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Chapter IV: Entrance Exams

Chapters: Introduction 1 2 3 (4) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In order to gain admission to U.S. universities, international students are required to take different standardized tests. The score requirements are different for each university, but good scores are imperative for both getting a Visa and being admitted to a program.

The Educational Testing Service

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is a non-profit organization based in Princeton, New Jersey. ETS is the world's largest private educational testing organization and a leader in educational research. The company is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals and educational institutions in more than 150 countries. The primary purpose of ETS is to develop standardized tests and to provide information on the ability of the test takers to themselves and the educational institutions to which they are applying.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score is used to make the admission decisions for undergraduate applicants. Therefore, it is important to properly prepare to earn a good score. The SAT is a seven-section, three-hour exam that is administered seven times a year. Three of the sections are verbal, three are math, and one is experimental. The experimental section can be either verbal or math, and is used by the test-makers for research purposes only and will not count towards the final score. Following are the different types of questions that appear in the verbal and math sections:

SAT Verbal Question	Number	SAT Math Question	Number
Analogies	19	Problem Solving (grid in)	10
Sentence Completions	19	Quantitative Comparisons	15
Critical Reasoning	40	Problem Solving (with multiple choice)	35
Total verbal questions	78	Total math questions	60

The Graduate Management Admission Test

Most U.S. business schools require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for admission. Some universities may waive the GMAT score if the student has extensive work experience. Like the GRE and TOEFL, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is administered by the Education Testing Service (ETS). ETS also administers the GMAT Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) on behalf of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). The GMAT-CAT is offered several times a month. To register for GMAT test, please visit http://www.gmac.com/gmac/thegmat/.

The GMAT consists of two multiple-choice sections, quantitative and verbal, and an essay section called the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The quantitative section consists of 24 problem solving questions and 13 data sufficiency questions. The verbal section includes 14 reading comprehension questions, 13 critical reasoning questions, 14 and sentence correction questions. Both sections last for 75 minutes and have a score 0-60.

While the quantitative and verbal multiple-choice sections can appear in any order, the AWA section is always administered first. The AWA measures proficiency in analytical writing and includes two writing tasks of 30 minutes each. For each of these sections, students must type an essay into the computer using a simple word-processing program. The score for this section ranges 0-6 and is separate from the 200-800 cumulative score that business schools primarily use.

The Graduate Record Exam

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is for students who wish to pursue Graduate or post-Graduate study in the U.S. The test measures their intellectual ability and provides a common source for comparing the qualifications of applicants who come from a variety of colleges and universities with different standards. The GRE is a necessity for most of the graduate courses as it is used to judge students academic and analytic skills, and their capability to pursue a Masters program. GRE scores mainly depict a student's mental keenness rather than memory, creativity, or presentation skills.

The GRE is prerequisite for admissions to most graduate programs in the U.S. However, some Masters programs make an exception, leaving the test as an option for the student, rather than a requirement. It is advisable to take the GRE seriously and prepare extensively, as the score not only helps in admission, but also increases the chance of receiving Financial Aid or an Assistantship.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is also for students who wish to pursue Graduate or post-Graduate study in the U.S. It is used to evaluate the English proficiency of people who speak English as a second language. TOEFL scores are required for admission to more than 2,500 colleges and universities in the U.S. The TOEFL test is also used by colleges and universities in many other countries, like Canada and the United Kingdom, where English is the language of instruction. Almost all international students whose native language is not English need to provide a TOEFL score. Even though TOEFL scores are enough for getting admitted in some U.S. universities, most international students take the TOEFL in addition to another admissions test, such as the GRE. On the day of the test, students must remember to bring: their confirmation letter or number, a valid passport, and a secondary identification (eg: driver's license).

The Computer Adaptive Test

The Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) is a computerized form of the paper-based GRE and TOEFL. The paper-based test is now not available in most parts of the world. It is not necessary to know computers in detail to take the test, but some basic knowledge on computers is essential. In the CAT, the computer chooses a single question at an instant of time from the large database of questions that range from low to high difficulty level and are classified by their contents. The first question is always of an intermediate level, neither too hard nor to easy, and the level of each question afterwards is determined by the student's answer to the previous question. This is how the CAT adjusts itself to the student's ability level and differs from the paper-based test. One disadvantage is that the student must be very sure before answering a question, as they do not have the option of changing it. Some students feel it is very difficult to achieve a good score that is good enough for admission to a good university or college, but the truth is that any student can achieve acceptable scores with suitable preparation for the test.

Registration

Choosing the test date for the GRE and TOEFL is very easy since students may choose their own date and session. The testing centers conduct tests with two or three sessions a day, Monday through Friday, but it is always wise to register for a date in advance. August to December is considered to be the peak season, so students planning to take the test during this period need to register for the desired test date at least three or four months in advance. During other periods of the year it is relatively easier to get a test date, but registering at least 15 days prior to the preferred date is advisable.

It is advisable to take the GRE in October or November for August admission of the next academic year. This will ensure that a student's score will be available to meet any admissions deadline. Also, if a student performs poorly the first time, they should have enough time to re-take the test in December and try to improve their score. To register, students should contact their nearest Regional Registration Center (RRC).

