Home
Student Info
Admissions Advice
Graduate Admissions Tests at a Glance: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, TOEFL & IELTS
Thanks for visiting TopUniversities.com today! So that we can show you the most relevant information, please select the option that most closely relates to you.
Your input will help us improve your experience.
Your input will help us improve your experience.You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.
Already have an account? Sign in
Sign up free to keep exploring.
Access unlimited articles and study guides
Discover top subjects and destinations
Get the personalised guidance you need to succeed
By signing up I agree to share my data and according to
User agreement, Cookie policy and Privacy policy.
Ask me about universities, programs, or rankings!
Our chatbot is here to guide you.
We use Necessary cookies to make our website work. We’d also like to set optional Functional cookies to gather anonymous site visitation data and Advertising cookies to help us understand which content our visitors value the most. By enabling these cookies, you can help us provide a better website for you. These will be set only if you accept.More information about the cookies we use can be found here Cookies Policy
Views
Graduate Admissions Tests at a Glance: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, TOEFL & IELTS
Laura Bridgestock
Updated Feb 29, 2024Save
Share
Share via
Share this Page
Table of contents
Table of contents
If you’re applying for a graduate-level degree, especially a master’s program, you may be required to submit scores from one or more standardized graduate admissions tests. These are internationally delivered tests which aim to ensure applicants are prepared for the rigors of advanced study, in their own country or abroad.
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide which graduate admissions tests are most relevant to you, the kind of questions to expect, and what steps to take next.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)
Target audience: Business school applicants.
Required by: Business schools.
Purpose: To assess a candidate’s suitability for business school, by assessing verbal, mathematical and analytical skills.
Duration: Three hours and seven minutes (four hours if you take the optional breaks).
Test content: The GMAT is divided into four parts:
Scoring: The verbal and quantitative sections are each assigned a raw score from 0-60 (in increments of 1); the analytical writing assignment is scored on a scale of 0-6 (in increments of 0.5); the integrated reasoning section is marked on a scale of 1-8 (increments of 1).
The test makers will combine your verbal and quantitative scores for a "Total" score. The Total score is a scaled score from 200-800. You will also receive a percentile rating for each of the four parts, indicating the percentage of test takers you outperformed.
You may choose up to five schools to send your score report to, with additional reports available for an extra fee. You may retake the test if you are unsatisfied with your score (a maximum of five times over a 12 month period), but be aware that all scores from the previous five years will be included on the scorecard sent to the business schools to which you are applying. Results can be canceled immediately on completing the test.
Cost: US$250 (worldwide).
Valid for: Five years (older scores are available but are not always considered to be an accurate measure of your current standard).
Results needed: Most GMAT candidates achieve a score between 400 and 600; extremely high and low scores are rare. There are no straightforward passes or fails, and the score you need will depend on the school to which you are applying.
Points to note: Multiple choice sections begin with an intermediate-level question. A correct answer will lead to a more difficult question, while an incorrect answer does the opposite. To complete a section you must work through the most difficult questions. There is a penalty for not finishing in the allotted time. The GMAT is only delivered in English.
Resources: The official site offers free prep software to registered users. This uses the same software as the test itself so should serve as an accurate simulation. Candidates may also wish to enroll on a prep course, or make use of the many online resources available.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Target audience: Prospective graduate students across all disciplines.
Required by: Graduate schools and departments.
Purpose: GRE scores are used to assess the suitability of applicants for graduate-level study across many different subject areas. Some departments may ask applicants to take one of the GRE Subject Tests, while others require the General Test. The Subject Tests assess knowledge in a particular field, while the General Test assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing.
Duration: Around three hours and 45 minutes (six sections with a 10-minute break after the third).
Test content: The GRE General Test (formerly the GRE revised General Test) is divided into three parts:
Unscored sections: An unidentified section and/or a research section may be included. These are used by the test provider to develop new questions or for other research purposes, and do not affect candidates’ scores.
Scoring: Candidates receive a score for each section. Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are measured on a scale of 130-170, in 1-point increments. Analytical Writing is scored on a scale of 0-6, in half-point increments. You cannot pass or fail the GRE, but universities and departments may require specific scores. If you are unhappy with your scores, you can re-take the GRE (once every 21 days and a maximum of five times over a 12 month period, or as often as it’s offered if taking the paper-based test).
When sending score cards to admissions departments, you can use the ScoreSelect option to choose whether to include only your most recent score, or all scores from the previous five years. You can choose up to four institutions to send score reports to, or more for an extra fee. Results can be canceled immediately on completing the test.
