A lot of people desire to push their studies further by undergoing their master’s program abroad. But little know about the basic requirements needed from them. As part of our mission to always keep you duly informed, we will give you all details on the GRE, TOEFL IELTS or GMAT Examinations you might need to take, to get a scholarship or admission into your institution of choice abroad.
Do well to pay attention to all information in this post, because adequate information is one of the major keys to success.
In this post, I will take you through details on the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS and GMAT Examinations, how these exams are set and the standard you must reach to gain scholarships from big universities in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, e.t.c.
Every student after completing their Bachelor’s Degree comes across GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT Exam names from their parents, relatives or friends since these exams aid as a ticket to study or settle abroad. The GRE is used to pursue MS abroad, whereas GMAT is for MBA abroad. If a student from a country other than the US wants to study college in the US, then TOEFL grades are required. IELTS exam is applicable to colleges in Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Now let’s get a glance about these exams in a more descriptive manner in GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT Exams.
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GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT Result and Grading Statistics
About GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT Examinations.
GRE:
The General Records Examinations, commonly known as the GRE exam, is a gateway for students wanting to pursue their masters abroad and eventually settle there. The exam is of 340 marks, where above 320 is considered a good enough score to get a call from U.S colleges. It comprises of General tests and subject tests. Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills are a part of General Tests. Whereas subject tests examine the general knowledge and skills on 8 specific subjects. Students can get to know the scores except analytical writing on the day of the exam itself and the analytical writing score will be released 8 days after the exam.
SEE THE GRE EXAM REGISTRATION FEE, DATE, FORMAT AND ELIGIBILITY
GMAT:
Students, who want to pursue their MBA abroad can opt for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). It is almost similar to GRE except for a few sections. GMAT has Analysis of an Argument whereas GRE has Analysis of an Issue. It comprises of 3 sections, namely, Analytical Writing section, Verbal section, and Quantitative section. Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Interpretation are the topics from which quantitative questions are asked. The verbal section comprises of Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Correction. To get any further idea about How to Prepare for GMAT Examination.
IELTS:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam is for students who aspire to study or work abroad where English is the language of communication. It tests the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of the students and it requires a preparation time of maximum 3-4 months. The only difference between IELTS and TOEFL is IELTS is applicable in UK colleges whereas TOEFL is for U.S colleges. For more details learn How to Prepare for IELTS Examination.
Important: Countries, where the English language is the main language for communication, needs IELTS Scores for issuing a visa. The IELTS test is preferred by most of the universities in UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
TOEFL:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a recommended test for non-native speakers of English. It is a compulsory requirement by most U.S institutions. It has almost the same pattern as IELTS where the listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities are examined. This is a computerized test, unlike IELTS where there is a writing section and marks will be based on handwriting. If you don’t have good handwriting, then TOEFL is your cup-of-tea.
Important: Many English speaking countries accept TOEFL Scores to give a visa, so, it an important test for those who want to go abroad. This test is preferred by a majority of the institutes in countries like the US, Canada, and Germany.
Differences Between these Exams
1. GRE vs GMAT:
The GRE consists of a 60-minute analytical writing section — with two essays at 30 minutes each.
There is a verbal reasoning section, also with two 30-minute parts. There are two 35-minute quantitative reasoning sections. There’s also a 30–35-minute experimental section that can be either math or verbal.
The GMAT consists of a 30-minute analytic section with one essay, a 30-minute integrated reasoning section, a 75-minute quantitative section and a 75- minute verbal section.
2. TOEFL vs IELTS:
In case English is not your first language and you are applying to university in an English speaking country, you will be required to take a standardized test. Usually, there are two main English language tests widely used around the world, IELTS, and TOEFL.
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are two of the most widely-accepted tests to certify your English proficiency.
IELTS is applicable in UK colleges whereas TOEFL is for U.S colleges
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GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT Result and Grading Statistics
GRE EXAM REGISTRATION FEE, DATE, FORMAT AND ELIGIBILITY
STANDARDIZED TESTS:
- International admissions in most countries require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for engineering, technology, and science-related courses and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for Business and management related courses.
- English Language proficiency tests include high scores in the TOEFL for admissions in the USA and Canada whereas the IELTS is required for the European countries.
- All of these tests analyses a student’s verbal skills and his command over the English language. But the GRE and GMAT also have quantitative sections that test students on their problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. The verbal sections in these tests are usually harder to ace and require more preparation (when compared to the TOEFL and IELTS).
Which is the hardest exam among the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT?
GRE VS GMAT, TOEFL VS IELTS which is easier?
Unlike the GMAT, the TOEFL is not a complicated test. If you are comfortable speaking and reading English, it will likely pose little problem for you. Scores above 250 (on a scale of 40–300) on the computer-based test or the equivalent on the Internet-based test (100) or the paper-based test (600) are generally required at the top schools.
GRE and GMAT are the toughest among the four.
While IELTS and TOEFL are language tests, which test the English language of the examinee, GRE and GMAT is an aptitude test which tests the understanding of students in areas like quantitative ability, verbal reasoning, and English.
Preparation for GRE and GMAT involves much more rigorous training than IELTS and TOEFL as the former requires proficiency in diverse areas, and hence more time is required to prepare for GRE and GMAT.
GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT Result and Grading Statistics
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