Study Abroad
Pursuing higher education abroad opens doors to world-class universities, diverse cultures, and global career opportunities. Whether you're aiming for graduate programs in the US, UK, Canada, or other countries, standardized tests are essential for admission. From GRE and GMAT for business and graduate schools to SAT for undergraduate programs, and language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo - each exam plays a crucial role in your study abroad journey. Explore comprehensive information about these exams to make informed decisions and achieve your international education dreams.
GRE
The Graduate Record Examinations is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service. It is used for admissions to master's and doctoral degree programs in various universities.
Major Update: The GRE exam was significantly shortened in September 2023, reducing the total duration from nearly 4 hours to under 2 hours while maintaining its rigorous assessment standards.
Skills Tested: Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning
Exam Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes (total)
Total Questions: 55 questions across all sections
Key Features: Section-level adaptive testing, on-screen calculator, mark and review functionality
GRE General Test Pattern (Updated)
| GRE Sections | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 essay (Analyze an Issue) | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning - Section 1 | 12 questions | 18 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning - Section 2 | 15 questions (adaptive difficulty) | 23 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning - Section 1 | 12 questions | 21 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning - Section 2 | 15 questions (adaptive difficulty) | 26 minutes |
| Total | 55 questions + 1 essay | 1 hour 58 minutes |
Scoring System
You receive three scores on your GRE:
- Analytical Writing: Score from 0–6, in half-point increments
- Verbal Reasoning: Score from 130–170, in 1-point increments
- Quantitative Reasoning: Score from 130–170, in 1-point increments
The total GRE score (Verbal + Quantitative) ranges from 260 to 340.
Key Changes in Updated GRE
- The "Analyze an Argument" essay task has been removed
- Unscored experimental section has been eliminated
- Section-level adaptive testing: difficulty of second section depends on performance in first section
- New features include on-screen calculator and mark-and-review functionality
- Test takers receive official scores within 8-10 days (previously 10-15 days)
Important Information
Retake Policy: You may retake GRE once every 21 days, up to five times per year for the computer-based test.
Score Validity: GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date.
GMAT Focus Edition
The Graduate Management Admission Test is a computer adaptive test intended to assess certain analytical, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA program.
Major Update: The GMAT Focus Edition launched in November 2023, replacing the classic GMAT. The exam has been streamlined to 2 hours and 15 minutes from the previous 3+ hours, with significant changes to the test structure.
Key Features: Adaptive testing, ability to review and edit up to 3 answers per section, flexible section order selection, and elimination of Sentence Correction and Geometry questions.
GMAT Focus Edition Exam Pattern
| Sections | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 questions | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 questions | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights (New Section) | 20 questions | 45 minutes |
| Total | 64 questions | 2 hours 15 minutes |
Scoring System
Each of the three sections is scored on a scale of 60 to 90 in 1-point increments. These scores are combined to produce a total score ranging from 205 to 805 in 10-point increments.
What Changed in GMAT Focus Edition?
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) has been removed
- Sentence Correction and Geometry questions eliminated
- New "Data Insights" section combines elements of previous Integrated Reasoning and Data Sufficiency
- Test duration reduced from 3 hours 7 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes
- No negative marking
- One optional 10-minute break available
SAT (Digital Format)
The SAT is a university admission exam that is used by the majority of colleges and universities to make decisions about students. The College Board created and administers the SAT.
Major Update: The SAT became fully digital in March 2024, featuring a shorter duration, adaptive testing, and modernized format. The exam is now taken on computers or tablets rather than paper.
The intent of the SAT is to assess a high school student's readiness for college and to provide universities with a single point of comparison for all applicants.
College admissions officers will look at your standardized test scores, high school GPA, courses you took in high school, reference letters from educators or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. The importance of SAT scores in the college application process varies by school.
The SAT is typically taken by high school students in the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. It's critical to allow enough time to retake the test if you need to improve your score before applying to college.
Most colleges and universities will accept SAT or ACT scores and do not prefer one over the other. Many students take both the SAT and the ACT to maximize their options.
The composite SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600 and is a sum of the Reading & Writing score (200-800) and the Math score (200-800).
