Studying in America and Canada
 
4.3 The Entrance Exam(s) for You

Which entrance exam(s) you should take typically depends on the type of program you wish to pursue in America or Canada. Admissions requirements vary somewhat across colleges. Your prospective college is the best source for specific admissions requirements, including those for the entrance exam(s).

We shall now repeat some information from Chapter 3, for the sake of completeness.

 
4.3.1 Undergraduate Studies

You will be required to take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). The SAT has a general test (referred to as the SAT I) and a subject-specific test (referred to as the SAT II). You will be required to take at least the SAT I, and you may be required to take the SAT II depending on your prospective college and your choice of the program of studies.

A less commonly used alternative to the SAT is the ACT (American College Test). Typically, you can take either of the two but you should take the one recommended by your prospective college. If you have taken one, you typically do not need to take the other.

Colleges in Canada typically require only the TOEFL, and no other standardized entrance exam. Some colleges in Canada, however, do recommend taking the SAT.

You do not need to take the GED (General Education Development) Test. It is not relevant.

 
4.3.2 Graduate studies

The entrance exam requirements vary by discipline and by college. Most reputable colleges offering quality education require you to take one or more standardized entrance exams.

Table 4A. Typical Entrance Exam Requirements for Graduate Studies in America and Canada

Discipline

Entrance Exam Requirement

Business - MBA

GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test)

Business - Non-MBA

GRE (Graduate Record Exam). Some schools offer the choice for some programs of either GRE or GMAT

Computer Science

GRE

Engineering

GRE

Humanities

GRE

Law

LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test)

Medicine

MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

Sciences

GRE

In addition to the above, you may be required to take the TOEFL. Some colleges do not require you to take the TOEFL, because the above exams are in the English language and they do also test your proficiency in the English language, albeit somewhat indirectly.

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