The Test Format

The GRE is composed of four parts: verbal, quantitative, analytical writing, and an experimental section.

The verbal and the quantitative tests each yield a separate score 200-800. The final score depends on the difficulty of each question and the number of questions the student answered correctly. It is possible to get full 800 even if the student missed several questions.

The analytical test was similar to the other sections until September 2002. Now, the GRE has an analytical writing test, in which the student types or writes the answers to two questions. The analytical writing section is similar to the writing assessment part of the GRE and is different from the general GRE. The new section has two topics: an "Issue" topic for 45 minutes and an "Argument" topic for 30 minutes. The writing test is always taken first.

The experimental section does not count towards the student's score. It can either be quantitative, verbal, or analytical. The worst part is that the student cannot guess which one is the experimental section and it can appear at any time of the test. So, it is advisable not to speculate on which section is the experimental one and to treat all of them with equal seriousness.

There is an optional 10-minute break, which usually occurs after the second section of the exam. It is better to take advantage of the break to relax, which helps students to concentrate on the remainder of the test.

The TOEFL test also has four sections: listening, structure, reading, and writing, with the first two sections being the easiest.

Listening measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America. Students will use headphones to listen to both short and long conversations. While students are listening, pictures or other information related to the conversation will be presented on the computer screen.

Structure measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English. Students are asked to correct sentences that contain some simple grammatical errors, or are not in a standard written form.

Reading measures the ability to read and understand short passages similar in topic and style to those that students are likely to encounter in U.S. universities. This section contains reading passages and questions about the passages.

Writing measures the ability to write in English on a given topic. Students are expected to generate and organize ideas, to support those ideas with examples or evidence, and to compose in standard written English. Mental keenness, presentation skills, and the ability to think quickly and creativity are evaluated.

The Scoring Pattern

The GRE is scored in a unique way. Unlike other exams, students cannot predict their score with the number of questions answered correctly. The GRE final score is out of 2,400, which comprises of three sections worth 800 points each: verbal, quantitative, and analytical. Most of the universities also take the section scores into consideration in addition to the final score. For example, some universities expect a score of at least 450 in verbal from their prospective students, while some others expect above 750 in quantitative to gain admission in their university. So, apart from the final score, the individual section scores also matters. Following is a list that shows the range of scores that a student can receive:

• 1550+/1600 (5.5/6): Appreciable
• 1450+/1600(5/6): Excellent
• 1300+/1600 (4.5/6): Very Good
• 1200+/1600 (4/6): Good
• 1000+/1600 (4/6): Mediocre
• Below 1000/1600 (3/6): Consider retaking

TOEFL also has both section scores (2-30) and cumulative scores (40-300). Most students score between 120 and 240. Even though the TOEFL score is not as important as the GRE score, it plays vital role. Getting a good score in TOEFL will always help international students in receiving Financial Aid, or Assistantships. Most U.S. universities require a minimum score of 213. Some universities may accept a lower TOEFL score with the condition that the student takes English courses before they start working on their actual degree. Following is a list that shows the range of scores that a student can receive:

• 300: Outstanding
• 290-299: Excellent
• 290-270: Very Good
• 270-250: Good
• 250-230: Mediocre
• Below 220: Consider retaking

Score Reports

All universities accept only the original score report of the student. It should be sent directly from the testing service. A photocopy or a student copy of the score sheet will not be accepted. Any reporting should go through ETS. ETS reports GRE and TOEFL scores to four universities of the student's choice, the cost of which is added in the examination fee. If a student plans to apply to more than one university, he or she must send additional scoring report through ETS. The cost for extra reporting is $13 per university for the GRE and $15 per university for TOEFL. TOEFL scores are valid for only two years. Afterwards, the score will not be available on the TOEFL database and the reports will not be sent to the universities.

Preparation Tips

• Be aware of the types of questions that will appear.
• Be aware of how long each section is and the time limits. This will help students pace themselves through the test.
• Know the directions for the questions beforehand. However, the directions on the actual test might be slightly different from those in the study material, so always read the instructions.
• Do not spend too much time on one question, but do not rush either.
• Keep in mind that the questions at the beginning of tests are the most important. They will affect the total score more than the ones towards the end.
• Use the method of elimination on the more difficult questions to narrow down the correct answer.
• Do not skip any of the questions. Be aware that there are no negative marks for wrong answers, so never leave any question unanswered.
• Make sure that the answer is correct before proceeding to the next question. Rereading the question and verifying the answer is worth the extra time.
• In the CAT, students cannot return to a question once they have skipped it, so it is important to double check answers before proceeding to the next question.
• Getting plenty of sleep the night before the test will help the brain to work more efficiently.
• Visit the test center before the test day and try be there at least 30 minutes before the test time.
• Wear comfortable clothes.
• Prepare a checklist for necessary testing items and get everything ready the night before.
• Use the scratch paper provided by the test center for making quick notes or for solving math questions.
• No matter what happens, do not panic.