Everything You Need to Know About Test Prep
Lesson Summary:
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Individual Test
Information
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Why Would You Take a Standardized Test?
Colleges and universities all around
the world require that all their applicants take one or more
standardized tests as a requirement for admission. Good
test scores increase your chances to gain admission into a top
program at a top school.
Popular standardized tests include the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), ACT test, GRE (Graduate
Record Examination), and GMAT (Graduate
Management Admission Test). Additionally, applicants who are not
Americans are required to also take the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language).
Most standardized tests are designed to measure a
student's skills, rather than a student's amount of
knowledge. The questions in these tests evaluate your
ability to solve problems, not your knowledge of facts (such as
important historical dates, or parts of the human
anatomy).
How Do Schools Use Tests?
The function of standardized tests is to give colleges a way to evaluate all their applicants on an equal level. Comparison of grades received in courses or on exams is not always enough because different schools have different academic standards. An admissions counselor at a university has no way of determining how challenging the calculus or economics course you took was. By comparing your score on a standardized test to the score of another student who took the same standardized test, the counselor has a better idea of how the two of you compare.
Which Tests Should You Take?
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International students applying for an
undergraduate program (bachelor's degree) will be required
to take the TOEFL (Test Of
English as a Foreign Language) and the SAT Reasoning Test. Some schools will also
require SAT Subject Test scores.
There are also many schools that will accept the
ACT in place of the SAT Reasoning Test. |
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| Graduate students applying to a business program will be required to take the TOEFL and the GMAT, the Graduate Management Admissions Test. |
What Scores Do You Need?
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Required scores vary by school. Most Standardized test scores are judged according to a percentile, which indicates where your score ranges compared with other test takers. The most prestigious schools look only at the top 5 percent, so you will need an SAT score of at least 2100, a GRE score of over 1400, or a GMAT score of 760 or more. To get into a reasonably good school, an above-average score would be sufficient (1600 SAT, 570 for GMAT, and 1050 for GRE). A score below the average school score can still grant you admissions provided your overall profile is good enough (GPA scores, admission essays, reference letters, past experience and activities, etc.) |
Individual Test Information
TOEFL
In most parts of the world, the TOEFL is a computer-based test. In some areas, paper-based testing is also available. Paper-based tests are administered on predetermined dates; computer-based tests can be taken on an appointment basis. The test consists of mostly multiple-choice questions. An essay question is also required. The computer-based test contains four sections:
Listening - This
section is designed to test your understanding of English as it
is spoken in America. You will listen to dialogues, conversations
and speeches using headphones. Then you will answer
multiple-choice questions about the material.
Structure - This section is designed to test
your ability to understand written English. It covers formal
English, rather than casual, or conversational English. The
questions are multiple-choice.
Reading - This section is designed to test your
understanding of written passages similar to what you will have
to read in an American school. The questions cover reading
comprehension as well as vocabulary. Again, these questions are
multiple-choice.
Writing - This section asks you to write an
essay in English. This section is designed to test your ability
to write in English, as well as to develop, organize and support
your arguments effectively.
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SAT There are two versions of the SAT test. The SAT I is the called the Reasoning Test and is designed to evaluate your mathematical and verbal skills. It consists mostly of multiple-choice questions. The questions in the math sections cover arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, as well as logical reasoning, probability and counting. The questions in the verbal sections fall into the following categories: |
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Analogies - These questions
test your knowledge of the meanings of words and your ability to
see relationships in pairs of words.
Sentence Completions - These questions test you
knowledge of the meanings of words and your ability to understand
how different elements in a sentence fit together logically.
Critical Reading - These questions measure your
ability to read a passage and think about it.
The SAT II, on the
other hand, contains 22 separate tests called Subject Tests. Each
subject test covers a specific area such as world history,
Spanish, or chemistry.
These tests are designed to determine your level of knowledge in
each area and your ability to apply that knowledge to answer
questions. If the school you are applying to requires the
SAT II, you will generally be able to
choose which subject test(s) you would like to take. You can take
up to three subject tests in one day. However, you cannot take
the SAT I and the SAT II on the same day.
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ACT
The ACT differs
from the SAT I in that it is a
subject-based test, rather than an ability, or aptitude,
test. It consists of multiple-choice questions covering
four areas: |
GMAT
The GMAT is a specific test aimed towards potential students in Graduate Management Programs. It is designed to assess your mathematical, verbal and analytical writing skills. Again, it measures your ability to apply knowledge, rather than the amount of knowledge you have. It is a computer-based test and contains both multiple-choice and essay questions.
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GRE
The GRE General Test
is similar to the SAT I in that it
evaluates your mathematical and verbal abilities. It is designed
to measure your reasoning skills, rather than your knowledge of
any specific subject matter.
Subject matter testing is done with the GRE Subject Tests. These tests should be taken by
students who have a bachelor's degree in that subject.
They cover eight different subject
areas:
(1)Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
(2) Biology
(3) Chemistry
(4) Computer Science
(5) Literature in English
(6) Mathematics
(7) Physics
(8) Psychology
The GRE also offers a Writing
Assessment test that asks more challenging questions than the
General Test. It measures your critical and analytical thinking
skills. It is usually optional, so you should check with the
schools to which you are applying to find out if it is
required.
The General Test and the Writing Assessment are both
computer-based, while the Subject Tests are paper-based.
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Good Luck with your Studies!
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Post Comments
Sureshbala said – Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:40:12 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
Most of the American universities require you to go through both GMAT and TOEFL. Eventhough it is broadly agreed that if your not a native English speaker u should give the TOEFL there are few universities from which you can seek a waiver for TOEFL. So some universities don’t need TOEFL. But again, the conclusion is “you just cant get away from it.” if four universities offer you the waiver for TOEFL the last one would perhaps have strict rules and will require you to have decent TOEFL score (eg Kellogg). So plan for both these exams