9 Most Popular Entrance Exams for Foreign Universities

While applying for admission to a foreign university, candidates have to appear for entrance exams, which will work as proof of their eligibility for admission. A lot of aspirants migrate overseas for education and job-related reasons. Entrance exams for foreign universities provide a standardized way to evaluate candidates’ academic performance, and overall skills and knowledge in various fields. The scores of these entrance exams are used in foreign universities to determine whether the candidate possesses the necessary skills and abilities to pursue admission to their universities. In this article, we will discuss some of the most popular entrance exams for foreign universities.

Most Popular Entrance Exams for Foreign Universities

There are various entrance exams for foreign universities which assess candidates’ basic skills and understanding of the English language and other subjects. These entrance exams work as a benchmark for measuring applicants’ performance belonging to different countries and educational systems. 

These entrance exams guide foreign universities to gauge candidates’ willingness and academic rigour of their courses and bring out a level of competence between other candidates applying for admission. Entrance exams assist universities in understanding candidates who are better suited for their particular programs. Some of the most popular entrance exams for foreign universities are.

• PTE
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• SAT
• ACT
• GMAT
• GRE
• MCAT
• LSAT

Pearson Test of English (PTE)

PTE or Pearson Test of English is a widely accepted language proficiency test in some of the best universities in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. PTE is conducted to measure aspirants’ ability to communicate effectively in four different spheres; Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. The PTE scores are valid for around 2 years (24 months). Check the table below to know more about the PTE test.

Exam Name	Pearson Test of English
Conducting Body	Pearson PLC Group
Sections	Reading Listening Speaking Writing
Exam Duration	3 hours
Application Fee	INR 15,900

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System, popularly known as the IELTS test, is one of the most popular language proficiency tests and is widely accepted by universities in English-speaking countries. The IELTS test is jointly organised by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment English, and IDP; IELTS Australia. 

The IELTS test is measured on a score from 9 to 0, where candidates must score at least 6 bands to become eligible for admission to a foreign university. IELTS scores are valid for a period of 2 years. IELTS test is of two types – IELTS Academic and IELTS General. Check the table below for more details about IELTS.

Exam Name	IELTS
Organising Body	British Council,Cambridge Assessment English, &IDP; IELTS Australia
Sections	ReadingWritingListening &Speaking
Exam Duration	3 hours (approx.)
Application Fee	INR 15,500

TOEFL

TOEFL is the abbreviation for the Test of English as a Foreign Langauge. A lot of English-speaking universities accept the TOEFL scores to check foreign students’ understanding of the English language. Some of the top universities abroad accept the TOEFL scores. This language proficiency test measures aspirants’ English proficiency in four sections; Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	TOEFL
Conducting Body	Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Sections	ReadingWritingListening and Speaking
Exam Duration	3 hours
Application Fee	INR 16,000 (approx.)

Also read – IELTS VS PTE Difficulty: The Writing Sections

SAT

The Scholastic Assessment Test, also known as the SAT, is a widely accepted entrance exam by some of the top universities in the USA and Canada. The objective of conducting SAT is to assess a student’s knowledge of reading, writing, and mathematics. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
Conducting Body	The College Board
Sections	ReadingWriting and Language &Mathematics
Exam Duration	3 hours 15 minutes
Application Fee	$55 (INR 4600 approx.)

ACT

The ACT or American College Testing is a standardized test, which is accepted in most universities in the USA. ACT is conducted to evaluate students’ knowledge in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. ACT is organised in a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test by ACT, Inc. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	American College Testing (ACT)
Conducting Body	ACT, Inc.
Sections	English Language Mathematics Reading and science
Exam Duration	3 hours (approx.)
Application Fee	INR 6,750 (approx.)

GMAT

GMAT stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test. GMAT is organised for candidates who want to take admitted to business schools worldwide, especially for MBA programs. GMAT is a computer-based online test, where candidates writing, verbal, analytical, quantitative and reading skills in written English are measured. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	GMAT
Conducting Body	Graduate Management Aptitude Council (GMAC)
Sections	Quantitative Reasoning Verbal ReasoningI integrated Reasoning Analytical Writing
Exam Duration	3 hours 7 minutes
Application Fee	$275 (INR 21,000 approx.)

GRE

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required for admission to graduate programs, particularly in the United States. It assesses analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	GRE
Conducting Body	Education Testing Service (ETS)
Sections	Analytical Writing Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning Research Section
Exam Duration	3 hours 45 minutes
Application Fee	$228 (INR 18,800 approx.)

Also read – PTE Exam Study Material

MCAT

MCAT  is the abbreviation for the Medical College Admission Test. MCAT is required for admission to medical schools in the United States, Canada, and some other countries. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	MCAT
Conducting Body	Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Sections	Biological and Living Systems Chemical and Physical Foundations Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Exam Duration	7 hours 30 minutes
Application Fee	$330 (INR 27,200 approx.)

LSAT

LSAT stands for the Law School Admission Test. LSAT is required for admission to law schools in the United States, Canada, and some other English-speaking countries. LSAT is organised by the Law School Admission Council for candidates who want to pursue higher education in law. This entrance exam is organised to check the candidate’s reading comprehension and logical and verbal proficiency. Check the table below for more details.

Exam Name	LSAT
Conducting Body	Law School Admission Council
Sections	Reading Comprehension Logical and verbal Proficiency
Exam Duration	3 hours 30 minutes
Application Fee	INR 3999

Some entrance exams are designed to assess specific skills or knowledge required for certain fields of study. For example, the GMAT evaluates skills relevant to business and management programs, while the MCAT focuses on the aptitude for medical studies. It’s important to note that not all foreign universities require entrance exams, and the specific exams and their weightage in the admissions process varies among institutions and countries. 

For more information about examinations and studying abroad, feel free to visit the official website of Leverage Edu and book a free counselling session with our expert for your study abroad journey by calling us on our toll-free number 1800-572-000. Also, do not forget to check out our social media pages on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.