EXAMINATIONS REQUIRED FOR EDUCATION ABROAD

Required Exams for Studying Abroad

Students who wish to study abroad may have to take some exams to be accepted into the programs they are applying for. While some of these exams test the students’ foreign language proficiency, others assess their knowledge in a specific area. The most common exams for students who will be studying abroad are TOEFL IBT, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GMAT, and GRE.

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Below is detailed information about these exams.

TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

TOEFL is a test used all over the world, especially in America and Canada. The TOEFL IBT exam is for those whose first language is not English and who must take it to pursue education abroad. The TOEFL IBT exam consists of reading, writing, speaking, and listening sections. The exam is taken online over the Internet and takes a total of four hours to complete.

The exam has four parts: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The reading section asks 35-36 questions and you are expected to answer them within 60-80 minutes. This measures your ability to read three or four passages of academic text and answer the questions. The listening section asks 34-51 questions, and the time allotted for these questions is between 60 and 90 minutes. You are required to listen to conversations and then answer the questions. After these two sections, there is a ten-minute break, and then the exam continues with the speaking part. There are six tasks, lasting twenty minutes. You are expected to express your opinion on a familiar topic and speak according to the reading and listening tasks. Questions asked through the microphone are answered, the answers are recorded digitally and sent to ETS. The last part is writing. There are two tasks, and the total time is fifty minutes. You are expected to write essay responses based on the reading and listening tasks and also support the idea in writing. Therefore, the timing instructions must be carefully read and followed because the instructions indicate which question you need to answer in how many minutes. Applications for this exam are submitted online. You can take the exam as many times as you want. The entrance fee for the exam in our country is $185; however, it is useful to check with the test center for any changes. The TOEFL IBT exam is valid for two years. The TOEFL IBT exam has a separate scoring system for four sections and an overall score that covers all of them. This makes it easier to see which area is more successful and which is lacking. Since the exam is conducted online, those who take it will be able to access the exam results online after 15 days. The results are then delivered by mail.

The Reading and Listening sections are calculated by a computer on a scale of 0 to 30. In the Speaking section, each score is scored from 0 to 4, and the total is scored from 0 to 30. The results of these tests depend on how well you develop your topic and how well you convey your message in English.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

The IELTS exam is used to measure the English proficiency of those who want to study or work in English-speaking countries. Launched in 1989, the exam is organized by the University of Cambridge English Language Testing Centre, the British Council, and IDP Education. The IELTS exam is conducted within a globally accepted standard. It can assess levels from beginner to the most advanced level of English. It is an exam that is accepted and trusted all over the world. Depending on your future plans, you can take either the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training exams. The Academic exam is required for those who want to study at a university abroad or further their career there. The General exam is required for non-academic purposes. The exam is valid for two years.

IELTS consists of four parts: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. The Listening, Reading, and Writing exams are taken on the same day, without a break. Although it varies by test centre, the Speaking test is either on the same day or up to seven days before or after the main exam.

The Listening section consists of four separate sections. Before each section, the candidate is given a brief introduction. They are then given time to consider the questions. Halfway through the first three sections, the candidate is given a little more time to consider the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once; there is no opportunity to listen again.

The Reading section consists of three parts in the Academic exam. Each text is followed by 13 to 14 questions, with a total of 40 questions for this section. The General exam also consists of three parts, but these texts are shorter and simpler.

The Writing section consists of two parts. The first part provides a table and asks you to explain it. In the second part, you are asked to write an essay on a given topic.

The Speaking section consists of three parts. The first part involves general questions about the candidate, their interests, etc. In the second part, the candidate is given a topic and is expected to think about it for a short time and then discuss it. In the third part, there is a conversation with the examiner on the topic given in the second part.

The timing for each section is as follows:

• Listening: 40 minutes
• Reading: 60 minutes
• Writing: 60 minutes
• Speaking: 10 to 15 minutes

The exam lasts a total of three hours. The first three parts (Listening, Reading, and Writing) are taken one after the other, without a break. The Speaking part is done either on the same day or on another day, depending on the arrangements of the examination centre.

