The following standardized tests are considered mandatory by most of the U. S. institutions/universities and generally form part of their application requirement. You can repeat these tests many times, if needed. One should seriously practice for at least three months prior to appearing for these tests and to applying in these tests will in advance as the application will not be considered complete without test scores. Generally, scores are announced six weeks after the examination. These tests are objective in nature i.e. multiple choice tests with no passing of failing scores. There are no pre-requirements for giving these examinations and no particular sequence in which they need to be completed.

English Proficiency Tests for all levels of Study in the U. S.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

International applicants whose native language is not English are requiring to demonstrate their English language proficiency by taking the TOEFL test before they are considered for admission. The test uses a multiple choice format to measure the ability to understand English. It consists of three sections:

Listening Comprehension - To measure ability to understand English as spoken in North America.

Structure and Written Expression - To measure ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English.

Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension - To measure ability to understand nontechnical reading matter.

TWE: (Test of Written English)

The TWE test is given with the TOEFL test on certain dates only. The purpose of this half-hour essay test is to demonstrate one's ability to write and express one's English i.e. ability to generate and organize ideas, to support those ideas with examples or evidence and to compose in standard written English in response to an assigned topic. If an institution or university wants an international student to take the TWE test, it has to be taken with the TOEFL. One cannot register to take the TWE test separately. It is not added to the TOEFL score. If you write an essay on a different topic from the one assigned to you, your essay will not be scored.

TSEL: (Test of Spoken English)

This test is required mainly at graduate level, especially for financial aid applicants. The TSE test (Test of Spoken English) is administered to evaluate spoken English proficiency of International students whose native language is not English. It requires examinees to answer orally a variety of questions presented in printed and recorded form. Your spoken answers are recorded on tape. No writing is required. This test is not administered as a part of the TOEFL test. Although it is administered on a few TOEFL testing dates, it is administered separately. However, if you plan to take TOEFL and TSE on the same date, check the test centre list in your TOEFL bulletin to make sure that both tests are being administered at the same centre on the date you want.

On the test you are asked:
(Section 1) To answer questions about yourself
(Section 2) To read a printed passage aloud
(Section 3) To complete partial sentences
(Section 4) To tell a story about a series of pictures
(Section 5) To answer questions about a single picture
(Section 6) To answer questions about general topics
(Section 7) To give a short presentation as if you are speaking to group of students

There are two separate registration categories within the TSE program:
TSE-A and TSE-P

TSE-A is for applicants applying for teaching and research assistantship who have been asked to take the TSE test by admissions office or department concerned of any U. S. universities/institutions.
TSE-P is for individuals such as those who are taking the TSE test to obtain certification in a professional or occupational field.

Tests for undergraduate studies

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) I & II

SAT I
Reasoning tests: This is three-hour multiple choice test that measures the verbal and mathematical reasoning you have developed over many years, both in and out of school. The test questions are roughly divided in the following manner:
Verbal Reasoning: 75-80 minutes
Mathematical Reasoning: 70-75 minutes
Equating or pretesting: 30 minutes

1. Verbal Reasoning: Focuses on a student's ability to read critically several given passages, including double passages with different points of view. It will in addition test students verbal reasoning skills and knowledge of vocabulary in context.
2. Mathematical Reasoning: It will include regular mathematics, quantitative comparisons and emphasize on a student's ability to apply mathematical concepts and interpret data. Few questions will require students to produce their own responses - not select from a choice of answers. Use of calculator is permitted, although not required.
3. Equating or Pretesting: The test also includes a 30-minutes section of equating questions (verbal, mathematical). Answers to those questions do not count toward your score.

Your SAT scores, course grades and other information about your academic background help college admission officers to evaluate how well prepared you are to do college-level work. Because courses and grading standards vary widely from school to school, scores on standardized tests such as the SAT help colleges compare the ability to students from different schools from different countries.

SAT II
Subject tests: The subject tests are one-hour multiple choice tests in specific subjects. Unlike the SAT I which measures general abilities, SAT II measures your knowledge of particular subjects and your ability to apply that knowledge. Not all college require SAT II for admission or placement. The ones that do either require specific combinations of subjects, or permit students to choose from among the various tests. Check the requirements to the colleges where you might apply before deciding which subject test to take. 18 subject tests are available in the following areas: Writing, Literature, Foreign languages, History, Mathematics, Science, English as a Second Language.

The writing test, a part of SAT II, will include a direct writing sample and multiple choice questions that require recognition of the conventions of standard written English, appropriate diction, and effective and logical expression.

For SAT/ACH information and forms write to:
College Board ATP,
P.O. Box 6200, Princeton,
NJ 08541-6200, U.S.A.

To obtain an application from, send a request letter with your complete name and address. No payment is necessary.

Test for graduate studies

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
GRE test is required of students enrolling for a master's or doctoral program in the arts, sciences and engineering fields. It consists to two independent test: the General GRE and the Subject GRE.

GRE General: When a university requires a GRE test as a part of their entrance requirements, it is generally assumed that they only require you to take the General GRE test. It contains seven 30-minute sections designed to measure verbal, quantitative and analytical abilities. They include verbal reasoning questions, reading comprehension and mathematical questions that require arithmetical reasoning, the solution of algebraic problems and interpretation of graphs, diagrams and descriptive date. Six sections of the General test contribute to the test scores; one unidentified separately timed section has trial questions that are not included in the actual test scores. The GRE General Test is held in the morning on each test date. In India, the GRE test is mostly held four times in a year.

GRE Subject: The subject tests are designed to measure knowledge and understanding of subject matter related to graduate study in specific fields and also to assess whether a student has the prerequisite background to undertake graduate study in a particular field. Since most graduate departments within a university establish their own entrance requirements, including tests, it is necessary to write to the institution directly to find out whether the Subject GRE is required by the department in which the student is interested and if so, in which subject.

Total testing time for each Subject Test is 2 hours and 50 minutes except for the Revised Music Test which has a total testing time of about 3 hours. Only one Subject Test may be taken on any given test date. The subject GRE in India in only offered in October each year. The GRE Subject test is administered in the afternoon of the same date as the GRE General test

GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)
The GMAT test is designed to help graduate schools of business assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. It does not test specific knowledge attained through college course-work of achievement in any particular subject area. It measures a student's general verbal, mathematical, analytical and problem-solving skills that are developed over a long period of time and are associated with success in the first year of study at graduate schools of management all of which indicate an aptitude for management studies. The quantitative sections of the test measure basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary concepts and the ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems and interpret graphic data. The variable sections of the test measure the ability to understand and evaluate what is read and to recognize basic conventions of standard written English as well as advanced comprehension skills and the ability to grasp and analyze data. The GMAT consists of seven separately timed sections each containing multiple choice questions. One of the seven sections contains trial questions needed for pretesting and equating but they are not identified and appear in varying locations within the test. You should therefore do your best on all sections. The total testing time is three and one half hour. In India, the GMAT tests is held four times a year.