Digital SAT Exam Pattern (Updated)
| Section | Module | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Writing | Module 1 | 27 questions | 32 minutes |
| Module 2 (Adaptive) | 27 questions | 32 minutes | |
| 10-Minute Break | |||
| Math | Module 1 | 22 questions | 35 minutes |
| Module 2 (Adaptive) | 22 questions | 35 minutes | |
| Total | 98 questions | 2 hours 14 minutes | |
Key Features of Digital SAT
- Adaptive Testing: Module 2 difficulty adjusts based on Module 1 performance in each section
- Calculator Allowed: Built-in calculator available throughout the entire Math section
- Shorter Passages: Reading passages range from 25 to 150 words (previously full-length passages)
- No Essay: The optional essay section has been permanently removed
- Digital Format: Taken on computer/tablet with enhanced security and faster score reporting
- No Negative Marking: No penalty for incorrect answers
Scoring Details
| Duration | 2 hours 14 minutes (plus 10-minute break) |
| Questions | 98 questions total |
| Language of Test | English |
| Sections | Reading & Writing (Combined), Math |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Score Scale | 400-1600 (200-800 per section) |
| Test Format | Digital (Computer-based) |
IELTS
IELTS stands for "International English Language Testing System," and it is a test used to assess English language proficiency. It is recognized by universities and immigration officials in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other countries worldwide.
IELTS is accepted by over 10,000 organizations around the world, including academic institutions, employers, government agencies, immigration authorities, and professional organizations.
Test Formats
IELTS Academic: For students applying to universities and higher education institutions.
IELTS General Training: For visa applications, work purposes, or migration to English-speaking countries.
The Listening and Speaking sections are identical in both formats, while Reading and Writing sections differ in content and difficulty.
IELTS Exam Pattern
| Section | Duration | Questions/Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes (+10 min transfer time for paper-based) | 40 questions across 4 recordings |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions across 3 passages |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks (150 words + 250 words) |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes | 3 parts (interview format) |
| Total | ~2 hours 45 minutes | 4 sections |
Band Score System
IELTS is scored on a band scale of 1 to 9, where 1 is the lowest and 9 is the highest. Each section receives a band score, and the overall band score is the average of all four sections.
Typical Requirements: Most universities require a band score of 6.0 or higher for undergraduate programs, 6.5-7.0 for postgraduate programs, and 7.0-7.5 for specialized courses like medicine and law.
Test Availability
IELTS is available in both paper-based and computer-based formats, allowing test takers to choose their preferred mode.
TOEFL iBT
If you are an international student seeking to pursue an education in an English-speaking country, you may be required to take the TOEFL exam. TOEFL is an abbreviation for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It evaluates your ability to communicate and understand English by evaluating your reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills.
Major Update: The TOEFL iBT exam was shortened in July 2023, reducing the total duration to under 2 hours while maintaining the same rigorous assessment of English language proficiency.
Over 35 million people worldwide have taken the TOEFL test. TOEFL scores are accepted by educational institutions and government agencies in over 160 countries for admissions, scholarships, and visa applications.
TOEFL iBT Exam Pattern (Updated)
| Section | Duration | Tasks/Questions | Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 35 minutes | 2 passages with 10 questions each | 0-30 |
| Listening | 36-41 minutes | Lectures and conversations | 0-30 |
| Speaking | 16 minutes | 4 tasks (1 independent + 3 integrated) | 0-30 |
| Writing | 29 minutes | 2 tasks (Academic Discussion + Integrated) | 0-30 |
| Total | ~2 hours | 4 sections | 0-120 |
Key Features
- Each section scored 0-30; total score 0-120
- New Academic Discussion writing task introduced
- Test duration reduced from 3+ hours to under 2 hours
- 100% internet-based test taken at authorized test centers
- Scores available within 4-8 days after test date
Duolingo English Test
The Duolingo English Test is a computer-based online English proficiency assessment designed for international institutions and students. The test can be taken from home using a computer and webcam, with no need to travel to a test center.
The test evaluates all four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking through computer-adaptive technology, which adjusts question difficulty based on the test taker's responses.
Duolingo Test Pattern
| Section | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Setup | 5 minutes | Camera, microphone, and ID verification |
| Adaptive Test | 45 minutes | Computer-adaptive questions across all four skills |
| Writing & Speaking Sample | 10 minutes | Video speaking (3 min) + Writing sample (5 min) |
| Total | 60 minutes | Complete online assessment |
Scoring System
The Duolingo English Test is scored on a scale from 10 to 160. Test takers receive:
- 1 Overall Score: 10-160 scale
- 4 Subscores: Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production (each 10-160)
- Results Available: Within 48 hours of test completion
- Score Validity: 2 years from test date
Key Advantages
- Convenience: Take the test from home anytime
- Affordability: Generally more cost-effective than traditional tests
- Quick Results: Scores delivered within 48 hours
- Adaptive Technology: Questions adjust to test taker's ability level
- Growing Acceptance: Accepted by thousands of institutions worldwide
Note: The Writing and Speaking samples don't affect the numerical score but are sent to institutions for holistic evaluation.
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