SAT

The SAT exam is required for admission to colleges and universities in the United States and for international students applying to universities in Turkey. The SAT is organized by the College Board and administered seven times a year in the United States and six times a year worldwide. The exam is usually administered every two months in the center where the application and registration are submitted, or online (https://sat.collegeboard.org). There is no limit to the number of times you can take the exam in a year. The exam results are valid for two years.

The purpose of the SAT is to measure the level at which students can use their knowledge in critical reading, writing (including an essay), and mathematics (including geometry), which are required at the university level. At the same time, this exam is a key indicator of students` potential success at university.

The SAT exam consists of two separate exams: SAT 1 (Reasoning Test) and SAT 2 (Subject Test). SAT 1, or the Reasoning Test, is a multiple-choice test that takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. It measures the numerical and verbal abilities of a student. SAT 1 consists of three sections: Mathematics (Math-Geometry), Critical Reading, and Writing. The Mathematics section has multiple parts:

• One 25-minute section where students solve given problems.
• A second 25-minute section with additional problems.
• A third 20-minute section with multiple-choice questions.

The Critical Reading section consists of two parts:

• A 25-minute section with multiple-choice questions.
• A 20-minute section with additional multiple-choice questions.

The Writing section tests writing skills as well as grammar. It consists of two subsections, but the essay section is not graded.

SAT 2, or the Subject Test, is an hour-long exam. Most of the questions are multiple choice. The purpose of this test is to assess the student’s knowledge of a specific academic subject. The test score ranges from 200-800. The main topics of the SAT 2 test include English, History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Japanese, and Chinese. Many American universities value SAT 1 scores, but more prestigious universities also require SAT 2 scores. Universities in Turkey generally do not require SAT 2 scores from international students.

ACT (American College Testing)

The ACT (American College Testing) is an exam that has been used since 1959 to determine the academic level of students wishing to attend a university in the United States. It serves as an alternative to the SAT. Although this exam has been offered for many years, it became more popular in the 2000s, with many universities accepting students based on their ACT scores.

The ACT includes multiple-choice questions similar to the SAT, but unlike the SAT, the ACT has four main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Since 2005, the ACT has also offered students an optional Writing section. On the ACT, students are tested in the four main areas mentioned above and are given a score from 1 to 36 for each section. The overall average of the scores from these four sections gives a student’s overall ACT score (the “composite score”). In the Writing section, students receive scores ranging from 2 to 12.

The first part consists of the English section and lasts 45 minutes, during which students are asked to answer 75 questions. This section usually covers questions about usage and mechanics, as well as rhetorical skills. Students then move on to the Mathematics section. In this section, students are given 60 questions and have 60 minutes to answer them. Calculators are allowed in the exam. While questions in all areas except Mathematics have four answer options, questions in the Mathematics section have five answer options. The third part is Reading. In this section, students are asked to answer 40 questions in 35 minutes. This section covers four passages, each containing ten questions selected from the fields of literature, natural sciences, and social sciences. In the Science section, students must answer 40 questions in 35 minutes.

The optional Writing (Essay) section opens after the completion of the four main tests of the exam. In this 30-minute section, students write an essay on a social issue. The grade earned on the essay only counts toward the English test score. Although the Writing section is optional, many universities require it as part of the application process.

The cost of the exam is $39.50, but if you choose to include the Writing section, the exam fee is $56.50. The ACT exam is given 4-6 times a year, and you must register one month before the exam date.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The purpose of the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is to measure your numerical, verbal, and analytical skills, as well as your English language proficiency. This is an important criterion for schools for those who want to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate education abroad. It is a computer-based exam and is conducted online.

The GMAT measures numerical, verbal, and analytical writing skills. Candidates are responsible for these three sections, and the exam takes four hours. The exam result is valid for five years, and the maximum score that can be obtained is 800.