Cost: US$205 everywhere except Australia where it is US$230, China ($220.70), Nigeria ($220) and Turkey ($255).
Valid for: Five years.
Points to note: The GRE is only delivered in English. A paper-based version is offered at centers where the computer-based test cannot be delivered. Candidates sitting this version are allowed slightly longer for the Verbal and Quantitative sections.
Resources: The official site features sample questions and offers free software which simulates the test.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Target audience: Those wishing to study a program delivered in English.
Required by: Institutions offering programs in English (including English-taught degrees in non-Anglophone countries). TOEFL results are also accepted as proof of English language proficiency in countries where this is required to obtain a visa.
Purpose: To test proficiency in English.
Duration: Around four hours, with a mandatory 10-minute break midway through.
Test content: The test is divided into four parts:
Scoring: Each section is scored out of 30 to give an overall score out of 120. Test-takers also receive performance feedback. The cost of the test includes free score reports for up to four institutions, and additional reports for an extra fee. Guidance on the score you need should be given by your chosen institutions.
Cost: Varies depending on test center location. Example prices: Milan, US$245; Sofia, US$215; Seoul, US$190; Hyderabad, US$180; Bogota, US$220.
Valid for: Two years.
Points to note: Before taking an English proficiency exam, be sure to check which tests are accepted by the institution you are applying to. A paper-based test is offered at some centers where the standard internet-based test cannot be provided. This lasts about four hours, with four sections: Listening Comprehension, Structure and Written Expression, Reading Comprehension and the Test of Written English. You will receive a total score out of 677, and a separate score on a scale on 1-6 for the written section.
Resources: Various study resources, including free sample questions, are available on the official site.
Testimonials
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Target audience: Those wishing to study a program delivered in English.
Required by: Institutions offering programs in English (including English-taught degrees in non-Anglophone countries). IELTS results are also accepted as proof of English language proficiency in countries where this is required to obtain a visa.
Purpose: To test a proficiency in English, for an academic or general context.
Duration: Two hours and 30 minutes, plus 15 minutes for the speaking test.
Test content: There are two versions of the test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both are divided into four sections, with the same content for the Listening and Speaking sections, but different Reading and Writing sections. The Academic version focuses more on English in a higher education context, while General Training focuses more on workplace and social situations.
Scoring: Each of the four sections is marked on scale from one to nine, with band one indicating a non-user and nine an expert user. Candidates also receive an averaged overall score on the same scale. Institutions are responsible for setting their own target scores. There is no limit on the number of times the test can be retaken.
Cost: Varies depending on location.
Valid for: Two years.
Points to note: Before taking an English proficiency exam, be sure to check which tests are accepted by the institution you are applying to.
Resources: The official website offers practice materials and free sample questions. Many test centers run preparatory courses.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
Target audience: Students who wish to enroll in law school at JD level.
Required by: Law schools in the US and Canada, and a growing number of law schools elsewhere in the world.
Purpose: The LSAT is designed to measure skills considered necessary for success at law school, including comprehending and analyzing complex texts, organizing information and evaluating arguments.
Duration: Three hours and 30 minutes, excluding breaks.
Test content: The LSAT is delivered in five sections lasting 35 minutes each, with three different types of multiple choice question:
Scoring: Raw scores are converted to a score on the LSAT scale of 120-180. All questions are weighted equally. One of the five sections does not contribute to the score (this is used to trial new questions). You will also get a percentile rank, indicating how many people you outperformed. You can retake the test, but not more than three times over any two-year period.
Cost: US$190
Valid for: Five years
Points to note: The LSAT can be taken at test centers around the world, on up to five dates during the year (six in 2019). If you live more than 100 miles from a listed test center you can request that the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) sets up a nonpublished center. This costs US$295 within the US, or US$390 internationally. Many law schools require applicants to take a test in December at the latest for admission the following academic year.
Resources: Past papers and sample questions are available free of charge from LSAC. Additional materials may also be purchased.
This article was originally published in November 2013. It was last updated in August 2018.
Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.
+ 155 others
saved this article
+ 156 others saved this article
The former editor of TopUniversities.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums. She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including 'How Do Students Use Rankings?'
Recommended articles Last year
Exam preparation: Ten study tips
Four compelling reasons to choose Adelaide as your study abroad destination
Leading on sustainability thanks to a QS ImpACT scholarship