Important exams to study abroad

If you are here, you must have heard about GRE, SAT, ACT, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and other such exams, to study abroad and pursue your higher education in the universities of your choice? If yes, then in this article we’ll discuss everything from choosing the right exams for your study abroad programme, to preparing and designing the roadmap to secure admission for the course of your choice in your desired universities.

According to several reports and surveys, thousands of students migrate to different parts of the world to pursue their dream of studying abroad. Though the universities have made thing transparent, still there are certain requirements and pre-set academic standards that need to be met for securing admission successfully. The first and foremost basic requirement set by the universities is that you must clear competitive exams as mentioned earlier to start your study abroad journey.

For a majority of the aspiring candidates, performing good in the study abroad competitive exams can help them get certain scholarships and financial aid and help them continue their education hassle-free. In this article we’ll also mention about how to get across certain scholarships and financial aid, which can be a great relief for students in completing the courses with least difficulty. Some students rely on consultancies to help them plan their study abroad journey, but you must research on your own to have a clear understanding of every steps, so that you don’t get tricked and make sure to choose the right consultancy firms.

What exams should I take for study abroad?

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is the most popular course among students planning their study abroad in US or Canada. Aspiring graduate and business school applicants from all around the world who are interested in pursuing a master’s, specialized master’s in business, MBA, J.D. or doctoral degree take the GRE General Test. Applicants come from varying educational and cultural backgrounds and the GRE General Test provides schools with a common measure for comparing candidates’ qualifications. GRE scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement your undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study. In more than 160 countries, there are 1000+ GRE test centers.

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer-adaptive test that assesses the candidates’ analytical writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in standard written English. The best part about such exams is that it is available both at a test centre and online, which in turn provides convenience and flexibility to the aspiring candidates. With this exam, one can secure admission to top business schools in the world for MBA and Masters in Finance. The average acceptable GMAT score is around 580. To secure admission to a top B-school, you must target a score of 700+.

SAT

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is administered by the College Board. It is popular among students seeking admission in undergraduate schools as a part of their study abroad programs. It evaluates a candidate on the basis of their written, verbal, and mathematical skills. You must check the subject tests as well. In this, the score range is between 400-1600. The test scores are also accepted by the United Kingdom and Australia.

TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE

The TOEFL test measures academic English skills the way they’re used in the classroom. TOEFL or The Test of English as a Foreign Language help universities know you’re ready to succeed. The test has 4 sections — Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing — and you’ll perform tasks that combine these 4 skills.

The International English Language Test (IELTS) is an English language test for study, migration or work. Over 3 million candidates take the IELTS test every year. It is accepted by 10,000+ employers, universities, schools and immigration bodies around the world.

Pearson Tests of English (PTE) is trusted by universities, colleges and governments around the world. It is the most unbiased proof of a candidate’s English skills. In PTE, results are typically available within just 48 hours of taking the test. You can schedule tests up to 24 hours in advance, 365 days a year.

Now you know which exams are popular among students planning their study abroad journey. Let’s understand in details how to plan your journey. Also, we’ll cover some frequently asked questions. At the end of reading this article, you’re all set with your preparations with no confusion at all.

Why should I study abroad?

Before you plan your journey, you must know Why? As it is the first thing that must be understood. Though there are multiple reasons why study abroad programs are becoming popular. The most important reason is the high quality and standard education offered by the universities. This helps the student to gain international exposure and mindsets. Also this further assists them for future employment prospects. The challenge, study abroad programmes bring with it, often leads to improved career opportunities. Studying in a top-notch university with a high standard of education, make students realise how the world works. Not to forget, the experiences vary on where you go for your study abroad. Hence, it becomes very important to pick the right study destination. Select based on the universities academic performances and your personal interests as well.

Where should I apply for higher education?

After you understand ‘Why’, you need to choose ‘Where’. Now choosing where to study abroad is never going to be an easy task. You can plan well with efficient researched resources and proper analysis. As mentioned earlier, universities academic performance and your personal interest must be the defining criteria. To sort where to apply for higher education We need to have some practicalities while doing our research. The cost of study along with the cost of living in that country should be considered for sorting the list. Be sure to match all your interests with your study abroad destinations. So that you have yourself the best time to learn, grow and develop with the international experience you go for.

If you need help making up your mind, take a look at some of the most popular destinations – Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK and the US  – or use the links below to view university rankings and full range of country guides:

• All country guides (Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and more)
• QS Best Student Cities (the world’s top cities for international students)
• QS BRICS University Rankings (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)

When and how should I get started?

Once you have done your analysis about where to apply for higher education, it’s time for you to do some research on selecting a program and a university, if you haven’t already. You can research leading universities with the QS World University Rankings®, use the subject rankings to discover universities which are best for your subject, and also consult national rankings of universities in your chosen destination. As you start shortlisting, you need to closely match the courses offered by your desired institution with your preferred lifestyle and admission requirements and costs as well. Your next step should be to check the application procedure.

Generally, all the universities provide the entire process of how to submit your application on their official website. In some cases, there is a two-step application process for international students. This means you must submit two applications: one for a place at the university and one for a place on the course itself. This should be clearly stated on the university’s website. If you still have questions about the process, you should contact your chosen university directly. You can visit, QS World University Rankings by Subject for a better analysis in shortlisting your university.

How can I avail study abroad scholarships or financial aid, if any?

You must check your university’s website to check for scholarships, if available. Most of the times, some universities list details about external scholarships. Some of you may not be familiar with the term external scholarships. So, external scholarships are those offered by either government or the business partner of the concerned university. If none of the above mentioned schemes of scholarship are available, then you must research about governmental schemes in your home country and your country of study abroad as well. In some cases external organizations may also fund your education abroad. You need to be quite active and informative in order to avail these benefits at your earliest.

AccioIbis as your study abroad partner

If you’re someone who is preparing to appear for IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE, you must give AccioIbis a try. This one of a kind platform uses Artificial Intelligence embedded with deep learning and machine learning algorithms which makes it more trustworthy as there is no human bias and 100% accuracy score generation at par with ETS and British Council. If you’re determined to score good, then AccioIbis can help you do so and also make your preparation journey more innovative with an amazing dedicated dashboard.

AccioIbis is also mobile-responsive which makes it easier for a test-taker to get their Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing skills evaluated at their convenience. It gives you the power to evaluate and grade scores instantly and get suggestions and corrections as per the official scoring criteria in seconds. It also offers 24 hours of premium services for free, if you register for the very first time. You can evaluate 3 speaking and writing tasks each for free before you go for the premium membership.