The first part of the exam, the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), consists of two parts. In the first question, the candidate is given a topic and asked to analyze it. In the second, the candidate`s commentary on the given topic is expected. The time allotted for each composition is 30 minutes. The score obtained in this section ranges from 0 to 6. The evaluation of the composition is done by both the computer and a human grader. Both scores range from 0 to 6, and if there is a difference between the scores, the average of the two is taken. If the difference in scores is greater than 1, it is scored by a third person.

The numerical section consists of 37 multiple-choice questions, and the allotted time is 75 minutes. It consists of two types of questions: problem-solving and data sufficiency. Problem-solving measures the participant`s numerical reasoning skills and includes multiple-choice questions on arithmetic, simple mathematics, and geometry. Data sufficiency presents the participant with a question and two statements. The participant must decide whether the problem can be solved without describing the problem or whether there is enough data to solve the question. A score of 0 to 60 is awarded in this section, and a calculator is not used in the exam.

The verbal section consists of 41 questions, and the allotted time is 75 minutes. There are three types of questions in this section: Sentence Correction, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. The Sentence Correction section evaluates the participant’s grammar, usage, and style of American English. The questions in this section underline a sentence in the given text, and the participant must find the correct sentence that can replace it. Logical Reasoning measures the participant’s critical thinking skills by asking them to analyze a given argument. Reading Comprehension measures the participant’s understanding of what has been read.

Many schools do not disclose specific GMAT scores required for admission, but they publish the average GMAT scores of their students, which gives you an idea of the score needed to get into your desired school. The minimum score you can get in this exam is 200, and the maximum score is 800. Those who want to take the exam can register online or by calling the test center. You should register at least one month before you plan to take the exam to ensure availability on your desired date. Once you pass the exam, you must wait 31 days before you can take it again. The exam costs $250.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is an exam required for admission to graduate and doctoral programs, particularly in engineering and social sciences, at English-speaking universities in the United States and other countries. The GRE is prepared by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is divided into two parts: the Subject Test and the General Test. General Test results are typically required when applying to universities, though some institutions may also request Subject Test results.

1. Verbal Reasoning:
• Structure: Two sections, each with 20 questions.
• Time: 30 minutes per section, totaling 60 minutes.
• Content: Measures the ability to analyze and draw conclusions, understand the meanings of words, sentences, and texts, and identify relationships among words and concepts.
2. Quantitative Reasoning:
• Structure: Two sections, each with 20 questions.
• Time: 35 minutes per section, totaling 70 minutes.
• Content: Measures basic mathematical skills, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, and the ability to solve problems using mathematical models.
3. Analytical Writing:
• Structure: Two tasks – "Analyze an Issue" and "Analyze an Argument."
• Time: 30 minutes per task, totaling 60 minutes.
• Content: Measures the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, examine claims and accompanying evidence, and sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion.

GRE Subject Test

The GRE Subject Test is designed to test knowledge in specific fields of study. There are eight different subject tests available, and they are used to assess a candidate`s expertise in their chosen field. Some institutions may request scores from both the General and Subject Tests for admission to certain programs.

Test Administration

The GRE General Test is administered throughout the year at various test centers and is computer-based. The scoring scale for the Verbal and Quantitative sections ranges from 130 to 170. Even if no questions are answered, the minimum score is 130, with the maximum score being 170.

Fees and Registration

The fee to take the GRE General Test is $185. To register for the test, candidates must sign up through the ETS website or contact their local test center.

Additional Information

• Breaks: There is a 10-minute break after the third section of the exam.
• Validity: GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date.

GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date.

Here is a list of countries where you can pursue higher education abroad:

1. USA
2. Switzerland
3. China
4. Japan
5. Germany
6. Singapore
7. Hong Kong
8. Australia
9. Belgium
10. Canada
11. Sweden
12. Great Britain
13. France
14. Netherlands
15. 15. Denmark
16. Finland
17. Norway
18. Ireland
19. South Korea
20. Taiwan
21. Italy
22. Spain
23. India
24. Luxembourg
25. Brazil
26. UAE
27. Malaysia
28. Turkey
29. Indonesia

These countries offer a wide range of opportunities for international students in terms of both education quality and cultural experience. Many of them have renowned universities and research institutes, attracting students from all over the world.