Exam preparation

The GRE General Test is run by ETS (Educational Testing Service). Many universities ask for it when you apply for a Master’s or PhD programme, especially in the USA, and many business schools also accept it in place of the GMAT. Whether you need it depends on the university and the course, so always check the requirements of each programme on your list.

The test measures the skills you will need in graduate study rather than knowledge of a particular subject. It has three parts:

• Verbal Reasoning: understanding and analysing written material, and vocabulary in context.
• Quantitative Reasoning: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.
• Analytical Writing: writing a clear, well-reasoned essay.

The GRE is taken on a computer, at a test centre or from home.

How Golden Globe helps. We check whether the universities on your shortlist require or recommend the GRE, help you plan when to take it so that your scores are ready before your application deadlines, and guide you on how your score fits into your overall application.

The TOEFL iBT is an English-language test run by ETS (Educational Testing Service). If English is not your first language, universities want proof that you can follow lectures, read academic texts and write assignments in English, and the TOEFL is one of the most widely accepted ways to show this. It is accepted by universities in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and many other countries, although each university sets its own requirements.

The test measures how well you use English in an academic setting, across four skills:

• Reading: understanding academic passages.
• Listening: understanding lectures and conversations.
• Speaking: expressing your ideas clearly on familiar and academic topics.
• Writing: writing well-organised responses.

The TOEFL iBT is taken on a computer, at a test centre or from home.

How Golden Globe helps. We help you decide whether the TOEFL or another English test (such as IELTS or PTE Academic) suits your chosen universities and visa, plan your test date around your application deadlines, and guide you on the scores your shortlisted courses ask for.

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It is one of the most widely accepted English-language tests in the world, used by universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the USA and many other countries, and it is also accepted for many visa applications.

There are two versions. IELTS Academic is the one you take for university admission; IELTS General Training is used mainly for work and migration. Both test four skills:

• Listening: understanding conversations, talks and lectures.
• Reading: understanding a range of texts.
• Writing: describing information and writing an essay.
• Speaking: a face-to-face conversation with an examiner.

Each skill gets a band score on a scale of 0 to 9, and you also get an overall band. IELTS can be taken on paper or on a computer at a test centre.

How Golden Globe helps. We tell you which version and which scores your chosen universities and visa require, help you plan your test date so your results arrive in time for your applications, and guide you if you need to improve your band before applying.

The SAT is run by the College Board. Many colleges and universities in the USA use it for admission to Bachelor’s (undergraduate) programmes, and some also use SAT scores when awarding merit scholarships. Policies vary: some universities require the SAT, some make it optional and some do not consider it, so check each university on your list. If you are in Class 11 or 12 and planning to study in the USA after school, this is the test to think about early.

The SAT measures the reading, writing and maths skills you have built up at school. It has two sections:

• Reading and Writing: understanding passages, using evidence, and grammar and expression.
• Math: algebra, problem-solving and data analysis, advanced maths, and geometry and trigonometry.

The SAT is now a digital test, taken on a laptop or tablet at a test centre.

How Golden Globe helps. We check whether the universities on your shortlist require or recommend the SAT, help you plan your test date alongside your Class 12 studies and application deadlines, and guide you on how your score fits into your application and scholarship chances.

The GMAT is run by GMAC (the Graduate Management Admission Council). Business schools around the world use it for admission to MBA programmes and to Master’s programmes in areas such as management, finance and business analytics. Many schools also accept the GRE, and requirements differ from school to school, so check each programme on your list.

The test measures the reasoning and problem-solving skills that matter in business studies. The current GMAT (the GMAT Focus Edition) has three sections:

• Quantitative Reasoning: solving problems with arithmetic and algebra.
• Verbal Reasoning: reading critically and evaluating arguments.
• Data Insights: analysing and interpreting data from tables, graphs and other sources.

The GMAT is taken on a computer, at a test centre or online.

How Golden Globe helps. We help you decide between the GMAT and the GRE for your chosen business schools, plan your test date so your scores are ready for application rounds, and guide you on how your score, work experience and profile fit together in your application.

PTE Academic is an English-language test run by Pearson. Like IELTS and TOEFL, it shows universities that your English is good enough for academic study. It is accepted by universities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Ireland, the USA and other countries, and for many visa applications, although each university and visa sets its own requirements.

The test is taken entirely on a computer at a test centre and is scored by computer, so results usually come back quickly. It tests four skills in three parts:

• Speaking and Writing: including reading aloud, describing images, summarising and writing an essay.
• Reading: understanding academic texts.
• Listening: understanding lectures and spoken English.

Many tasks combine skills, for example listening to a lecture and then writing a summary.

How Golden Globe helps. We help you decide whether PTE Academic, IELTS or TOEFL suits your chosen universities and visa, plan your test date around your application deadlines, and guide you on the scores your shortlisted courses ask for.