critically.
TOEFL
The test of English as a Foreign Language is one of the most renowned English language standardized tests. This exam is accepted everywhere in the world and is taken by people throughout the world.
Who takes the TOEFL?
This test is designed for those international students who hope to get admitted to a school that uses English as its medium of instruction. Currently more than 9,000 programs us the test to assess competencies in reading, listening and written expression.
What is tested?
Reading— This section assesses reading comprehension skills. You’ll be given an extract to read and answer questions on. The subjects will vary ranging from philosophy to science.
Listening— This is designed to test your ability to hold a conversation. These are similar to what a student may encounter on-campus.
Speaking— The student is tested on their fluency when it comes to communicating in English. This is especially in regard to educational environments.
Writing— Here, the student will be tested on their abilities to produce written work in academic settings. You will be tested on how good your command is over language, organization, grammar and developing arguments.